DISCLAIMER: I RAN THIS BY MY WIFE BEFORE SENDING IT. She's in agreement
with these thoughts. She's been involved with Missionettes for several
years. It was initially sent as an attachment but some had difficulty
receiving and opening it.
Women and girls should not be allowed in Royal Rangers, at least beyond
the Buckaroo level.
"Our number one priority is to get men involved [as leaders] in soul
winning and the discipling of boys." These are the words of Rev. Burton
Pierce, one of the forefathers of RRs.
Why was Rev. Pierce making this emphasis that men be involved? It was
because countless boys left the church life and drifted away from God.
As we know, a decision was made for a specialized ministry geared towards
the needs of the boys, Royal Rangers.
Women were the main Christian educators in the church back then. A void
of men (except in Sunday service and maybe some other minor events) left
an unfulfilled need in those boys lives. That need was proper Christian
'male' role models. There was only so much a boy could learn from a
woman but the rest had to come from emulating men. They needed role
models to show them proper male character - spiritually as well as
socially, something they couldn't get from a women.
I heard a story once. Around dusk in an African village an annual event
would occur. The men of the village marched through the center of the
village and called out the boys to join them. This was a coming of age
ceremony. The mothers would stand in the doorway, the boys that were not
ready to be with the men hid in back of mother, but those who were ready
moved past the mother to join the procession. The march would end at a
meeting (camp) ground where throughout the night the boys would hear
stories of manhood and learn lessons from the elders.
Now this may not be as factual as it was told to me but the meaning
remains; boys need to move away from behind mother (and her skirt) and
join the men so they may learn from them. Today, our boys don't need
another motherly figure from a women commander but a male who will
demonstrate to them what it means to be a godly man. Something a
motherly figure cannot 'fully' teach.
Why does everything have to be gender neutral? Developmental science
tells us that boys will be boys and girls will be girls. Girls are
naturally going to go after the dolls and boys after cars and trucks.
What's so difficult to understand that there are differences, and with
those differences come unique traits and attitudes that only those of a
particular gender can understand. Have you ever heard a women say, "you
don't understand, it's a women thing"? Well, if there are women things,
naturally there are men things.
Who else can relate to a boys struggles and joys than a man who has had
similar life experiences. Who best to demonstrate the character of God to
a boy than a man. In a sense these boys are our spiritual children. The
faith, encouragement and support we give to these spiritual sons will
carry them through manhood.
I understand in some countries girls and women are allowed to join RRs
because there was no alternative girls programs. The leaders adapted to
what will work best for them.
But we in the U.S. have a girls program - Missionettes. This is a
Women's ministry. "Well, they don't have all that fun stuff like camping
and hiking." Yes they do, check into it. If they don't have those
elements that attract ladies to RRs, then they should change
Missionettes not Royal Rangers.
One final thought, suppose there was a movement in the church that men
wanted to become Missionette Sponsors, how far do you think that would
go? I'd pull my daughter out of it immediately, because a man has no
business working strictly with girls. Shouldn't this apply to women who
so desires to be a part of RRs, or is there some double standard we have
to abide by?
What better way to teach our boys to be godly men, but by example. Royal
Rangers is the tool to do just that.
God Bless - In Jesus,
Will Marengo
________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
_______
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]
