Order Of Royal Ambassadors

BRIEFS ABOUT THE ROYAL AMBASSADORS

THE ORDER OF ROYAL AMBASSADORS.

WHAT IS IT?

Royal Ambassadors is the name of a Baptist worldwide missionary organization for boys between the ages of 10 and 35, an international organization found in many countries of the world, wherever there are Baptists. It is found on many continents of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North American, and South America. The organization in Nigeria is called Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria (RAN), Nigerian Baptist Convention.

In its mission education and ministry plan, RAN has a foundational Christian education plans for Junior RA, boys between the ages 10 and 15, basic discipleship plans for intermediate RA, boys ages 16 – 25 and solid mission education and action plans for Senior RA, who are boys within ages 26 – 35. It has the mandate of making real men out of boys.

The vision and work of Royal Ambassadors started in the United States of America in 1908 among the Brotherhood Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, USA; and came to Nigeria as one of the world’s leading organizations for boys through SBC missionaries.

The Women’s Missionary Union sponsored the organization from the beginning until 1954 when it was proposed that the men of the Nigerian Baptist Convention should take over the boy’s work. The situation that led to the proposal of Men and Boy’s Department in 1961 which served both men and boys. Later it became known as Men’s Missionary Union and Youth Department before translating to the defunct Missionary Organizations Department. Since 2010, the MMU has a departmental status fondly called Quazi Autonomous status. Today, the RA operates fully under the MMU.

Royal Ambassadors National Executive Committee (RANEC) comprises all elected national officers of the organization only; while the National Executive Council (NEC) includes all conference RA Directors. The RA Marshal is the presiding officer in all meetings (executives or general sessions). But the council cooperates with the MMU NEC through an advisory representative designated RA Council Adviser; and operates from the MMU office, Baptist Building, (NOTE: the setup of the RA NEC, as above, is replicated at conference and associational levels).

To the glory of God, RAN now exists in all Baptist Association (LGA) Conferences (States) and the Convention, (Nigerian Baptist). It also coordinates the activities of other RAs in West African Sub-region and indeed the entire Africa. It has organized two All African RA Summit successfully (2007, 2010) with the third (2013 edition) coming up in Accra, Ghana.

THE ORGANIZATION TODAY (COVERAGE)

Today the organization exists throughout Nigeria. It has state chapters otherwise called Conferences in all the 36 states of the federation including Abuja. In fact, in some states like Oyo, Lagos, three conferences exist. Other Conferences include ,Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, Kogi, United (Abuja), Ogun, Niger/Kebbi (Niger State), Ekiti, Delta, Bethel (Kaduna), Ondo, Osun, Kwara, Kafanchan among others. In these conferences, associations and local chapters exist.

VISION, GOALS AND CARDINAL OBJECTIVES OF ROYAL AMBASSADORS

Our Vision

Touching the lives of boys… impacting the eternity of men!

Our Founding Goals

To become well informed, responsible follower of Christ.
To have Christ-like concern for all people.
To carry the message of Christ around the world.
To work with others in sharing Christ.
To keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body.

Our Cardinal Objectives

Helping boys in personal spiritual development and discipleship
Equipping members for mission action
Ensuring educational and career development of boys.
Promoting social awareness, responsibility and responsiveness.
Promoting personal and corporate discipline and cohesion.
Promoting personal commitment demonstrated in stewardship of life, churchmanship and denominational interest, and understanding as well as appreciation of Baptist beliefs and practices.
Enabling members’ personality, potentiality, and dignity development.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

The foundation, vision and ministries of RAN are responses to the Lord’s command to make disciples of all nations. Our philosophy of ministry of boys is because its easy to catch them young. One of the earliest motors or the organization is: “it is easy to mould boys than to mend men”. Besides, today boys are the men of tomorrow, who will be saddled with the social and spiritual responsibilitie s of leading humanity and influencing decisions in families, societal, global and spiritual spheres of life. They must not be left to wrong hands.

