This article is the 5th article of the Week of Prayer series of articles that the Waco Section Royal Rangers blog has sponsored. It is our hope that you will be challenged by this article, and that you will lift the prayer emphasis up to the Lord in prayer.
Royal Rangers is full of leaders that serve at all levels of the organizational structure. A large majority of these leaders are volunteers in the ministry, and receive no pay or compensation for their time. Yet, day in and day out, they labor for the ministry of God, to Royal Rangers be effective in reaching, teaching, and keeping boys for Christ.
These leaders do a lot of work behind the scenes to ensure the success of this ministry, and often times they don’t receive the thanks for their time. Now, don’t get me wrong, they don’t do it to be recognized by men, they know that their reward is in heaven. Yet, they are human and it is sometimes nice to hear a “Thank you for your hard work in the ministry,” or an “I’m praying for you, that God will bless you for all you do for the ministry.”
In Royal Rangers, the hierarchy ranges from the national level down to the local level, with regions, districts, and sections in between. Each level has their own leader, staff, and areas of responsibility. Yet they all work together for the benefit of the ministry.
Those in leadership position go through trials. Satan will typically attack those in leadership positions, because he knows that if the leader goes down, the ministry, church, or organization can and sometimes will collapse. In these times that we are living in today, where Satan seems to be attacking Christian leaders more and more, it has become imperative that we lift up these leaders to the very throne of God that the Lord will put His hedge of protection around them and protect them from the attacks of the enemy.
Leaders face challenges on a daily basis, and the higher up the leader is, the more important these challenges can be and the greater effect they can have when resolved correctly. However, when resolved incorrectly, challenges faced by the leaders at the top can have drastic consequences to everyone in the organization.
At the national level, Royal Rangers is served by both full-time, paid leaders and by volunteers. These leaders have the task of looking at the big picture of Royal Rangers and working with the Executive Leadership Team to ensure that Royal Rangers continues to be an effective ministry in the Assemblies of God. These leaders also have the responsibility to tweak and fix problems in the curriculum and ministry, to continue making the ministry better.
At the national level, Royal Rangers is headed up by Rev. Doug Marsh. He provides the general oversight to the entire Royal Rangers ministry. He is actively preparing a 3-8 year plan for Royal Rangers and working on evaluating, fixing, and tweaking areas of Royal Rangers that are in need of being fixed or tweaked.
Members of his staff at the national level are: Perry Siddle, national training coordinator, John Hicks, national communications and administrative coordinator, Steve Schultz, national junior leadership development coordinator, JR Whinery, national resource and logistic coordinator, and Rev. Ryan Beaty, national programs coordinator. Each of these leaders are responsible for their own areas of interest, while working closely with Doug Marsh to better the Royal Rangers ministry.
Perry Siddle, national training coordinator, is responsible for all leader training both in the LTA and the national training camps. The rework being done on the LTA as well as the national training camps are being led by Perry Siddle. We will be seeing changes coming to the LTA to make it more hands on and less lecture based. Exactly how this is going to take place, is yet to be seen, but I believe that this should be a step in the right direction.
John Hicks, national communications and administrative coordinator, is responsible for all national publications for Royal Rangers. One of his main responsibilities is the quarterly High Adventure. He is also responsible for evaluating and approving national medals, such as the Medal of Valor and Medal of Courage.
Steve Schultz, national junior leadership development coordinator, is responsible for the development of all junior leadership training camps. He is also instrumental in Doug Marshs’ plan to help turn Royal Rangers into a boy lead, adult facilitated ministry. The JLTA is being tweaked and in some camps being completely re-written (or written for the first time). We should expect to see these camps become even better then they currently are and help develop and prepare our boys to serve as junior leaders and build in them the leadership qualities that they can carry over into their adult lives. His portfolio also includes planning for national Camporama and national FCF Rendezvous as well as the Eagle Rock Adventure.
JR Whinery, national resource and logistic coordinator, is responsible for acquiring all resources that are needed at the national office and for national events and ensure that they are available when needed. He is also responsible for the budgeting and accounting in the national office and the organization of events such as National Council.
Ryan Beaty, national programs coordinator, is responsible for the Royal Rangers curriculum. He will be overseeing the writing of new curriculum, as well as the completion of curriculum that hasn’t been finished yet. He will also oversee the revisions of the existing curriculum as the need arises.
Other national staff members include FCF staff Jim Rounsville, Paul Walters, II, and Rev. Robert T. Schlipp and RRA staff Ronnie Franklin, Dan Holloway, and Rick Beebe.
At the regional level for the South Central Region, Jonathan Trower serves as regional coordinator and provides oversight and leadership for the events inside the region. In this role, he oversees the regions budget and works with his staff to provide such events as Regional Conference, Regional ROTY, and Territorial Rendezvous.
