the tomahawk july-august 2012

TOMAHAWK July - August 2012

‘Running With Endurance’

2012 Potomac District Pow Wow

Celebrates Rangers’ Golden Anniversary

Page 5

TomahawkTomahawk Potomac District Royal Rangers Potomac District Royal Rangers News and Information for Royal Ranger Leaders News and Information for Royal Ranger Leaders July July -- August 2012August 2012

5 Camps Featured at Junior Leadership5 Camps Featured at Junior Leadership

Training AcademyTraining Academy

Page 4Page 4

‘My Name is Jamal’‘My Name is Jamal’

Page 6Page 6

Pathfinder Trip Revisits Ecuador

Page 7

Past and Present

Gold Medalists to be

Honored

Page 9

TOMAHAWK July - August 2012 2

POTOMAC DISTRICT ROYAL RANGERS www.potomacrangers.org

tomahawk

Potomac District Commander

Rev. Bobby Basham

Publications/Outreach Coordinator

Newsletter Editor

Gary Wagner

The Tomahawk newsletter is published bi-

monthly as a means of communicating news and information to Royal Ranger leaders throughout the Potomac District. Sectional

staffs and outposts are invited to submit arti-cles and photographs that feature activities of Royal Ranger ministries on a local level, or to

share ideas and successes. Email material to [email protected]. Please submit photos as separate jpg image files.

The Tomahawk is distributed via email as an electronic publication. Email address correc-tions, or requests to be added to the distribu-

tion list, should be forwarded to Potomac

District executive secretary Denise Raduano at [email protected].

Royal Rangers Emblem © 1962 by the national Royal

Rangers Office, The General Council of the Assem-

blies of God; Springfield, Mo. 65802. The Royal

Rangers Emblem may not be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by

any means—electronically, mechanically, photocop-

ies, recording, or otherwise—without prior written

permission from the national Royal Rangers Office.

Royal Rangers is a principal ministry of the

Assemblies of God focused on discipling boys

for Jesus Christ. We provide Christ-like char-

acter formation and servant leadership devel-

opment for boys and young men in a highly

relational and fun environment. Our mission is

to evangelize, equip and empower the next

generation of Christ-like men and lifelong

servant leaders.

The Potomac District administrative region of

the General Council of the Assemblies of God

takes in Washington, D.C., Maryland, most of

Virginia and northern West Virginia. Over 100

churches throughout this region currently

provide Royal Ranger ministry to more than

2,500 boys and young men. We use many

tools to achieve that goal whether it be camp-

ing, merits or interactive skills, all designed to

help develop a boy into a man while having fun

and getting to know God.

We want to develop both men and boys in

mentoring relationships and leadership skills,

and guide them to Jesus Christ. We reach

boys, so they may reach another in their

world.

Potomac District Royal Rangers on Facebook www.facebook.com/PotomacRangers

See it now @ www.potomacrangers.org

In Case You Missed It

Potomac District’s Tomahawk news-letter is emailed every two months. But, if you’re new to the mailing list, or if you missed a previous edition, you can find it in the archive maintained on the district’s website for Royal Rangers at www.potomacrangers.org.

Pow Wow events and updates are reviewed

in this edition of the Tomahawk on page 5.


By Rev. Bobby Basham

District Commander

W ithout a doubt the summer has slipped in with a blast of hot air! By now I think most have had sectional pow wows and the reports that I hear

