Camporama 2012

It's almost here .. the 50th Anniversary National Royal Rangers Camporama 2012.  On July 8th, at 8:00 AM, we will load our vans with 14 boys, and 7 leaders, and make our way westward toward the state of Missouri, to Eagle Rock, the National Royal Rangers campground to experience a trip and the event of a lifetime for many.  While we have stops along the way, such as the St. Louis Arch, and others, the activities and ministry planned for our stay at the camp are phenominal in every way.  Lives will be changed, encouraged, and blessed as we fellowship with boys and leaders from around the globe.

Our planning is coming closer to completion and we have met deadlines for fees and forms, as well as lodging and transportation.  While we have a final balance of fees to collect, much of what's left is loading the vehicles with tents, coolers, personal gear and other necessities for a week's stay in some very, very warm weather, but full of high caliber activities and ministry.

Pictures will surely follow at some point, but the stories and experiences of all who attend will follow for many months, even years.

As we finalize the plans and preparations, we trust that all who are supporting us and who will give us the send off will watch also as we return, eager to share in the stories that boys especially will have about what has impacted them throughout the week.

Our thanks surely go out to all who have supported us financially, but definitely the prayers of covering and traveling protection and blessings.  Boys are being Mentored for Future Men and this event will provide another great opportunity to continue that process.  God is so good!  All the time!

Summer 2012 Coming

Just wanted to update our planning for the coming months, going into the summer season, with what has already had us busy with planning and preparations for activities and goals.

As you know, we have committed to making the trip to the 50 Year Anniversary National Camporama, in July.  That will be a week long trip beginning with our July 8 departure, returning July 14th.  The camp will start July 9, and close July 13th.  We will make the 1500 mile roundtrip with the largest group ever registered for our outpost.  We have a group of 23 signed up, 16 of which are boys and this promises to be one of the most exciting camps with the celebrations and ministry planned for this 50th Anniversary of Royal Rangers which began in 1962.

Other plans right now are for two camps which will be, April 13-14, Adventure Rangers Leadership Training, and May 11, for a combined Discovery and Ranger Kids campover, both camps being held at our Wright Road property.  Announcements will follow sometime in the near future with cost and planning.

Res Seed also has us planning to raise funds as soon as we are approved for a project to enable us to go forward with that.

Our new schedule has had it's challenges, but we believe we're on a stable track to continue what we do best, .. to offer fun and adventure while we build relationships around God's Word and through men of God who commit their time and resources to mentor future men.

Lastly, have you seen the new Royal Ranger pages now installed on the church website at www.rodparsley.com?   I do hope you begin to stop in and see what has been provided and watch as we plan to keep it updated and relevant to what our Royal Rangers are doing at World Harvest Church.

Be blessed and let us know if you are interested in Royal Rangers in any way,

Senior Commander

Blue Jeans .. Everywhere!

Did you ever notice how many people and how many places you find "blue jeans", .. not just in the country, but in the stores, on the streets, in the church, every fellowship, every corner of the world we visit regardless of culture (no I haven't been in every country of the world, but notice the pictures you find).

We wear them to work, play, shop, and to church, as an accepted form of wear.  There are some variations in color, some with bedazzles, many with holes, some hanging by a thread, some barely hanging (in need of a belt or suspenders), but everywhere.

This I believe began as a western form of wear for cowboys, but every manufacturer of denim has certainly found the market that won't go away anytime soon, for girls as well of course.

As such, I want to remind you, that YES, the Royal Rangers endorse wearing blue jeans (neatly, not hanging to reveal what we shouldn't see) as part of our Utility Uniform.  Boys and men have been wearing blue jeans for some years now in Royal Ranger activities, especially campouts or field events.  They have been accepted as part of the Ranger Kids uniform with the Red RK Shirts and now with the new Utility Khaki shirts as a part of the uniform for everyone.  The National Royal Rangers Commander wears them as well.

We can tell you there is a uniform that is considered Class A, that must be Khaki, both pants and shirt, but this is not a requirement except for some camps and for leaders who will be in a position of representing a more formal appearance for Royal Ranger Conferences and Training Seminars, etc.

The blue jeans are with us to an indefinite period of time and will save money for parents and leaders alike since we can wear them with the Utility Shirt, Ranger wear such as t-shirts and includes of course Ranger sweatshirts.

While we still ask that all Ranger wear be washed for the next wear, every boy and leader is at home with blue jeans, and it is the wear of choice, accepted all over the country and world.

Welcome to denim wear for Royal Rangers.  While my mother used to iron them for me, .. well I haven't been able to keep up with that, but out of the dryer they are normally neat and ready to wear.  Wear them in confidence and pride as part of our Royal Ranger uniform.

2012 Royal Rangers Going Forward

Remembering our Elder Tom Bender, a great supporter, friend, and active member of Outpost 207.  We miss you Elder Bender.

What a year 2011!  Let's see what God has in store for Outpost 207 in 2012!

Yes, we have some changes and challenges, but His Word at work in us and for us will propel us forward to what the vision reveals in 2012.  With scheduling changes come adjustments as to how we accomplish the goals and expectations of "mentoring men for the future", but always know our mission has not changed for "reaching, teaching, and keeping boys for Christ".  We will continue to evangelize, equip, and empower boys to be lifelong servants of God.

With the support of our Children's Ministries leadership under the direction of our Pastor, we will move forward to provide the training, ministry, activities of interest to the boys, and certainly providing opportunity for boys to gain leadership experience.  Our Royal Ranger leaders are already planning on ways to implement the word in all we do this year, following the directive of our Pastor to put first priority on the Word, reading through the bible this year.  Our boys have full opportunity to not only read the Word, but receive merit awards for each book read.

This year, 2012, is the 50th Anniversary of Royal Rangers, nationally, and as such we are planning to attend the 2012 National Camporama in Eagle Rock, Missouri in July.  Camporama, is held every four years, but this year will be special, with the celebration of 50 years of Royal Rangers, active all over the United States and around the world.  We are encouraging as many as can to attend this exciting camp of ministry, fun and adventure, to include fellowship with Rangers from all over the nation and world.

There is much to do and few hands to do it, but we trust God will bless the work of all the hands attending to this great ministry.  We want to invite every man who has a heart for boys and who will give some time each week to our boys, to join us.  Training will come, but only if there are men who will come to receive it and then run with it.  The rewards may only be known in eternity, but, it only takes one boy won to Christ or seeing a boys life changed, to remind us of the importance of mentoring future men for Christ.

Senior Commander