Royal Rangers - A Brief History of Royal Rangers

A Brief History of Royal Rangers

• 1914 The Assemblies of God begins in April in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
• 1960 Rev. Burton Pierce comes to Springfield, Missouri as Men's Department Secretary. He helps develop "The Group of Brothers"—Burton Pierce, Lloyd Colbough, Charles Scott, Weldon Colbough, and Dick Champion—to pray for God's direction in the development of a new boys' program in the Assemblies of God.
• 1961 Rev. Pierce travels to Texas to meet North Texas District Christ Ambassadors President Johnnie Barnes. Rev. Johnnie Barnes is considered founder of Royal Rangers. Rev Barnes's memorial tombstone states that he is the Royal Rangers Founder and the handbooks as well state he founded the ministry in 1962.
• 1962 In January, Rev. Johnnie Barnes moves to Springfield, Missouri, to put together a program for boys. Rev. Charles Scott suggests the name “Royal Rangers.” Rev. Barnes becomes the first Royal Rangers national commander. The first pilot program is conducted at Webster Park A/G in Springfield, MO, with a second unofficial pilot program conducted at Bethel A/G, also in Springfield, using the same materials.
• 1963 The Royal Rangers Leadership Training Course is developed.
• 1964 The first district-wide pow wows, large annual camps, are held. The Gold Medal of Achievement and the Medal of Valor awards are first offered.
• 1966 Royal Rangers ministries are set up in Australia and Latin America. The Frontiersmen Camping Fraternity (later "Fellowship"; FCF) is formed. The first Royal Rangers Week is held. It celebrates the Royal Rangers ministry and encourages reaching, teaching, and keeping boys for Christ.
• 1968 National Training Camps for Royal Rangers leaders are held in four states: Missouri, Colorado, New York, and California.
• 1974 The first National Camporama, a camping event that happens every four years, is held at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Royal Rangers was established in the Worcester, England.
• 1977 The National Royal Rangers Council is formed and meets in Springfield, Missouri.
• 1986 The National Royal Rangers Training Center (now National Royal Rangers Center) at Eagle Rock, Missouri is dedicated. It is also called Camp Eagle Rock.
• 1989 National Commander Johnnie Barnes dies due to a large bowel obstruction. For twenty-seven years he led the Royal Rangers, developing its ministry. (Commander Barnes is buried in Maple Park Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri.) Rev. Ken Hunt is named national commander. He guides the ministry for ten years.
• 1999 Rev. Richard Mariott is appointed national commander. He was the commander for the Northern California/Nevada District for seven years. His goals are to encourage Royal Rangers and develop new programs.
• 2002 Ranger Kids, the first portion of the newly revised Royal Rangers ministry, is tested and released to U.S. churches.
• 2003 Discovery Rangers and Adventure Rangers materials are released to U.S. churches.
• 2004 Expedition Rangers materials are released to U.S. churches.
• 2006 Rev. Richard Mariott announces that he will resign as National Commander on December 31, 2006.
• 2007 Rev. Doug Marsh is named National Commander. He was previously Director of Royal Rangers International. His appointment was effective February 1, 2007. Marsh will continue to also direct Royal Rangers International until a transition in leadership in that department can be made. Marsh is also the first National Commander to have been involved in the ministry of Royal Rangers as a boy, having earned his Gold Medal of Achievement.
• 2008 At their annual National Council in Springfield, MO. in March, Royal Rangers announces that by July 31, 2011 they will phase out the current uniform and phase in new uniform selections along with new training programs, awards and merits. Plans were also presented to expand the scope of the program beyond the traditional camping emphasis to include activities of common interest to all boys (i.e. sports, technology, trades, drama/arts, outdoors, and ministry).
• 2010 The new advancement system for Discovery Rangers, Adventure Rangers, and Expedition Rangers is released. This new system will run concurrently with the previous 2002 version until Dec 31, 2012.
• 2012 Royal Rangers USA celebrates its 50th Anniversary during its 10th National Camporama in Eagle Rock, MO.
• 2013 The new Ranger of the Year program is slated to be released after LEAD conference in March of 2013.