ReThink/ReRe: Expedition Rangers (Part 1 of ??)
I remember in 2007 at Penn-Del District Roundtable giving my report as Expedition Coordinator. I could see a lot of people give the look like, “he’s going to give a real report and we just want to get out of here”. I remember moments later the look on people’s faces when I said “Expedition Rangers doesn’t work“.
Can I be so bold to say much of what we do in Royal Rangers, maybe even in youth ministry doesn’t work? Well this statement can go a million direction and is both dead on and totally off.
Bottom line, it is about sharing the love and life of God with others, aka Christ’s saving grace.
Royal Rangers is one of many “ministry machines” or “ministry programs“. A machine or program has to be engineered, fabricated, then rolled out live. So you don’t build a car to do the work of a truck, nor build a truck to do the work of a bicycle. One size does not fit all.
Kudos to much of the high leadership recently in Royal Rangers for recognizing such core concepts and going after the ReRe’s. (OK, please don’t use that term, because it is ridiculous). It is bold and much overdue to recognize that camping and classic scouting isn’t cutting it overall to reach, teach, and keep boys for Jesus Christ.
Over my 12+ years as an adult servant leader I’ve come across plenty of boys that after a certain point stopped coming to Rangers or just moved on to other things. We all can list the common reason, everything from girls to sick of certain adult leaders to bordum to lack of interest, etc, etc, etc.
The other day I talked with one of the teens that use to be a part of my Adventure Rangers group. He brought up briefly that he was sorry he wasn’t into Royal Rangers anymore, though he was back then. I told him that is fine and Royal Rangers is not for everyone. So true. And once a boy reaches his teen years, I won’t force something like Royal Rangers on them.
So begins a series of related topics. Time for a list to explore later?! I think so.
Some things to rant about regarding ER:
1. Royal Rangers needs a re-branding, not the age groups, rather renaming “Royal Rangers” to something else. There I said it. Throw rocks at me, yet they will bounce right back on you.
2. We need to do a better job connecting teen boys to outdoor activities, like backpacking, cycling, canoing/kayaking, etc. I’m not talking training.
3. RR USA needs to open up to girls. This is as a joint youth ministries effort, not the think most are about to throw rocks for…
4. We need to build our servant leadership structure correctly to serve ministry need. Enough with the failed attempt to mirror both boy scouts and the military. We need to know our boys!
5. We need ministry specialists. We need activity specialists. We need disciplers. We need prayer warriors.
6. There has to be effective expansion on interests. Being effective also mean being smart both in the short and long term.
7. Unless you are in Ranger Kids, I say at events, we need to stop doing petty activities that the Rangers Kids do. How about on a camp out event do camping, trail, and water activities! How about on sporting events do real sports! How about some quality. How about do an event that just focuses on one activity, like backpacking or canoeing?! I’m sick of Powwow’s being Ranger Kid Field Day for the older boys with a sad attempt at a rock concert/service.
8. Simplicity please?!
9. Can we please cut off the dead limbs already while also plugging in our junior leadership into young adult leadership roles?! I’ve already proven that over and over again and the most effective route, yet I’ve seen changes in leadership in recent years repeat the same mistakes. Enough with this break-fix that has been a cancer killing Royal Rangers in its short history!
10. Are we even plugging into the Holy Spirit?! Seriously, I’m not talking about those Pentecostal feel goods, I’m talking about that baptism by fire, which is evident by blood, sweat, and tears. If you are not plugging into the Holy Spirit and don’t have fresh battle scars, then you are not at all doing that, you’re likely just a resounding gong, a clanging cymbol, one with meaningless faith that moves mountains, one who can speak beautiful empty words, etc etc…
Jesus love all of us. Jesus says go and makes disciples. So get with God’s program already. Trust me, that will work, not all this other failed stuff.
P.S. - I am still looking for Royal Rangers to join me on the trail. Hope my Outpost shows up this summer.
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