are terrific. I have to believe that among our sections and district we have the most dedicated and creative leaders any-where in the nation. From my heart, thank you to every lead-er who serves on a staff, church, sectional or district; you are greatly appreciated and I pray God’s blessing on you and your family. You are the reason this ministry is so successful. By now, many are making their final plans to travel to Eagle Rock for a historic 50 year Anniversary of Royal Rangers. At the writing of this article, 257 men and boys from Potomac District are getting ready to make the trek. I am pray-ing for safe travel for all, with trailers, vans and trucks all tuned and ready to go. I am also praying for a historic move of God among all who have gathered. In front of us are our two most significant events in the Potomac District—Junior Training Camps and our District Pow Wow. I know Bob Blessing and Tracy Groves and their teams work tirelessly in giving our district the very best they have. Please encourage your boys who are 12 and older to participate in Junior Training. It makes a difference. This year’s District Pow Wow will also be historic. We too will be celebrating God’s hand on this ministry in our Poto-mac District style. Former District Commanders have been invited and are coming and most of them will be speaking into the lives of our Pow Wow. Former GMA recipients have been invited to our Saturday celebration and we are expect-ing a great representation of this ministry to each one. We have chosen a theme that I think fits well with our celebration, “Running with Endurance.” Not only do we want to look back and celebrate the past, but we also want to look ahead and celebrate the future. Royal Rangers is very much alive, and is our prayer that it flourishes to a new generation, which desperately needs the message of Jesus, communicat-ed in unique ways. Gentlemen, broaden your approach, reach out to the boys around us, because one day we will have a real celebration with Jesus about all the boys whose lives were saved because we took the time to invest in them! See ya at the party!

Celebrating Endurance Supporting Churches,

Businesses & Individuals

Special thanks to our Supporting Churches, Sec-tions, Businesses and Individuals. Your generosity enables further enhancements to this ministry. Any-one wishing to join our group of supporters may request an application from the Potomac District Royal Ranger office, email [email protected].

SILVER MEMBERS

Rev. Bobby Basham Cross Junction, Va.

GOLD MEMBERS

Projects Unlimited - Gary Groves Eldersburg, Md. Tracy Groves Eldersburg, Md. Walt Eger Service Center Severn, Md.

SUPPORTING CHURCHES

Outpost 2 Trinity Assembly of God Lanham, Md.

Outpost 6 Pasadena Assembly of God Pasadena, Md.

Outpost 9 Calvary Assembly of God Frederick, Md.

Outpost 18 Eastern Assembly of God Baltimore, Md.

Outpost 27 Glad Tidings Church Norfolk, Va.

Outpost 46 Bethel Assembly of God Savage,Md.

Outpost 47 Trinity Assembly of God Lutherville,Md.

Outpost 49 Centerpointe Church at Fair Oaks Fairfax, Va.

Outpost 60 Manassas Assembly of God Bristow, Va.

Outpost 64 First Assembly of God Elkton, Md.

Outpost 81 Trinity Assembly of God Fairmont, W.Va.

Outpost 89 Bethel Assembly of God Martinsburg, W.Va.

Outpost 100 Hancock Assembly of God Hancock, Md.

Outpost 124 Julilee Christian Center Fairfax, Va.

Outpost 186 Hazel River Assembly of God Rixeyville, Va.

Outpost 215 River of Life Assembly of God Spotsylvania, Va.

Outpost 240 Living Word Community Church Mechanicsville, Md.

Outpost 277 Ocean City Worship Center Berlin, Md.

INDIVIDUAL DONORS

Homer Kitchen Gerrardstown, W.Va. Gary & Faye Groves Eldersburg, Md. Phil Georg Brunswick, Md.

DIRECTOR’S MEMO


By Bob Blessing

Junior Training Coordinator

Y oung men of the Potomac District: the 2012 JLTA is just around the corner. Sign

up early so you don’t miss your opportunity to receive leadership training. We are offering five dif-ferent camps as part of this year’s JLTA. Here is how the structure works. Rangers who are at least 12 years old and have attended DTC you can attend Junior Leadership

Training Camp (JLTC). At this

camp you will learn the Ranger Patrol System the “Ranger way” of camping. Patrols will work to-wards a common goal and will develop a song, yell, patrol flag and bolo tie. Rangers will master advanced camp skills such as lash-ing, rope craft, compass, fire and tool craft, and much more. Rangers who are at least 13 years old and have at-tended JLTC can attend any of the following camps: Junior Missions

Camp (JMC), where

Rangers will experience a missions trip and learn the skills necessary to participate in a MAPS trip or, if you are an FCF member, a Pathfinder Trip.

