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 message of 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, a story, 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)
WMU Customer Service (pins, patches, magazines, resource kit)

39. Questions ??? your state RA contact person
M. Steve Heartsill at or
(205) or
your state RA contact person

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