ROYAL AMBASSADORS PLEDGE

As a Royal Ambassador I will do my best:

To become a well-informed, responsible follower of Christ;

To have a Christ-like concern for all people;

To carry the message of Christ around the world;

To work with others in sharing Christ; and

To keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body.

ROYAL AMBASSADORS MOTTO“

The Royal Ambassadors motto is found in 2 Corinthians 5:20: We are ambassadors for Christ.”

ROYAL AMBASSADORS HYMN

“THE KING’S BUSINESS”

I am a stranger here, within a foreign land,

My home is far away, upon a golden strand,

Ambassador to be of realms beyond the sea,

I’m here on business for my king.

CHORUS

This is the message that I bring,

A message angles fain would sing:

“Oh, be ye reconciled,” thus saith my Lord and king,

“Oh, be ye reconciled to God.”

This is the King’s command that all men everywhere,

Repent and turn away from sin’s seductive snare;

That all who will obey, with him shall reign for aye,

And that’s my business for my King.

My home is brighter far than Sharon’s rosy plain,

Eternal life and joy throughout its vast domain;

My Sovereign bids me tell how mortals there may dwell,

And that’s my business for my King.

.E.T Cassel

COMMISSION AND DECLARATION

President: Who is an ambassador?

Boys: An ambassador is one who represents a king at the court of another king.

President: As an ambassador who do you represent?

Boys: “We are ambassador for Christ,” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

President: What is the motive of your service?

Boys: “The love of Christ compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14)

President: What is the eternal message of your service?

Boys: “We pray you in Christ’s name, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

President: What is the King’s Command?

Boys: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

PROGRAMMES

Jamboree: So far, five has been held since inception in this order: Jos (1996), Badagry (2000), Port Harcourt (2004), Akure (2008) and Abuja (2012). It holds every four-four years.
Leadership Training Conference: The aim is to expose boys to leadership skills with the intention of annexing the potentials in them for effective leadership orientation. This is in line with the vision of the organization which is making real men out of boys. This LTC holds annually every October (3rd week) at camp young Ede or NYSC Orientation Camp, Ede for all National Leaders.
Community Development Service: This started six years ago. It is one of the organization’s numerous ways of affecting and imparting local communities directly. It comes in various ways namely: special project; construction, environmental works, socials, welfare promotion, education/ awareness talks etc.
Hiking Exercise: This holds March every year. It is likened to the endurance trek in the military. Its purpose is to encourage constant physical fitness in boys for them to be alive always. Today the hiking is used to promote other virtues such as holy living and campaign against vices. It is an annual national event tagged “a walk for Christ”.
All African Royal Ambassadors Conference: Being an international organization, RA exists also in Africa but Nigeria is providing leadership. As a matter of fact, RAs in Africa depend on the Nigerian chapter for materials, literatures and even leadership. At various time, the RAN has visited countries like Ghana, Togo, Cote D’Ivoire and Niger Republic. The first Conference held in 1997, the second in 2010 while the third holds this year 2013 at Accra, Ghana. It is a networking programme for mission expansion through Baptist boys.
MMU National Congress: This holds every August. RA is also involved in this Congress as the organization operates under the Men’s Missionary Union of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. The MMU National President Presides over the congress with the RA Marshal and RA National Secretary as members of MMU NEC.
Annual Session: This is the general session of the Nigerian Baptist Convention where the organization fully belongs and operates. It has a day set aside for her session, a day for national parade while she involves herself in other activities thus making the involvement of the RA at the session so essential to the convention family. The organization opens the Annual Session with an annual pre-convention mission work.
Mission Promotion: Being an organization within the Baptist family, it promotes missions activities with the aim of helping others in Jesus name by having Christ like concern for all people and sharing His message among all. Of course the organization’s motto is “we are ambassadors for Christ”. (II Cor. 5:20) and has the burden of “go yee into the world,” (Matthew 28:19-20).
National Parade Competition: To encourage physical fitness and sustain the paramilitary ethics of the Royal Ambassadors, parade drills and competitions from Associations to Conferences and National has become part and parsue of the organization’s programme. It’s also a way of attracting boys to Christ.
Anti Social Vices Campaign: This is being anchored by the Anti-Social Vices Club. This is a pet project of the Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria and membership is open to all willing ambassadors wanting to check the spread of social vices in Nigeria. The club at various times has staged campaigns against vices across the length and breath of Nigeria. States like Oyo, Lagos, Rivers, Niger, , Edo, Plateau, Osun and Abuja (e.t.c) have been visited by the club. The campaign comes in various forms: school campaigns (Secondary and higher institutions) seminars and lectures, fliers and handbills, billboards, posters, tracts and jingles. The campaign focuses primarily on vices like thurggery, drinking, smoking, HIV/AIDS, pre-marital sex, cultism, examination malpractices, political violence and other forms of vices. Campaign once held at BOWEN University Iwo on October 20, 2011. A book project tittled; Standing Tall had also be published by the organization.