Junior Survival Camp (JSC)

will train Rangers in what it takes to survive in the wilderness: map and compass skills, or how to find your way without either; what to eat, how to collect water; safety skills and emergency first aid tech-niques. Junior Training Trails (JTT)

will give Rangers an opportunity to take to the trail backpacking and learn vital trail instructions on trip planning, footwear and care, how to pack and proper clothing; trail cooking, trail first aid, water puri-fication, stoves, map and compass and GPS usage.

Please note: for JTT a boy must be physically fit and be able to hike five miles a day with a back-pack. Rangers who are at least age 16 and have successfully completed JLTC can attend Advanced Junior

Training Camp (AJLTC).

At AJLTC, Rangers will take another step towards leadership. AJ camp is designed to mentor boys into leaders. The AJ classes include advanced cooking, ca-dence drilling, communication, accountability, spiritual develop-ment, personal discipline and con-duct of a Christian young man to further a boy’s walk with God and to help him learn how to witness and mentor others. The application for all of the JLTA Camps can be found on the Potomac District website at www.potomacrangers.org. Regis-trations must be received by July 20. The cost of camp registration is $190, which includes all food, a special hat, a patch and two T-shirts specific to your camp. This will be the boys’ “dress” uniform for camp; they will not need to bring Royal Ranger khaki or utility uniforms. Registrations received after the July 20th deadline will be charged an additional $10, which must be included with your registration to cover additional costs.

Registrations due July 12th

5 Camps featured at Junior Leadership Training Academy

Registrations due July 12th

5 Camps featured at Junior Leadership Training Academy

SEE JLTA ON PAGE 8


W ith this year’s summer Olympic Games in mind, and in celebra-

tion of 50 years of Royal Ranger ministry, the 2012 Potomac District Pow Wow has as its theme “Running With Endurance.” Complete details on this special event—to include registration in-formation and materials—are available for download on the Po-tomac District Royal Rangers web-site at www.potomacrangers.org. The deadline for registration is July 17 to ensure Rangers and leaders receive a Pow Wow T-shirt, hat and patch.

THE MAIN EVENT Continuing the popular main event sectional team competition introduced at Pow Wow two years ago, this year’s competition will pit teams against each other in the ultimate Olympic challenge, sumo wrestling and a greased pole climb. Each section will provide a team of 6 to participate in the main event. The team will consist of 2 Discovery Rangers, 2 Adventure

Rangers and 2 Expedition Rangers. (Discovery or Adventure Rangers may be substituted if your Outpost does not have Expedition Rang-ers). Back for a second year at Poto-mac District Pow Wow will be the Cardboard Canoe Race, long a fa-vorite of the Tidewater sections. Tidewater North and Tidewater South will be running the event again this year, in which each sec-tion has the opportunity to enter one corrugated cardboard boat capable of staying afloat for ap-proximately two minutes. The boats will have to be powered by a least two boys, one of which must be a Discovery Ranger. Complete event rules are outlined in the Pow Wow booklet. A great variety of events for Rangers on an individual level will be operated by various sections. Besides providing a lot of fun, the-se events are designed to help each Ranger to be ready to meet the challenges that come their way through the development of strength, skills, stamina, speed and knowledge.

At each sectional event, partici-pants will earn points, which are needed along with being able to quote the Pow Wow memory verse to receive a collector’s hat pin.

THAT’S NOT ALL! SWIMMING: All fast swimmers may compete for the fastest swim-mer in the district. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be awarded in each age group (Discovery, Adventure & Expedition Rangers). TRAP SHOOT: The boys will test their skills at shooting clay birds. Each boy will get 10 shots, the greatest number of birds shot will be the winner. (This is an Ex-pedition event only). The cost of the event is $5; this includes the shells and the clay birds. DUNKING BOOTH: Get your throwing arm ready to test your throwing ability, while you at-tempt to soak your favorite com-mander or friend. BENCH PRESS: Expedition Rangers, leaders under 40, leaders 40 and older and leaders 50 and older may compete against other contestants in their age group.

