Men's Ministries

Heard From The Pew

Do you have an exciting activity to report? Share the good news with other chapters by
using the Heard From the Pew Report Form.

2007 National Royal Ranger Camporama

Submitted by, Sam Mehaffie – Saving Our Boys

Awesome! What a great experience.

 I volunteered to work at this year's camporama back in January at the "Bridging Our Ministries Conference." Bill Terry was talking to the guys about the importance of Men's Ministry becoming involved in this great event. He really made it sound exciting and as I listened to him I thought, "This is something I'd like to get involved with." When I volunteered, Bill didn't hesitate to accept my willingness to attend.

I arrived at the campgrounds on Monday morning, July 16th. At lunch, I met the other guys who were already there and was assigned to work with three of them putting up the canopies. It was hard work and it was hot...but what fun! I never heard a complaint from anyone. Even though those guys worked really hard, all I ever heard was, "it's for the boys." Here we were, just a bunch of men working hard to get things ready for our "little brothers" to come and have some fun and, in the process, be ministered to.

 On Wednesday the campers arrived and, before the evening service, they lined up to march into the tabernacle -- hundreds of boys in their camp T-shirt and hats; an awesome sight. That evening, hundreds of boys also raised their hands for salvation, to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts as their Savior and Lord. Now, that's what it was all about! That's why these guys worked so hard to make this a special week for these Royal Rangers.

 David Moore, the Royal Ranger National Commander, asked me to give the morning devotions to three different groups, then to "hang out" with that group for the day. I got to speak to all the boys over the next three days about my life experience. I told them how my father left me when I was 12, and was totally out of my life from then on: no Christmas cards, birthday cards, no contact at all.  Using Jeremiah 29:11, I told them that God cared for them no matter what they were going through, that He had plans for them and that we all have hope in Jesus Christ no matter what problems in life we face.  

 Each morning I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit as these guys sat on the ground and listened. After the devotion time I just "hung out" with them at the lake area. I spent most of my time at the zip line area meeting and talking with guys. Many gave me hugs and more talked to me in the line about what they were going through. There were times that boy after boy came up to me and asked if we could talk; we would find a spot under a tree and sit and talk. 

 I had the privilege of talking, praying and even crying with so many boys those three days. Boys like the 11-year old who said, "Sam, I'm just like you."  

"Like me" I said. 

"Yeah, just like you." 

"How are you like me?" I asked him.  

"My dad left me two years ago and I haven't got any birthday cards or Christmas cards from him either; I haven't seen my dad and I miss him." 

I put my hand on his shoulder, we walked over and sat down under a tree and I shed tears with him, knowing the hurt he was feeling.

 Then there was the 13-year old whose heart was breaking because of problems his mom and dad were facing; he shared with me under that tree what had happened and how he felt about it. And the 16-year old who still missed his father even though he'd left many years ago. This young man told me that there are still nights when he thinks about his dad and falls asleep crying.

 As I'm writing this, I'm also thinking about one 12-year old who was sitting under that same tree with me. I told him, "You need to go over and do your zip line; I think all your friends have gone, you don't want to miss it." He said, "That’s OK, I don't care if I miss it, they're all done anyway." So we sat and continued talking, and I prayed with him. When we got up, one of his commanders came over to get him hooked up for the zip line. I watched him as he took a great ride over the lake and back. He then ran over to me and gave me a big hug, said thanks, took a picture and went off with his commander to catch up with his buddies.

 After that first day "hanging out" with the boys, I talked to my wife, Darlene, and she said, "Boy, you were right in your element, weren't you? I bet you want to go back next year."  She was right, but unfortunately it's not a yearly event.  But a few Commanders talked to me about coming to their Pow Wow's in 2008, something that I hope works out.

 I will never forget Camporama 2007.  It was truly an awesome experience, definitely where my heart is. Men's Ministry should be a major part of what's happening in Royal Rangers. Men like the ones I met at the Camporama need to get involved in some way to help and work with these boys, to be an example to them and share the burden.

After all, these boys are tomorrow’s husbands, fathers and leaders. We need to help them become the men God made them to be. Godly men multiplying Godly men. This was a great experience. Thanks Bill for allowing me to be a part of Camporama 2007.