In preparation for the 2011 General Elections, and as part of the club’s contributions to the success of the elections, “One man, one vote” campaign was embarked upon throughout the nation. Stickers and fliers were produced by the ASVC of the Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria.

RA Week: This holds every first week of July throughout Nigeria. It is an annual event.

PUBLICATIONS

Embassy Watch: (Bi-annual). Since 2002 till date.
Gifted Hands – for annual RA week celebration
Christ Ambassadors – for weekly meeting activities
National Transition Booklet – since 2000 for Royal Wedding.
ASVC Publications – Society and Vices (2007), Standing Tall (2012).
RA Manual – for full details about the organization

RANKING SYSTEM.

Ten ranking system exists starting from CANDIDATE to AMBASSADOR PLENIPOTENTIARY . Honourary awards also exist. The RA MARSHAL is the Chief Promotion Offier. (see ra manual for details)

OPERATIONAL SYSTEM / LEADERSHIP

The body operates through a body called RA Council headed by the Marshal. The Council consists of elected National Officers and all Conference Directors. Programme booklets and materials are centrally produced and coordinated while various standing and ad-hoc committees exist to translate the ideas and ideals of the organization into reality.

THE NATIONAL OFFICERS

Marshal Couns. F.A.S Akinola (Pst)

Agape Community Baptist Church

P.O. Box 640, Surulere, Lagos

08033258135

National Secretary Couns. Ayo Adekunle

First Baptist Church, Igboho,

Oyo State.

08034396805

Recording Secretary Couns. Harry Onaiwu Ogbomo

Edo Baptist Conference Edo State

08038476721

Parade Commandant Amb. Saya Walaku

First Baptist Church, 93 Aggrey Road,

Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

08037418975

Treasurer Couns. Oyibo C. Uguono (Pst)

Delta Conference

Delta State.

08065736874

Financial Secretary Amb. Dauda Daniel

Bethel Conference,

Kaduna State.

08034521162

Auditor Couns. Oguniran N.O

Ogbomoso Baptist Conference,

Oyo State.

08032183593

Mission Leader Couns. Oguntunbi E.T

First Baptist Church, Suleja,

Niger State.

08036052263

P.R.O Couns. Segun Egbedele

First Baptist Church, Akure,

Ondo State.

08033766305

Ex-Officio Couns. Dr. Dawari I. George (MHR)

93 Aggrey Rd, Port Harcourt,

Rivers State.

08037419090.

Secretary J/I RA Forum Amb. Ofoanye Ekini
President J/I RA Forum Amb. Atiba Adedeji

08066209232

National Cordinator, Amb. Eegundiran Biodun

Anti Social Vices Club 08062418214

1. Conference Directors

EMAIL

Contacts: ranigeria@yahoo .com,

raembassywatchm ag@yahoo.com, raembassywatch@ yahoo.co.uk

PHONE : O8033258135, O8O37419090, 0803439680