The recent Royal Ambassador Congress saw an increase in attendance and fathers accompanying their sons (first through sixth grades) at the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center event in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.
The two-day event drew 160 boys and adult leaders from eight churches and featured: gospel presentations by “Champion Chaplain” Allen Huffman, the 2023 Southeast Super Truck Series champion; go-karting; pit row (how to change and plug a tire); a classic car show; and the Pinewood Derby and Soap Box car races. Royal Ambassadors is a missions program for boys in grades first through sixth.
Missions education
Louisiana Baptist Men’s Ministry and Disaster Relief strategist Stan Statham believes the March 22–23 event reflected a renewed interest in RAs around the state. He noted the RA Congress drew 160 participants and fathers.
“More churches are wanting to get back to emphasizing missions education, and RAs is a great way to do that for young men who will carry on that passion for missions into their teenage and adult years,” Statham told the Baptist Message. “Events like RA Congress helps to train young boys to become godly men. I’m very encouraged to see more dads come out here and spend quality time for a couple of days with their sons. Additionally, the Spirit of the Lord was working, and the hope is that many eventually will accept Christ as their Lord and Savior because they attended.”
RA Congress allowed Matthew Fontenot the opportunity to spend a weekend away from distractions with his sons Daniel and Andrew. He previously brought his other two sons William and Bailen to RA Congress.
Filling the gap
“When I was little, I didn’t get this same opportunity and this has allowed me to change that for my own sons,” said Fontenot, an RA leader with First Baptist Church Lafayette. “So many fathers are not involved in the lives of their sons and daughters and have lots of negative influence that creeps into their lives. If we are not showing love and attention to our kids, then someone else will and that can be dangerous.”
Kenneth Hebert, an RA leader with Trinity Baptist Church Oakdale, echoed the thought.
“The boys out here learned a lot about skills they can use, such as changing a flat tire,” Hebert said. “To have that kind of hands-on experience is a wonderful thing that they will carry on into their adulthood. This world needs events like RA Congress to help make boys into Christ-like men.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Brian Blackwell and originally published by Baptist Message.
