Starting an Outpost

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There are four basic steps to establishing a Royal Rangers outpost to minister to the boys and young men in your local church or fellowship.

Establish the Leadership Roles

The Pastor: The pastor is the key to having a successful Royal Rangers ministry . If he is fully aware of how evangelically effective Royal Rangers is, he will support the ministry wholeheartedly. First, he must learn about Royal Rangers. If your pastor wants to learn about Royal Rangers, this Web site is a great place to start. It is best if he is the one to initiate the program in the church to ensure congregational and staff support for this vital ministry. He should discuss with the congregation the basic needs of the boys and recommend that the program be adopted.

The Church: The congregation should recognize that the Royal Rangers groups are a part of the "total church ministry." Also, they should realize that the men in the church should assume responsibility for the promotion, leadership and financing of the work. The church is also responsible to screen its leaders for the safety of the children in the church. Some churches may choose another leader or ministry to exercise authority over the Royal Rangers.

Ministry Oversight: The church's board or department head should promote and oversee Royal Rangers. Those individuals must become familiar with the aims, purposes and mission of this ministry.

Outpost Council: An Outpost Council is appointed by the local Men's Ministries Committee or the church board. It is comprised of three to five men who are interested in ministry to boys, capable of leadership and willing to spend time developing the program. This council is responsible for appointing leaders, securing a meeting place, finances and equipment and honoring advancements
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Choosing Outpost Council Leaders

Because the commander is looked up to as an example by the commanders and boys in Royal Rangers, the Outpost Council should consider the qualifications of a good commander, as suggested by the following guidelines:

Is the candidate a born-again Christian, well-grounded in the Word of God?
Is the candidate loyal to the church?
Are the candidate's habits and ideals above reproach?
Does the candidate have a heart for ministering to boys and enjoy working with them?
Does the candidate have a consistent testimony in daily Christian living?
Is the candidate able to lead and delegate authority?
Does the candidate possess good judgment?
Is the candidate willing to accept responsibility?
Does the candidate command the respect of other men?
Does the candidate cooperate with the program of the church?
Will the candidate take leadership training?
Is the candidate 21 years of age or older? (Lieutenant commanders must be 18 or older.)