Royal Ambassadors Basic Training

1. Royal Ambassadors Basic Training M. Steve Heartsill, managing editor, RAs/Challengers

2. Basic Royal Ambassadors Information • SBC church-sponsored and supported • started by WMU in 1908 as a missions education organization for boys • involves over 2½ million boys and leaders

3. Basic Royal Ambassadors Information • has maintained its missions focus under four national entities: WMU, Brotherhood Commission, HMB, NAMB • focus is missions learning and action • five organizational components: +Chapter Meetings +Advancement +Interest Activities + Missions Projects/Activities +Meaningful Relationships

4. Foundation of Royal Ambassadors • RA Motto: “We are Ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20 HCSB). • The RA Pledge makes the motto come alive in the daily lives of boys and leaders. • RA biblical virtues: Ten specific biblical virtues that strengthen the motto and the pledge. One virtue is highlighted each month.

5. Royal Ambassador Pledge As a Royal Ambassador I will do my best: to become a well-informed,responsible follower of Christ; to have a Christlike concern for all people; to learn how to carry the messageof Christ around the world; to work with others in sharing Christ; and to keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body.

6. Royal Ambassador Biblical Virtues • Loyalty • Friendship • Courage • Responsibility • Honesty • Faith • Compassion • Perseverance • Teamwork • Self-discipline

7. Royal Ambassador Groupings • Royal Ambassadors (Grades 1-6) • Lads (Grades 1-3) • Crusaders (Grades 4-6)

8. Royal Ambassador Groupings Individual grade • Lad 1 RAs • Lad 2 RAs • Lad 3 RAs • Multiple grade combinations • Page 4 RAs • Squire 5 RAs • Knight 6 RAs

9. RA Organizational Components • weekly chapter meetings • personal advancement plan • monthly missions projects/activities • weekly interest activities • ongoing meaningful relationships

10. Weekly Chapter Meetings . . . • allow for leaders and boys to practice the RA Motto, Pledge, and virtues through activity-based learning and achieving. • give Christian men an opportunity to become leaders and mentors to boys by showing how faith in Christ is shared and lived. • show how Southern Baptists involve themselves in the Great Commission.

11. Weekly Chapter Meetings Leader Resources: • a bimonthly RA Leader magazine • a bimonthly RA Leader Kit • resources gathered and ordered as suggested in the RA Leader magazine • leader edition includes suggestions for each meeting part

12. Weekly Chapter Meetings Other resource information provided in the leader magazine: • missions project suggestions • interest activity ideas • Bible verse supporting the theme

13. Weekly Chapter Meetings Other resource information provided in the leader magazine: • information for gathering or ordering resources to use during meetings • instructions incorporating RA Leader Kit items • elective suggestion

14. Weekly Chapter Meetings The boy’s study resource • monthly student magazine: RA World for boys in grades 1–6

15. Weekly Chapter Meetings Student magazine resources include • mission stories • interest activities

16. Weekly Chapter Meetings Student magazine resources include • RA-submitted jokes and artwork • missionary kid information • ideas shared by RA chapters

17. Weekly Chapter Meetings Leaders and boys gather in a four-part weekly meeting format that includes an opening, astory, missions activities,and a closing.

18. Royal Ambassador Advancement • Each boy can earn achievement awards through a commitment to be involved with the organization. • This commitment includes two preliminary requirements: • memorizing the Royal Ambassador Motto • memorizing the Royal Ambassador Pledge • Upon completion, the boy earns the membership pin and/or patch to wear on a vest or other apparel.

19. Royal Ambassador Advancement Membership Requirements • Learn and recite the Royal Ambassador Motto. • Learn and recite the Royal Ambassador Pledge. • Participate in a new-member ceremony to receive the member pin/patch.

20. Royal Ambassador Advancement Grade-Level Achievement Pin/Patch Requirements: • Read or listen to 12 missionary stories from the bimonthly RA magazine, and/or listen to missionary testimonies. • Memorize and recite 12 Bible verses. • Participate in 12 missions projects/activities.

21. Royal Ambassador Advancement Grade-Level Achievement Bar and Star • Each set of 12 additional tasks from any of above three areas earns first a bar and then stars. (A bar will hold up to three stars.)

22. Royal Ambassador Advancement Boys may earn awards in Bible verse memory: • three Bible memory medals (25 verses per medal annually) • Bronze • Silver • Gold

23. Royal Ambassador Advancement Elective Awards • Personal Fitness: Physical Fitness Patch (formerly athletic patch) • Campcraft: Skill level advancement for grades 1–3 (Discover 1, 2, & 3) for grades 4–6 (Hiker, Camper, & Woodsman) • Bible Telling Certificate

24. Royal Ambassador Advancement Elective Awards • RA Racers, RA Campout, Sports • Hunger Relief, World Walk, Mission Activity • Mission Study: NAMB and IMB Emphasis

25. Missions Projects and Activities • monthly ideas in RA Leader • churchwide projects • family projects • associational, state, and national projects

26. Missions Projects and Activities • Boys and leaders help plan, promote, and participate. • Include a report with pictures to the church and the national RA leadership at WMU.

27. Interest Activities • Suggestions are in the leader magazine. • Focus on boy appeal. • Learning to use teamwork and tools to accomplish a goal.

28. Interest Activities • Teaches listening, problem solving, patience, and skill development—more than just winning or losing. • Blends active and passive learning.

29. Interest Activities • Begin with things in which you, as leader, have interest or experience. • Build activity around the mission story, the RA Pledge, and the ten virtues.

30. Interest Activities • Some boys have little or no skill in some areas. Begin with instructions that are simple and basic. • Praise effort as well as achievement. • Have the necessary tools or resources, including additional leaders.

31. Meaningful Relationships • Be available. • Lead the boys with love and respect. • Be a leader and friend—not a pal or buddy.

32. Meaningful Relationships • Communicate with parents and encourage participation. • Communicate with each boy during and beyond the meeting. • Learn how to share the gospel in a loving and receptive way.

33. Meaningful Relationships • Involve the church family with the boys. • Have recognitions of the boys in front of the church family. • Participate with other RA churches in associational, state, and national events.

34. Meaningful Relationships • Advocate for Royal Ambassadors. • Participate in training within your state convention or association.

35. Registering your RA Chapter Developing your RA Network: • National RA Web site (wmu.com/RA) • Written registration form (download from the RA Web site)

36. Registering your RA Chapter Developing your RA Network: • Name your chapter after a missionary or someone who exemplifies the RA Pledge. • This registration will be the communication link between you and your state RA office.

37. Network Information • wmu.org (Woman’s Missionary Union) • wmu.com/RA (RA leader downloads, videos, and MUCH more!) • Facebook: Facebook.com/RoyalAmbassador • Twitter: RA_wmu

38. Network Information • lifewaystores.com/specialtyimprints (vest, flag, shirts, caps, pens, imprinted items) • royalracers.com (RA racer cars, sailboats, linegliders, and race- car tracks) • 1-800-968-7301 WMU Customer Service (pins, patches, magazines, resource kit)

39. Questions ??? M. Steve Heartsill at RA@wmu.org or sheartsill@wmu.org (205) 995-4808 or your state RA contact person

40. Royal Ambassadors Thank you for attending. May God bless you and your Royal Ambassadors this year!