Tomahawk Potomac District Royal Rangers News and
Information for Royal Ranger Leaders July - August 2014
The Ranger Man Young Gang Member Finds Freedom in the Gospel Message Page 4
Faith & Family Night D.C. United Offers Discounted Group Tickets Page 6 July - August 2014 TOMAHAWK
POTOMAC DISTRICT ROYAL RANGERS www.potomacrangers.org
Royal Rangers is a principal ministry of the Assemblies of God focused on discipling boys for Jesus Christ. We provide Christ-like character formation and servant leadership development 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.
Hillbilly heaven! Potomac District 2014 Pow Wow August 14-17, 2014
Featuring: Sectional Lawnmower Race Hillbilly Bowling Mudslide Shooting Arcade Inner Tube Race
Bubba’s Bows & Arrows Hillbilly Hand Fishing Redneck Rappelling Wall … And More!
Outpost pre-registrations must be postmarked by July 18 to guarantee each person registered will receive the Pow Wow patch, hat and T-shirt. Complete Pow Wow packet with registration forms is available on line at www.potomacrangers.org.
Y’all come! COVER PHOTO: Members of a Royal Ranger Pathfinder missions work team to Thailand this summer are “ready to ‘commute’ to work— day 3,” posts Daniel Klepel, Assemblies of God missionary. The Pathfinders worked on an expansion to a church in the city of Chiang Mai.
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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 camping, 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.
tomahawk Potomac District Commander Rev. Bobby Basham Publications/Outreach Coordinator Newsletter Editor Gary Wagner The Tomahawk newsletter is published bimonthly as a means of communicating news and information to Royal Ranger leaders throughout the Potomac District. Sectional staffs and outposts are invited to submit articles and photographs that feature activities of Royal Ranger ministries on a local level, or to share ideas and successes. Email material to garywagner54@aol.com. Please submit photos as separate jpg image files. The Tomahawk is distributed via email as an electronic publication. Email address corrections, or requests to be added to the distribution list, should be forwarded to Potomac District executive secretary Denise Raduano at potomacmm@msn.com. Royal Rangers Emblem © 1962 by the national Royal Rangers Office, The General Council of the Assemblies 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, photocopies, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission from the national Royal Rangers Office.
Potomac District Royal Rangers on Facebook www.facebook.com/PotomacRangers
Supporting Churches, Businesses & Individuals Special thanks to our Supporting Churches, Sections, Businesses and Individuals. Your generosity enables further enhancements to this ministry. Anyone wishing to join our group of supporters may request an application from the Potomac District Royal Ranger office, email potomacmm@msn.com. SILVER MEMBERS Rev. Bobby Basham
Cross Junction, Va.
GOLD MEMBERS Projects Unlimited - Gary Groves Walt Eger Service Center
Eldersburg, Md. Severn, Md.
SUPPORTING CHURCHES Outpost 2 Outpost 6 Outpost 9 Outpost 18 Outpost 27 Outpost 46 Outpost 47 Outpost 49 Outpost 60 Outpost 64 Outpost 81 Outpost 89 Outpost 100 Outpost 124 Outpost 160 Outpost 186 Outpost 215 Outpost 240 Outpost 277
Trinity Assembly of God Pasadena Assembly of God Calvary Assembly of God Eastern Assembly of God Glad Tidings Church Bethel Assembly of God Trinity Assembly of God Centerpointe Church at Fair Oaks Chapel Springs Church Five Rivers Church Trinity Assembly of God Bethel Assembly of God Hancock Assembly of God Julilee Christian Center Churchland Assembly of God Hazel River Assembly of God River of Life Assembly of God Living Word Community Church Ocean City Worship Center
Lanham, Md. Pasadena, Md. Frederick, Md. Baltimore, Md. Norfolk, Va. Savage,Md. Lutherville,Md. Fairfax, Va. Bristow, Va. Elkton, Md. Fairmont, W.Va. Martinsburg, W.Va. Hancock, Md. Fairfax, Va. Portsmouth, Va. Rixeyville, Va. Spotsylvania, Va. Mechanicsville, Md. Berlin, Md.
INDIVIDUAL DONORS Homer Kitchen Gary & Faye Groves Phil Vieth
Gerrardstown, W.Va. Eldersburg, Md. Yorktown, Va.