RUNNING WITH ENDURANCE

SECTIONAL EVENTS

ZIP LINE Capital Maryland Section

WESTERN BB SHOOT Capital Virginia Section

PAINTBALL Northeast Section

WILD RAPID WATER SLIDE Eastern Shore Section

SUMO WRESTLING Central Section

ULTIMATE OLYMPIC CHALLENGE Eastern Section

CARDBOARD CANOE RACE Tidewater North & Tidewater South

BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Southern Section


M y name is Jamal. Or Brandon. Or Antonio. I am 14 years old. Or 15,

or 17. I was born to an unwed mother, and I’ve never even met my father. I have two siblings. Or four. We live in a small, kinda run-down apartment on the low-rent side of town. I usually sleep on the floor in a corner. It’s not too bad. Often, you wake up in the morning, and there’s no food—the refrigerator is empty. But some-body has some drugs, so you get high, and stay high for awhile. When you come down, there’s still no food in the refrigerator, so you look for a way to get high again. But it’s cool, because drugs are easy to find. My mom often has one of her boyfriends stay over for awhile. That’s when the drugs and alcohol have the most effect on her. They usually don’t want me around, so I have to leave. It’s OK, it’s some-thing I’ve gotten used to. I pretty much do what I want. If I’m not into going to school, it’s cool. Nobody gets on me about it. If I want to stay out late, that’s cool, too. Sometimes I stay out for a week or more. Nobody looks for me. I expect when I turn 18, my mom will kick me out, anyway. So

ed to join their gang, so we did. In the gang, you belong. We watch each other’s back. If somebody from some other gang tries to get on one of us, we take him out. No-body messes with one of ours and gets away with it. It’s like a family, only better. We watch out for the police, too. If we see them in the neigh-borhood, everyone knows it within a matter of seconds. Drugs and crime are a matter of fact in my life. Recently, some of us guys got arrested and put in juvenile hall, while we wait for our trail. But that’s cool, too. My room here is a lot bigger than at home. And living here, you get three squares a day, a warm place to sleep, cable TV, no bugs, and nobody’s shooting at you. And if you get sick, they take care of you. It’s not too bad. Awhile back, some Royal Rang-er guys from the outside started to come into the juvenile hall, and they were talking about Jesus. They said He loves us. They said He died on a cross so that we could be forgiven of our sins - all the bad stuff we did. They said He took our punishment.

I need to find my own place. A bunch of other guys in my neighborhood are in the same situ-ation. I call them my friends. We like to hang out together, some-times go to school together, play street games together, and get in trouble together. Our heroes are the rappers, or the ball players we see on TV. They live above the rules, and so do we. We make our own rules. Sometimes we do things to make a little extra spending mon-ey, like rob a car or a store, or beat up some guy for his money, or snatch some old lady’s purse. Awhile ago some older guys in the neighborhood told us we need-

My Name is Jamal My Name is Jamal

SEE JAMAL ON PAGE 8

They said if we admitted we were sinners, and believed in Jesus, He would wash away all our sins and make us brand-new inside.... If it’s true, and they believe it’s true, how come it’s taken them so long to tell us?

By Glenn Sorrentino

TOMAHAWK July - August 2012 7 7

Pathfinder Trip to Quito, Ecuador

Sponsored by Blue Ridge Chapter, Frontiersman Camping Fellowship

November 10-18, 2012

Project: Build a new church on the outskirts of Quito, Ecuador

Building Costs: $12,000

Personal Cost: $ 1,600

Payment Schedule: $400 by May 15th $600 by July 15th $600 by October 1st

Team Size: 16 Skills Needed: Bricklayers, Metal Workers, Laborers

If you are interested in participating or supporting this project, please contact Mike Cocolin at [email protected] or (410) 315-8265.

All funds should be sent to: Potomac District Royal Rangers, 608 Dunloy Ct., Timonium, MD 21093. When sending funds, please

indicate who the funds are for by marking clearly on the check or with an accompanying letter.

Building God’s Kingdom the Hard Way

Pastor Gabriel Parco

and his wife lead a

thriving Quichua

church just outside

Ecuador's second

largest city.


