Word of Life International Church

 Greetings from our Senior Commander: Bob White

 Our Word of Life Royal Ranger Outpost 65, made up of our multi-national boys and men, are READY -- ready for anything. During 2007, we thrived throughout the year learning to work, play, serve and worship at all levels! 

In February, many men and boys from the various nationalities at WOL enjoyed a full buffet breakfast and lunch, a Father & Son basketball tournament, plus multiple workshops for flying model helicopters, making model airplanes, model RC cars and pinewood derby cars, and a workshop for learning to weld metal together.  The Jubilee Christian Center in Fairfax, VA hosted the event, then followed the workshops with a wonderful worship service held for all attendees.

In April, Cmdr. A.J. Nestlerode hosted an overnight Royal Ranger merit-earning weekend for the Discovery and for Adventure Ranger boys who are in grades 3 - 5, and 6 - 8, respectively.  These Rangers earned merit badges in toolcraft skills, firecraft use and safety, and in outdoor cooking and camping skills.  Cmdrs. Robert Rea, Mike Morrison, Mat Mathews & A.J. Nestlerode prepared for many weeks to create the training materials and learning points needed in training the boys on skills they would need at the campout. Overall, these merit badges earned by each boy are part of his pathway to earning his own Royal Ranger “Gold Medal of Achievement” (GMA) Award.  The GMA is the highest Award a ranger boy may earn. It takes boys years of hard work, Christian service, memorizing God’s Word and demonstrating developed Christian life skills to earn his GMA.  There are several boys currently in our fellowship who are making great progress on the GMA path and are working right now to complete their GMA Award over the next few years at WOL. 

In June, our Outpost Cmdrs. and Rangers participated in another exciting sectional weekend Pow-Wow held in Fredericksburg, VA.  This year’s theme, centered on Jamestown’s 400th anniversary, allowed our Rangers to develop spiritually, mentally, physically and relationally, especially during the events and during the evening Council Fire where the Word of God was brought forth and where boys, and men alike, learned to apply God’s truth in their lives.  Our Outpost won an Award for our Potato Gun at the Pow-Wow.

In August, we again saw spiritual growth among our Outpost members when we attended the Potomac District Pow-Wow at the Broad Creek, MD, BSA.  This means that unity among our WOL men and boys was strengthened by the awesome worship services held when the Lord moved mightily in our midst.  The theme for this event was NASCAR and many faith- and fun-filled activities for all attendees included swimming, paint ball, and RC car racing. Three of our four WOL GMA Award recipients for 2006 were again honored for earning that award.  Namely Ross Furman, Billy Arntson and Patrick Arntson were privileged to attend the Ranger Junior Leadership Training seminar, to enable their preparation as future Commanders in the Ranger Program.  We are eager to see them develop into great men of God.

Our Adventure Rangers are diligently at work under the leadership of Cmdr. Mat Mathews.  He is faithful to lead them in earning merit badges that will fulfill a portion of criteria toward earning a GMA Award, when completed. 

Our Expedition Rangers in grades 9 through 12, led by outstanding Cmdrs. Steve Furman and Andy Arntson, are making great strides in their endeavors to develop endurance and to learn “hands on” Ranger leadership skills.  The Cmdrs. faithfully train these young men, those who we hope will be our future junior commanders, leading them to grow mentally, physically and spiritually through the educational process via multiple projects and events. Some Expedition projects and merit badge work for developing stamina and endurance included rock-climbing in June and a 5-day, 50-mile hike on the Applachian Trail in July.  Other activities they accomplished during the year that developed their physical and mental coordination skills were skiing, snow boarding, paint ball and the creation of model rockets.  During several camping events in 2007, the Expedition Rangers also earned merit badges in archery, skeet shooting, and knife and tomahawk skills, among others.

Our youngest Ranger Kids group of boys in grades Kindergarten through 2^nd, exceeded our expectations in earning merits and trail awards during 2007.  Cmdrs. Robert Rea, Freeman Walker, Theresa Nestlerode and Mona White taught multiple scriptures and relational life-skills to our multi-national Ranger boys, leading them on to accomplish their desires for finishing their tasks. This team led one overnight camping trip hosted by Cmdrs. Nestlerode and White during the summer, and an all-day Ranger Kid Field event in September. Four boys spent two days working to earn merit badges, develop a patrol team, to learn to have a servant spirit, and each learned about God’s vast world created for them to be good stewards of.  Weekly, each Ranger Kid is faithful to learn scriptures. He studies basic concepts for living a Godly life at home, school, church and when at play. 

In August, WOL was also very proud to sponsor five Ranger Kids at the 2007 Royal Ranger Leadership Discovery Training Camp held in Fairfax.  Only selected and qualified Ranger Kids were invited to represent WOL at this level in gaining the qualities of future patrol leaders in our Outpost.  Another exceptional young man, Brody White, accomplished a full year of merit badge and trail work, Scripture memorization and Christian service to earn the 2007 WOL District Ranger Kid “Ranger of the Year” Award.  This was a “first” win for any Ranger Kid at WOL. He also read two of his children’s Bibles all the way through to completion. Congratulations Brody!

We finished the year with our annual Hay Ride in Catharpin, VA in late October.  The Rangers, and their families, enjoyed the hay rides, the Moon Bounce, which was donated for the evening, and savored delicious food during the evening hot dog roast. Included were hot chocolate, drinks and melted marshmallow treats, followed by a camp side devotional.  Life long relationships in the Body of Christ are begun and developed at such events.

I want to personally thank our group of Royal Ranger Commanders for their dedication and excellence in all their pursuits to “reach, teach and keep boys for Jesus Christ.”  I also want to express deep appreciation to the supporters of our WOL Royal Rangers who faithfully pray for us and financially contribute to the ministry.  The Ranger Commanders and boys are presently fulfilling their God-given purposes in ministering to one another and in reaching out to others, as well.  These boys are our future leaders and we thank God for each one.  More men are invited to join in this awesome team!

In His Service,

Bob White

Senior Commander

Outpost 65