In a message dated 10/29/1999 7:22:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> You're bribing your boys with money?
> Do you think Jesus would be pleased with this?
> If the boys cannot talk to someone about Rangers, Christ, etc. You
> there commander should train them. Money should not be in the picture.
> Remember what Jesus said? Man cannot service both God and money.
> The boys aren't worried about reaching the lost just the money. sounds
> like they are putting money before God. I'm not sending this as flames,
> but this is what I read in your post.
Wow, No offense taken. I never really thought of it that way. But here goes
my defense.
Bribing with money? Sure, but would it make a difference if we gave them $20
of stuff from the GPH catalog? The focus is not on the reward, but on the
inviting. Also, it gives the boys an out when asking their friends to come.
The objective is to get the boys to recruit their friends, then the leaders
follow up with the boy. We are an urban outpost, not in the sense of
Rangers, but in location (we are in a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA). The
competition for the boys' interest is intense. We have a hard time getting
the boys to wear their uniforms because of that. It is "uncool" for them to
be seen in uniform. That is the way it is. We allow the boys to bring the
uniforms to the meeting and put it on there.
On the agenda for our next Leader's Roundtable is going door to door with a
Ranger brochure, a letter, and a Missionette brochure in our neighborhood.
This would be done on a Saturday by the boys and leaders.
Yes, we need to teach them to be bold for Jesus and invite their friends for
altruistic reasons; however, many are afraid to do so for fear of
embarrassment. I cannot get some of the boys to sing their patrol song
individually in an outpost meeting let alone ask them to share their faith.
Rangers is basic training for life. If we can motivate them to invite
others, they may learn that there is nothing to fear.
By the way, on an average Sunday, how many first time visitors are in your
church? Adults have a hard time inviting others to church, let alone having
a 9 year old boy do it. (BTW, our church averages 3 a Sunday morning and we
run about 350 on a Sunday morning) Why aren't our churches packed with
visitors? (me guilty too)
OK, this may be dirty pool, but here goes anyway. To paraphrase the Apostle
Paul from Phillipians 1:17-18,
17 Some invite their friends out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, ... 18
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether
from false motives or true, boys are invited to Rangers to hear Christ
preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Kelvin Pier
Sr. Cmdr.
of the Mighty 34th
from the Penn-Del District
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
_______
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Eat the hay & spit out the sticks! - A#1's mule" RTKB&G4JC!
http://rangernet.org Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