Members of the South Central Region staff are: Trey Mitchell, regional training coordinator, Tony Garcia, III, regional programs coordinator, Randy Woods, regional missions coordinator, Ralph Williams, regional RRA coordinator, Ted Schmidt, territorial FCF representative, and Bill Stuckey, territorial FCF scribe. Each of these leaders are responsible for specific areas, as well as working with Jonathan Trower and the rest of the regional staff to help put the different regional events on.
Trey Mitchell, regional training coordinator, is primarily responsible for the annual Regional Conference held the last weekend of January. He puts in a lot of work selecting the classes and modules to be taught, finding instructors, and scheduling the classes.
Tony Garcia, III, regional programs coordinator, is responsible for the regional ROTY evaluations. It is at this level of evaluations that boys are evaluated and have the chance to become a Regional ROTY, but also for the chance to become the National ROTY for the South Central Region. A lot of work goes in to putting the ROTY on. There is the coordinating with each of the districts to learn who will be coming to compete as well as what the boys want to be evaluated on. Then there is the work of organizing and conducting the ROTY.
Randy Woods, regional missions coordinator, is responsible for coordinating missions projects for the region. He was also instrumental in getting the national Royal Rangers 24-hour prayer vigil implemented. The burden for this Week of Prayer series came out of that 24-hour prayer vigil. He also helps coordinate with the different districts that are looking to offer mission trips or Pathfinder trips.
Ralph Williams, regional RRA coordinator, works to promote the RRA within the region and helps coordinate RRA efforts to assist as needed at the different regional events.
Ted Schmidt, territorial FCF representative, is responsible for planning and conducting the territorial rendezvous held every two years, here in the region. He also conducts the scout selection at the rendezvous that determines who will be our territorial scout and our region’s national scout. He also runs regional wilderness vigils or helps districts run theirs to help FCF members advance to wilderness.
Bill Stuckey, territorial FCF scribe, works closely with Ted Schmidt to help plan and conduct the territorial rendezvous.
At the district level, Jonathan Trower heads up the Royal Rangers ministry in the North Texas Resource Center. He provides oversight and guidance to Royal Rangers throughout the district. He is responsible for the budgeting of all events, and ensuring that all events meet the national standards and that this district falls in line with the standards set by the district and national leadership. He also oversees all district events within the district, including Pow Wow, Winter Camp, Commander’s Conference, and many other events.
Members of the district staff are: Rick Beebe, deputy district commander, Dick Harris, district training coordinator, Martin Smith, district programs coordinator and GMAA coordinator, Randy Woods, district missions coordinator, Sammy Kellum, district RRA coordinator, Ronnie Franklin, district communications coordinator, Gary Bierschwale, district FCF president, Art Sullivan, district FCF vice president, Lindsay Lang, district public relations coordinator, Scott Stamps, district first aid coordinator, Jeremy Chester, M.D., district medical director, Nolen Fox, district security coordinator.
Rick Beebe, deputy district commander, assists Jonathan Trower as well as coordinating GMA interviews around the district for boys that have completed the work on their GMA.
Dick Harris, district training coordinator, is responsible for all training within the district. He conducts the district Commander’s Conference, as well as the ICS, and other training events in the district. He is also responsible for ART and the JLTA. He oversees LTA training in the district. He also is responsible for the scheduling of national training events within the district.
Martin Smith, district programs coordinator, is responsible for coordinating activities specific to the different age groups as well as planning and conducting the district ROTY evaluations. He also serves as the GMAA coordinator coordinating the efforts of the GMAA in the district.
Randy Woods, district missions coordinator, is responsible for coordinating and planning district mission trips and Pathfinder trips. He also coordinates and plans the prayer vigils that we hold as a district over the Brush Poppin’ weekend and the Pow Wow weekend.
Sammy Kellum, district RRA coordinator, is responsible for promoting the RRA within the district and helping to coordinate RRA members within the district in helping out at different events and in different areas as needed.
Ronnie Franklin, district communications coordinator, is responsible for handling communications at events like Pow Wow.
Gary Bierschwale, district FCF president, and Art Sullivan, district FCF vice president, are responsible for coordinating and organizing all FCF events within the district. They are also responsible for running the Frontier Adventure for new members as well as conducting the testing for Buckskin advancement and wilderness vigils.
Lindsay Lang, district public relations coordinator, is responsible for all publications for the district including the district Signal Fire and the district web site.
Scott Stamps, district first aid coordinator, is responsible for coordinating the first aid station at district events and ensures that the first aid station is manned and ready for use.
Jeremy Chester, M.D., district medical director, is responsible for developing the medical policies for the district to ensure that we are following proper medical standards and doing what we can to ensure the safety of all our boys at our district events.
Nolen Fox, district security coordinator, is responsible for coordinating the security of our district events to ensure the safety and security of our boys while they are on the campground premises at our events.
Other district staff members include: Mark Chapman, Rodney Briggs, Wayne Word, and Jody Fauss. Other district FCF staff members include: Mark Woods, Mark Horner, Rodney Briggs, Lee Fogleman, and Michael Clay.