DISTRICT COMMANDER’S MEMO
Pow Wow, Junior Training Academy to Close Out Summer By Bob Blessing District Commander
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en and boys of the Potomac District, welcome to summer! School’s out; time to enjoy God's creation with friends and family. For those of us that have been out of school for a while it’s the vacation season and time to slow down from the pressures of work—if even for a few days—to take that much needed vacation. If I could mention that this year’s Junior Training Academy, set for Aug. 10-13, will be held at a new location—Camp Spencer on the Broad Creek Boy Scout Reservation, next to Broad Creek’s Camp Saffran, the site of the 2014 Potomac District Pow Wow on Aug. 14-17. Please encourage your boys to take part in the Junior Training Camp. Attendance at the Junior Training Camp helps mentor our young men into the leaders of tomorrow. Contact the District Junior Training Coordinator Cmdr. Craig Powis or the Ranger office for details. The Pow Wow team has been working hard to make this year’s Potomac District Pow Wow an exciting time for the boys in your outpost. Please make plans to attend the District Pow Wow just before your boys have to get back to school. I hope to see you soon.
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Young Gang Member Finds Freedom in the Gospel Message
As Told To Glenn Sorrentino
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hen I was five or six years old, my mom’s boyfriend punched me in the face and broke my nose. I guess it never healed right, so now I can get a nosebleed sometimes just by sneezing. I can remember being sent to the health office in school just because I sneezed. I sometimes would get a nosebleed without trying, and that could be scary, or sometimes just a hassle, but most of the time I can control it. Anytime I wanted to get out of gym, all I had to do was just gave myself a nosebleed. It’s like I have a secret weapon. Most people freak out when they see blood, some people even get sick. Growing up on the streets was rough, but it did have its fun side. You could have just about anything you could want, all you had to do was deliver some stuff, or boost a car, and you could make real money. The gang I ran with was real good at it, too. I never had a job, but I always had money in 4
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my pocket. Sometimes we spilled somebody’s blood, but not too often. And as far as I know, we never killed anybody. We did mess some guys up, though. Some guys in the gang were really crazy; they’d mess up some guy because they thought he was disrespecting them. Sometimes the fight would be about a girl, or maybe money, but most of the time it was about respect. Respect is something you owe a brother, and not giving it is cause for trouble. The guys in the gang are ready to do just about anything to be sure they get the respect they deserve. Not long ago, we were mixing it up with another gang because they were trying to do deals in our turf. That is really disrespecting us. We couldn’t let that happen, so we got on a group of them. It was a big hassle, and somebody called the cops early, so a lot of us were still there when the cops arrived. I can run pretty fast, but I know I can’t outrun a bullet, so I got arrested. I got tossed into juvie with bunch of the guys.
July - August 2014
The gangs are all over it in here, too. You got to stay out of the way, or you can get pretty messed up by some of these guys. Even though I know most of them, I have to watch out for the ones who still think they’ve got something to prove. It seems harder to stay out of trouble, because in here, trouble comes to you. So, I stay out of the way, stay straight. All this good behavior got me some privileges, and I was allowed to attend a meeting they call Royal Rangers. The guys said we’d play some games, and they’d give out candy at the end. So, I went. At first, it was pretty cool. I got to hit some of the guys with a soccer ball, and nobody got on me. That was fun. But then they told us to put our chairs in a circle, and the Ranger man started to talk about Jesus. I didn’t want to hear no religious sermon, so I decided to get out of there. I asked one of the Security Guards to let me go back to my cell. He said, “No, you stay here.” So, I thought I‘d use my secret weapon, and gave myself a nosebleed. But the Security Guard had caught onto me by this time, and knew what I was doing. He got me some tissues, and said, ”Have a seat.” I sat as far as I could from the Ranger man.
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he Ranger man saw my nosebleed, and I think that made him start talking about blood. He was saying that Jesus shed His blood so that we could be forgiven for our sins, all the crimes we had committed. Jesus gave His blood so that we could be given a fresh start. This was starting to sound good to me, so I listened close. The Ranger man said that Jesus allowed some soldiers to use nails to hang him on a cross,
nailed him up by his hands and feet. He said they jammed thorns into his head, and a spear into his side. He said Jesus could have stopped them any time he wanted, but he let them, because he was paying the price for our sins. The Ranger man said Jesus did it because he loves me. He did all this so that I could be forgiven. This was hard to believe, but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed true. Jesus bled and died so I could be forgiven. And He would have done it, the Ranger man said, if I was the only one who needed it.
