News - November & December 2009
Posted by Doug | Filed under News from the National Director
Hello, District Directors!
I trust you enjoyed your Thanksgiving weekend. Please know the entire national team is grateful for your life and ministry!
Below you will find an encouraging message courtesy of Greg Scott, district director in Penn-Del. Thanks, Greg, for sharing:
“Our pastor told the story how Chinese Bamboo trees grow. It changed the way I think about growth. There are 1500+ different kinds of bamboo trees. The Chinese Bamboo tree is not the kind growing in your typical office. Here’s how they grow:
- “1st Year – You plant a bamboo seedling and give it proper sunlight, water, and nourishment. In the first year you can expect a tiny sprout, but no more.
- “2nd Year – You give it constant attention, watering, sunlight and maybe you even throw in some praying, but still the bamboo does not grow. You were told it might take a while to grow, so you keep soldiering on.
- “3rd year – You give the bamboo the same love and care; the best fertilizer, sunlight, water, but again much to your amazement, nothing happens. You start asking yourself, why isn’t this thing growing? At this point many give up, but no, not you!
- “4th Year – You take a look around the garden and realize that all the other plants are blooming and teeming with life and vibrancy. But your poor bamboo seed has nothing to show for. You’ve been at it four years, and the tiny sprout is no bigger than it was during the first year.
- “5th Year – It is not until sometime in the fifth year the bamboo tree will start to grow. And what happens inside a 4-6 week period will astonish you. The tiny bamboo sprout you cared for will grow as much as 3 feet in a single day until it reaches as high as 90 feet. How can this be? During the first four years the plant showed no signs of growth, it was actually growing below ground, miles of intricate roots that are now propelling its massive upward growth. The bamboos’ intricate root structure takes four years to prepare itself for the growth it will experience in its 5th year.”
Life and ministry are this way, too, are they not? We want instant results, but often God wants us to grow deep before we grow tall. The old saying is true: ministry is about building clocks (people) not telling time. Yes, the bamboo shoot will grow tall, your efforts will produce results, but don’t despise growing deep; God expects it of anyone and any ministry that will grow tall.
LEAD 2010 – NATIONAL COUNCIL AND CONFERENCE
March 13-16, 2010 • University Plaza • Springfield, MO
Plan to attend National Council! Get as many of your organizational leaders (sectional, district, and national) to attend with you as can. Full information is available online, and registration is open. (Early registration has its benefits, too.)
Here’s the link: http://royalrangers.ag.org/events/nationalcouncil/
READING BEFORE LEAD 2010 - NATIONAL COUNCIL & CONFERENCE
National Council will premier the Johnnie Barnes Excellence in Leadership and Ministry Initiative. We invite all attendees to read Leading at a Higher Level by Ken Blanchard to get the most from the training experience.
In addition, we request that district directors and outreach coordinators also read Church Marketing 101 by Richard L. Reising.
RANGER ESSENTIALS TO LAUNCH AT LEAD 2010 – NATIONAL COUNCIL & CONFERENCE
One of the features of National Council will be the premier launch of the new Ranger Essentials. When you register for Council, Ranger Essentials is included. Encourage new leaders to attend as well as those who have already earned their LMA and wish to transition into the new Rangers Ministry Academy.
This link provides full information: http://agwebservices.org/Content/Resources/Ranger%20Essentials%20Flyer%20v10-16-09.pdf
SIGN-UP FOR rLIFE
rLife is the new electronic newsletter from the National Royal Rangers Ministry office that will soon launch. It is available to everyone interested—boys, leaders, parents, pastors, organizational leaders, etc. (It will not replace this monthly email newsletter, however.)
Visit the national ministry web site or click on this link to sign up: http://royalrangers.ag.org/connect/newsletter/
NATIONAL RANGERS MINISTRY CAMP (NRMC) TO LAUNCH IN 2010
An NRMC will be piloted in each region starting in 2010. Please begin to promote attendance.
NRMC will give instruction in basic outdoor skills and activities, providing leaders with the skills needed to take their Ranger boys on exciting outpost activities outside their normal weekly meeting times. Instruction in effectively implementing the team/patrol method will be offered as a means to facilitate junior leadership development. Leaders will be challenged to connect with God and explore spiritual manhood.
Click here for dates and full information: http://royalrangers.ag.org/training/schedule/
BRAGGING ON TENNESSEE - ONLINE CHARTERING
Many of you know that as our national director has traveled around the nation in recent months he has been bragging up the chartering results Tennessee has enjoyed since launching the new online chartering system with its accompanying benefits. Many have requested the email Doug has been referencing, so we wanted to include it this month. We have intentionally kept the chartering portal on the national website open, so please continue to encourage chartering. Like Tennessee, your efforts and those of your team will pay off!
Here’s Rick Black’s email from October 15, 2009:
“Three years ago the Tennessee district had 69 chartered outposts. In February 2009, only 37 of our churches operated chartered outposts. Beginning in August 15, 2009, every existing outpost was required to re-charter on-line. The deadline to do this was today, October 15. After a tremendous effort to notify, educate and remind churches of this new process, we now have 51 churches chartered. While that number alone may not sound impressive, the results of our efforts are extremely encouraging! “Since July the Tennessee District Royal Rangers have done the following to promote on-line chartering:
- 1. “Advertised the change over to the new chartering system in the Tennessee District ministers magazine, Partnership.
- 2. “Broadcast the need to charter on-line to all district Royal Rangers leaders at the Tennessee District’s Ranger Adventure Week (Formerly Powwow).
- 3. “Publicized the on-line chartering process and benefits at the Tennessee District Church Ministries Convention (The Blend).
- 4. “Sent two separate mass emails that briefly outlined the on-line chartering process to all Tennessee District A/G churches. At least one emailing included all ministers, youth pastors, and Royal Ranger leaders.
- 5. “Made countless phone calls and personal contacts, including individual emails, throughout the Tennessee District. A telephone campaign was conducted to contact all presently chartered churches reminding them of the October 15 on-line chartering deadline.
- 6. “Personal contacts continued through the October 15 deadline with at least 10 churches chartering on-line in direct response to being contacted.
“Aside from these numbers, I am aware of many more churches that are mentoring their young men with the tools of this ministry but have not actually chartered their outpost. Our team will be working on those groups in the upcoming months. I am encouraged by the base of support we have for the new on-line chartering process. I am optimistic that our charters will grow to record numbers in 2010. Most importantly, I’m excited about those numbers reflecting the impact we will have on future men of God. My personal thank you to… Melanie Keffer-District Admin Asst, Tom Throne-Church Outreach & Chartering, J.R. Gould-District Superintendent and Doug Marsh and team- National RR Office. While there is no one on this list who needs accolades, I need to let you know that we are reaping the benefits of your efforts in this ministry.”
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