At the sectional level, Tom Schlipp heads up Royal Rangers in the Waco Section. He is responsible for coordinating all events within the section and overseeing training within the section. He is also responsible for ensuring that all sectional events fall in line with the district and national guidelines.
Members of the sectional staff include: Billy Johnson, deputy sectional commander – RRA, David Trower, sectional web and publications coordinator, Kim Leitner, sectional productions coordinator, Rev. Jeff Ortner, sectional public relations coordinator and sectional chaplain, Weldon Kirkland, sectional urban rangers coordinator, Paul Cranfill, sectional FCF representative, Lou Bryan, sectional first aid officer, Rev. George Wilson, Groebeck area commander, Robin Bergland, Killeen area commander, Del J. Follis, Waco area commander, and Heather Follis, Ranger Kids coordinator.
Billy Johnson, deputy sectional commander – RRA, is responsible for assisting Tom Schlipp in coordinating the events of the section as well as coordinating RRA members in the section to assist at sectional events as needed.
David Trower, sectional web and publications coordinator, is responsible for all sectional publications including the H.O.T. Chronicles and event packets. He is also responsible for the sectional web site. Other areas of responsibility include designing and ordering of all resources needed for the section, including patches and other items.
Kim Leitner, sectional productions coordinator, is responsible for the evening council fire services and morning assemblies at sectional events. He is responsible for preparing and conducting the pageants at the council fire services. He helps coordinate the praise and worship band and the speaker.
Rev. Jeff Ortner, sectional public relations coordinator and sectional chaplain, serves as the liaison between Royal Rangers and the ministers of the section. He also serves as a spiritual guide for the sectional staff and the section.
Weldon Kirkland, sectional urban rangers coordinator, is responsible for coordinating the urban rangers efforts within the Waco section.
Paul Cranfill, sectional FCF representative, is responsible for promoting FCF at all sectional events and help encourage boys and men to join FCF.
Lou Bryan, sectional first aid officer, is responsible for first aid at all sectional events.
Rev. George Wilson, Groesbeck area commander, is responsible for promoting Royal Rangers within the Groesbeck area and coordinating area events for churches in his area.
Robin Bergland, Killeen area commander, is responsible for promoting Royal Rangers within the Killeen area and coordinating events for churches in his area.
Del J. Follis, Waco area commander, is responsible for promoting Royal Rangers within the Waco area and coordinating events for churches in his area.
Heather Follis, Ranger Kids coordinator, is responsible for coordinating the sectional Ranger Kids field day and other Ranger Kids activities throughout the section.
All of these leaders face difficulties, they have personal situations that come up that they need the Lord’s intervention in, and they all get attacked by the enemy. Yet, they continue to serve this ministry faithfully and work to make sure this ministry fulfills its mission of reaching, teaching, and keeping boys for Christ.
It is my hope that while you have read this article, that God has placed a burden in your heart for the leaders of Royal Rangers at the national, regional, district, and sectional levels. They need our prayers as they guide this ministry into the new year and the years to come. It is my prayer that you will take that burden and pray for these leaders and intercede on their behalf for God’s strength, wisdom, comfort, and protection.
Dear Heavenly Father we just come to you today and thank you for being our protection and our strength during the times of trial and temptations. We ask you Father God that you place a hedge of protection around each of the leaders that were mentioned by name in the article and that you will send your guardian angels to surround them as they travel doing your work. Father God we ask you now that you give your insight and place your will in the hearts of each of these leaders as they work to help grow the ministry. We ask Father God that you provide your financial blessings for each leader and that you provide for each of their needs whatever they may be. If any of the leaders are sick or in pain, Father God, we ask that you heal them and we stand on the promise that by the stripes that Jesus bore on His back we are healed and we claim that healing. We ask Father God that you will lead and guide these leaders in the way that you would have them go. We ask all these things in your precious name, Amen.
David Trower
Sectional Web and Publications Coordinator
Attention AOL and Road Runner subscribers: We would like to apologize for the recent problems that we have experienced with the Waco Section email list. It is our understanding that all subscribers received the Week of Prayer article posted on Sunday, January 6, 2008, entitled “Week of Prayer: Core Values of the Assemblies of God“. However, our AOL and Road Runner subscribers have not received the Week of Prayer articles that were posted on Monday, January 7, 2008, and Tuesday, January 8, 2008, entitled “Week of Prayer: The Need for Leaders” and “Week of Prayer: The Needs of Royal Rangers.” It also would appear that our subscribers at AOL and Road Runner have also not received the Week of Prayer article that was posted on Wednesday, January 9, 2008, entitled “Week of Prayer: The Benefits of Royal Rangers.” These articles are available for reading on the Waco Section Royal Rangers Blog (http://www.wacoroyalrangers.org). We hope that the problems that we have been experiencing the last couple of days have been resolved and that all of our subscribers will receive the rest of our Week of Prayer articles this week and all future emails. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our sectional web and publications coordinator, David Trower, at JDTrower@royalrangers.net.