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never had anybody love me like that. I wanted to cry, but I knew I couldn’t do it with everybody watching. So, when the Ranger man asked us to stand if we wanted Jesus, I stood up. He said go talk to this other Ranger man. So, I did, and he started to explain how to accept Jesus into your heart. I just couldn’t hold
back any more. I started to cry, as quiet as I could, but I knew there were tears, and I knew the other guys saw them. Then we prayed, and I could feel Jesus coming into my heart. It was like the first day of summer vacation, and Christmas morning, and my birthday, all at once. The Ranger man said to tell others about what we have done. I thought he meant the crimes I had done, but he said, “Tell them you belong to Jesus now.”
I’ve attended every Royal Ranger meeting since that day, and have learned a lot about God and Jesus, and even the Holy Spirit, too. I’m supposed to be getting out soon, and I know now how I can tell people about Jesus, and His love for everybody. I also know what I want to be when I grow up; a Ranger Man! Author Glenn Sorrentino is the Adventure Rangers commander with Outpost 158 at Harvest Assembly of God in Chesapeake, Va.
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DEADLINE FOR ORDERING YOUR GROUP TICKETS IS JULY 11TH 6
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DISTRICT NEWS & INFORMATION
TOURNAMENT BENEFITS ROYAL RANGERS. Proceeds donated to Royal Rangers from Projects Unlimited’s 20th anniversary golf tournament on May 17 amounted to $4,068. In the left photo, tournament chairman Gary Groves (c.) and co-chairman Dan Harlan (l.) present the donation to Bobby Basham, director of men’s ministries and executive director for Royal Rangers for Potomac District. The right photo pictures the first-place team in the tournament: (left to right) Kane MacGruder, Chris Mitchell, Bill Weiman and Doug McCrey.
National Rangers Ministry Camp
Fighting the Good Fight Nearly 100 people—including 78 campers and 21 visitors— participated in Central Section’s 2014 Pow Wow on May 15-18, held for the third year at Camp Red Arrow in Stevensburg. This year’s theme was “Fight the Good Fight,” and campers’ mettle was tested as they endured a torrential rainfall Thursday night that flooded some campsites. Evening council fire services were inspired through the messages brought by guest speaker Jordan Crews, director of Teen Challenge’s men’s home in Fredericksburg. Thankfully, fair skies and warm weather prevailed the remainder of the weekend enabled all Pow Wow activities to proceed, which included an outpost “chariot race” lashing competition pictured above.
National Rangers Ministry Camp (NRMC) is scheduled for Sept. 5-7, 2014 at the Broadcreek Boy Scout Reservation in Whiteford, Md. NRMC provides instruction in leading exciting outpost activities. Each man will be introduced to the following activities: archery, art, air rifle, contemporary camping, computers, drama, music, team building initiatives, trades and Ranger Derby. Additionally, participants learn how to be a boy-lead, adultfacilitated outpost, using the team/ patrol system. Most importantly, participants are challenged spiritually to live a life of godly manhood and servant leadership. Every leader will be able to answer the question, “Do I have what it takes to be a godly man?” Registration for this camp is due to the National Royal Ranger office by July 21. Go to www.royal rangers.com for registration details and applications.
