Royal Ambassadors
Basic Training
M. Steve Heartsill, managing editor, RAs/Challengers
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

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

Foundation of Royal Ambassadors
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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.
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.
Royal Ambassador Biblical
Virtues
Loyalty
Compassion
Friendship
Perseverance
Courage
Teamwork
Responsibility
Self-
Honesty
Faith
discipline
Royal Ambassador Groupings
Royal Ambassadors
(Grades 1-6)
Lads
(Grades 1-3)
Crusaders
(Grades 4-6)

Royal Ambassador Groupings
Individual grade
 Lad 1 RAs
 Page 4 RAs
 Lad 2 RAs
 Squire 5 RAs
 Lad 3 RAs
 Knight 6 RAs

Multiple grade combinations
RA Organizational Components
weekly chapter meetings
 personal advancement plan
 monthly missions projects/activities
 weekly interest activities
 ongoing meaningful relationships

Weekly Chapter Meetings . . .
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allow for leaders and boys to practice the RA
Motto, Pledge, and virtues through activitybased 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.
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

Weekly Chapter Meetings
Other resource information provided in the leader
magazine:
missions
project suggestions
interest activity ideas
Bible verse supporting the theme
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
Weekly Chapter Meetings
The boy’s study resource

monthly student magazine:
RA World for boys in grades 1–6
Weekly Chapter Meetings
Student magazine resources include
mission
stories
interest
activities
Weekly Chapter Meetings
Student magazine resources include
RA-submitted
jokes and artwork
missionary kid information
ideas shared by RA chapters
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.
Royal Ambassador Advancement

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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.
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.
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.
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.)
Royal Ambassador Advancement
Boys may earn awards in Bible verse
memory:
three Bible memory medals (25 verses
per medal annually)
Bronze
Silver
Gold
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
Royal Ambassador Advancement
Elective Awards
RA Racers, RA Campout, Sports
Hunger Relief, World Walk, Mission
Activity
Mission Study: NAMB and IMB Emphasis
Missions Projects and Activities
monthly ideas in RA Leader
 churchwide projects
 family projects
 associational, state, and national
projects

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.

Interest Activities
Suggestions are in the leader magazine.
 Focus on boy appeal.
 Learning to use teamwork and tools to
accomplish a goal.

Interest Activities
Teaches listening, problem solving,
patience, and skill development—more
than just winning or losing.
 Blends active and passive learning.

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.

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.

Meaningful Relationships
Be available.
 Lead the boys with love and respect.
 Be a leader and friend—not a pal or
buddy.

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.

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.

Meaningful Relationships
Advocate for Royal Ambassadors.
 Participate in training within your
state convention or association.

Registering your RA Chapter
Developing your RA Network:
 National
RA Web site (wmu.com/RA)
 Written registration form (download from the RA
Web site)
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.
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

Network Information
lifewaystores.com/specialtyimprints
(vest, flag, shirts, caps, pens, imprinted
items)
 royalracers.com (RA racer cars, sailboats,
linegliders, and race- car tracks)
 1-800-968-7301 WMU Customer Service
(pins, patches, magazines, resource kit)

Questions ???
M. Steve Heartsill at RA@wmu.org or
sheartsill@wmu.org (205) 995-4808
or
your state RA contact person
Royal Ambassadors
Thank you
for attending.
May God bless you and your
Royal Ambassadors this year!