The maximum attendance for each camp is as follows: - JLTC maximum attendance is 60 trainees - JTT, JSC, JMC and AJ maxi-mum attendance is 20 trainees per camp All camps will start on Sun-day Aug. 12. Arrival times are dependent on the camp the Ranger is attending, as follows:

1 p.m. - Registration opens for JLTC and JMC

2 p.m.—Registration opens for JTT and JSC

3 p.m.—Registration opens for AJLTC

Rangers should plan to ar-

rive early. JLTA is run on a very tight schedule. Rangers should not bring any electronic games to any camp they attend, and should plan to leave cell phones at home as well. JLTA staff will collect cell phones and Black-Berrys, or any other texting device and hold them at regis-tration until JLTA is conclud-ed. We will have arrangements made for emergency telephone calls out. If someone needs to get an emergency message in to a Ranger in camp, they can call the Potomac District office at (410) 982-6485. Anyone who has questions about JLTA camps or would like additional information may contact the Potomac Dis-trict Royal Ranger Office, or email Bob Blessing at [email protected].

They said He had a home for us in heaven, waiting for us when we die. They said that if we admitted we were sinners, and believed in Jesus, He would wash away all our sins and make us brand-new inside. I’m not sure I believe this. If it’s true, and they believe it’s true, how come it’s taken them so long to tell us? “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, … sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’.“ Matt. 25: 37, 39, 40 NIV

Author Glenn Sorrentino is the Adventure Rangers Commander for Outpost 158 at Har-vest Assembly of God in Chesapeake Va.

JTLA

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Jamal

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6


at www.potomacrangers.org. The form is also available from your sectional commander, sectional FCF representative or district Roy-al Ranger office. Applications must be submitted to the Chapter President 14 days before the Pow Wow. No applica-tions will be accepted at the Pow-Wow. Mail the completed applica-tion and fee to, Bill “Red Paddle” Chestnut, Blue Ridge Chapter President, 346 Reservoir Rd., Per-ryville, Maryland 21903. Phase I Review will be held at the Pow-Wow, Friday evening 10:15 p.m. in the FCF Village after the evening service.

This year we will be following an entirely new procedure. All those who are participating in the Fron-tier Camping Fellowship Great Adventure must report to the FCF Village no later than 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16. All candidates applying for FCF must attend. The Adventure will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday where the candidates will remain with the FCF staff until 6 p.m. on Friday when they will be released to return to their outposts. The “entire” Great Adventure will be conducted at this time. An application for membership into FCF is printed in the Pow Wow book available for download

By Rev. Bobby Basham

District Commander

G reetings Potomac District Gold Medal recipients! 2012 marks the 50th Anni-

versary of the Royal Rangers pro-gram. The men and boys who have participated in the program over the years have cultivated the Potomac District’s deep and rich Ranger history. Our commitment to the Royal Rangers original mis-sion to reach, teach and keep boys for Christ has helped us to become one of the most successful districts in America, directly influencing thousands of lives for the king-dom. Since 1975, nearly 500 boys in the Potomac District have received the coveted Gold Medal of Achievement, making us the larg-

DISTRICT POW WOW SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Past and Present Gold Medalists to be Honored

est GMA producing dis-trict in the nation. This fraternity of Christian young men has set the standard for young boys to aspire too and has cre-ated great leaders and missionaries for Christ. At this year’s Potomac District Pow Wow we would like to honor all past and present Potomac District GMA recipients during a special ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 18, at 8 p.m. Any Gold Medalist not attend-ing Pow Wow with a chartered outpost will need to complete a visitor registration form, which can be found in the Pow Wow booklet posted on the web at www.potomacrangers.org. There is a cost associated with this event,

DISTRICT NEWS & INFORMATION DISTRICT NEWS & INFORMATION

$43 if you plan to stay for the weekend (Aug. 16-19) or $8 for all day Saturday. If you plan to come just for the presentation, the only thing needed is the visitor form. If you have a khaki uniform and you want to wear it please do so, along with your white GMA hat. Please RSVP by Aug. 4 to Mark Craft at (757) 822-

4519 or email markcraft@ hotmail.com with your intentions. We hope you will make plans to be with us this summer as we embrace our past and look to the future standing “Ready” to evan-gelize, equip and empower the next generation of Christ-like men and lifelong servant leaders.

