| Building the Wall and Standing
in the Gap
by H. Franklin Cargill, Oklahoma District Council
superintendent
The prophet Ezekiel issued a cry of despair when
he announced, “I looked for a man among them who would build
up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land
so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none” (Ezekiel
22:30). The vessel has always been a critical and an important item
in the plan of God. In fact, the ultimate need of God has been for
a voice. One who will stand and proclaim the day of the Lord.
The importance of the messenger is found in the
words of the writer of Romans when He asked, “How, then, can
they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they
believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they
hear without someone preaching to them?” (10:14).
The prophet Isaiah was moved to respond personally
following a vision of the Almighty. God questioned, “Whom
shall I send? And who will go for us?” The prophet volunteered
by saying, “Here am I. Send me!” (6:8).
No agency of the church is more prepared to assist
in leadership development than Royal Rangers. It responds to the
need through a discipleship process that begins with young boys.
It embraces the teachings of the church while it relates to the
socially relevant aspects of growth. It continues to offer resources
throughout the development stages of adulthood.
Rangers provides the structure for investment
in the lives of boys. Our world is desperately in need of someone
to care. Every individual needs a mentor, and no better opportunity
can be found than the relationship model that exists through Royal
Rangers. It is here that a boy can witness Christianity firsthand.
It is a program that can assist in the development process that
occurs when a boy becomes a man.
We live in a world that lacks heroes. Every boy
wants to be someone or something that he is not. He dreams of becoming
bigger than life—a sports star, an astronaut, a daring stunt
driver. Many boys grow up without a father or even a big brother
figure and become desperate for someone with whom to identify. This
is where Royal Rangers enters with an opportunity to influence these
boys through this life-changing program. After all, a boy never
forgets his first commander.
As a pastor, I was always amazed at the power
of the uniform. Once a young boy received his first award and had
it pinned it to his Ranger uniform, he immediately possessed a new
radiance. It was an amazing transformation! One could quickly observe
the pride and sense the excitement. Someone cared. Someone had taken
time to invest in a young man’s life. The boy had found a
new role model in the form of his commander.
The church must take its requirement to train
and properly prepare each age seriously. I know of no arm of ministry
that is more age-relevant than the Royal Rangers ministry . It connects
the spiritual with the practical. It allows room for mental development
while not restricting time for the physical as well as the emotional.
The church comes alive in the heart of a boy as he grasps the precepts
of salvation, divine healing, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the
second return of Jesus Christ.
Once a young man has reached adulthood, Royal
Rangers provides leadership development and enrichment for the man.
It is through the many opportunities afforded through Rangers that
a man becomes available for service to the Master. As he invests
in the lives of boys, a man strengthens his grasp on eternal values.
As he teaches the fundamentals of the faith, he comes to understand
the unreachable riches of God’s Word. As he takes on the role
of a mentor, he becomes available to respond to the call of God
for a man who will build up the wall and stand in the gap.
The commander must constantly apply himself to
further training. It becomes a training ground for all leadership
positions within the church. Through leadership training conferences
and campouts, along with sectional and district activities, the
commander prepares himself for other avenues of valuable ministry.
There is no better training ground for potential deacons and elders.
Royal Rangers is my choice of vehicle for the
training of boys through the auspices of the church for the development
of men.
H. Franklin Cargill is the Superintendent of the
Oklahoma District Council of the Assemblies of God, a position he
has held since November 2000. His ministry has been devoted to Oklahoma
where he has served as pastor in three churches, as well as giving
18 years as Assistant District Superintendent and 8 years as District
Youth Director. |