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POTOMAC DISTRICT ROYAL RANGERS STAFF EXECUTIVE STAFF Rev. Bobby Basham - Executive Director 166 Serviceberry Ct. Stephens City, VA 22655 bbasham@potomacag.org (540) 869-8432
Gary Wagner - Publications/Outreach Coordinator 3905 Swanson Ct. Fredericksburg, VA 22408 garywagner54@aol.com (540) 898-7415
Nate Hawthorne - Junior Aide de Camp 3005 Lochary Rd. Bel Air, MD 21015 natehaw97@gmail.com (443) 876-8279
Bob Blessing - District Commander 304 Lincoln Ave., St. Michaels, MD 21663 jrblessing@gmail.com (410) 443-7657
Mike Cocolin - Missions Coordinator 8413 Elvaton Rd. Millersville, MD 21108 mjcocolin@msn.com (410) 315-8433
Tommy Horton - Junior Aide de Camp 5719 Amelia Springs Circle Haymarket, VA 20169 thomas.a.horton@gmail.com
Homer Kitchen - Deputy District Commander 8614 Apple Harvest Dr. Gerrardstown, WV 25420 Kitchenhl@msn.com (304) 229-5793
Gary Groves - RR Alumni President 2326 Liberty Rd. Eldersburg, MD 21784 blaznbear@verizon.net (410) 781-0236
Cliff Jewell - Staff Advisor 9150 James Madison Hwy. Warrenton, VA 20186 jewellsrthe1@aol.com (540) 216-3365
Mark Brannon - FCF Chapter President 2815 Angus Chase Lane, Huntingtown, MD 20639 blueridgechapter@verizon.net (443) 486-5199
Linda Cocolin - Health Officer 8413 Elvaton Rd. Millersville, MD 21108 lkcocolin@msn.com (410) 315-8433
Sam Linn - Staff Advisor 1687 McCoys Ford Rd. Front Royal, VA 22630 shlinn@comcast.net (540) 635-7497
Harry Hawthorne - Pow Wow Coordinator 3005 Lochary Rd. Bel Air, MD 21015 harry@sitesupportservices.com (410) 420-2215
Seth Van de Ven - Special Aide de Camp 3202 Amberley Lane Fairfax, VA 22031 seth.vandeven@gmail.com (703) 560-5886
Tracy Groves - Staff Advisor 2340 Liberty Rd. Eldersburg, MD 21784 tgghunter@verizon.net (410) 781-4906
Phil Georg - Training Coordinator 111 East H St. Brunswick, MD 21716 philgeorg@hotmail.com (301) 834-9871
Tyler Mazer - GMA Coordinator 99 Shenandoah View Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 camarocougar@comcast.net (304) 876-1875
Dick Aldridge - Staff Advisor 46 Tadcaster Circle Waldorf, MD 20602 raaldridge@paville.org (301) 645-9091
Craig Powis - Junior Training Coordinator 100 Kingbrook Rd. Linthicum, MD 21090 cpowis@juno.com
Isaac Brannon - Special Aide de Camp P. O. Box 390 Owings, MD 20736 itbrannon@verizon.net (410) 257-9446
Brandon Campbell - FCF Scribe 116 Ellis Martinsburg, WV 25404 redneckbaker@aol.com (304) 268-1807
Chris Basham - Media/Productions 166 Serviceberry Ct. Stephens City, VA 22655 cbasham@live.com (540) 869-8432
Dale Eger - Special Aide de Camp 8213 W B & A Rd. Severn, MD 21144 Dale.eger77@gmail.com (410) 980-7134
David Jimerson - District EMT 4812 Amberjack Ct. Virginia Beach, VA 23464 dcjimerson@hotmail.com (757) 822-8375
SECTIONAL COMMANDERS Mark Craft - Capital Virginia Section 4518 Eastlawn Ave., Woodbridge, VA 22193 markcraft@hotmail.com (757) 822-4519
Phil Vieth - Tidewater North Section 200 Treis Trail Yorktown, VA 23693 philvieth@verizon.net (757) 766-8351
Jerry Sinden - Northeast Section 1805 Milstream Dr. Frederick, MD 21702 Sindenfred@aol.com (301) 620-0034
Mark Craft - Capital Maryland Section 4518 Eastlawn Ave., Woodbridge, VA 22193 markcraft@hotmail.com (757) 822-4519
Roger Riendeau - Tidewater South Section 7719 Doris Dr. Norfolk, VA 23505 roger.riendeau@cox.net (757) 440-8432
Northwest Section Jerry Sinden (Acting)
Ken O’Maley - Central Section 11042 Settletown Place Rixeyville, VA 22737 kenomaley@aol.com (540) 937-6139
Ken Black - Eastern Section P. O. Box 58 Manchester, MD 21102 Talloak218@aol.com (410) 239-2645
Marvin Boswell - Southern Section P. O. Box 35 Rockville, VA 23146 mwboswell@gmail.com (804) 749-8397
Robert “Buzz” Gregory - Eastern Shore Section 9260 Hickory Mill Rd. Salisbury, MD 21801 Buzzgregory@comcast.net (410) 742-0415
Greg Barr - North Central Section Box 384, Fort Ashby, WV 26719 ncscribe@yahoo.com (540) 580-9615 Western Section Greg Barr (Acting)
Potomac District Royal Rangers on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/PotomacRangers
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