DEADLINE FOR

GMA PACKETS

Completed Gold Medal of Achievement packets need to be mailed to the Potomac Dis-trict Royal Rangers office by July 20. Commanders must submit essays prior to this date for review. GMA interviews will take place at this year’s Potomac District Pow Wow on Friday, Aug. 17, under the direction of Mike Cocolin. Commanders are encour-aged to contact Denise Radua-no with any questions at [email protected] or (410) 781-6376.

New Procedure for FCF “Great Adventure” to be Conducted at District Pow Wow

TOMAHAWK July - August 2012 10 Potomac District Royal Rangers on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/PotomacRangers

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Rev. Bobby Basham - District Commander

166 Serviceberry Ct. Stephens City, VA 22655

[email protected] (540) 869-8432

Homer Kitchen - Deputy District Commander

8614 Apple Harvest Dr. Gerrardstown, WV 25420


Tracy Groves - Deputy District Commander/

Productions Coordinator

2340 Liberty Rd. Eldersburg, MD 21784


Bill Chestnut - FCF Chapter President

346 Reservoir Rd. Perryville, MD 21903


Phil Georg - Training Coordinator

111 East H St. Brunswick, MD 21716


Bob Blessing - Junior Training Coordinator

302 Stiemly Ave. Glen Burnie, MD 21060


Chris Basham - Assistant Productions Coordinator

166 Serviceberry Ct. Stephens City, VA 22655

(540) 869-8432

Cliff Jewell - Public Relations/GMA Coordinator

P. O. Box 3404 Manassas, VA 20109


Gary Wagner - Publications/Outreach Coordinator

3905 Swanson Ct. Fredericksburg, VA 22408


Mike Cocolin - Missions Coordinator

8413 Elvaton Rd. Millersville, MD 21108


Gary Groves - RR Alumni President

2326 Liberty Rd. Eldersburg, MD 21784


Linda Cocolin - Health Officer

8413 Elvaton Rd. Millersville, MD 21108


Seth Van de Ven - Special Aide de Camp

3202 Amberley Lane Fairfax, VA 22031


Tyler Mazer - Junior Training Aide de Camp

99 Shenandoah View Harpers Ferry, WV

25425


Isaac Brannon - Junior Aide de Camp

P. O. Box 390 Owings, MD 20736


Dale Eger - Junior Aide de Camp

8213 WB & A Rd. Severn, MD 21144


Sam Linn - Staff Advisor

1687 McCoys Ford Rd. Front Royal, VA 22630


Dick Aldridge - Staff Advisor

46 Tadcaster Circle

Waldorf, MD 20602


SECTIONAL COMMANDERS

Mark Brannon - Capital Virginia Section



Mark Brannon - Capital Maryland Section



Ken O’Maley - Central Section

11042 Settletown Place Rixeyville, VA 22737


POTOMAC DISTRICT ROYAL RANGERS STAFF

Marvin Boswell - Southern Section

P. O. Box 35 Rockville, VA 23146


Phil Vieth - Tidewater North Section

200 Treis Trail Yorktown, VA 23693


Roger Riendeau - Tidewater South Section

7719 Doris Dr. Norfolk, VA 23505


Ken Black - Eastern Section

P. O. Box 58 Manchester, MD 21102


Robert “Buzz” Gregory - Eastern Shore Section

9260 Hickory Mill Rd. Salisbury, MD 21801


Jerry Sinden - Northeast Section

1805 Milstream Dr. Frederick, MD 21702


Northwest Section

Jerry Sinden (Acting)

Greg Barr - North Central Section

Box 384, Fort Ashby, WV 26719


Western Section

Greg Barr (Acting)

the tomahawk july-august 2012

Documents

royal rangers emblem

national royal rangers

royal ranger ministry

royal ranger leaders

honored page

jamal page

tomahawk newsletter

discipling boys