Royal Ambassadors - Park Cities Baptist Church

Royal Ambassadors
Parent and Student Handbook
LADS – Grades 1 st – 3 rd
Crusaders – Grades 4 th – 6 th
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God
were making his appeal through us.”
2 Corinthians 5:20a NIV
Lad Motto
Learn and do in Jesus’ Name
Crusader Motto
Help Others in Jesus’ Name
Park Cities Baptist Church
Children's Ministries
3933 Northwest Parkway
Dallas, TX 75225
214.860.1560

What is Royal Ambassadors?
The primary focus of the Royal Ambassador program (RAs) at PCBC is to help first
through sixth grade boys know about the missions work of Southern Baptists around
the world, and how each boy may have a personal role in missions throughout his life
in his “own backyard” and beyond - to understand and be involved in God's mission to
further His Kingdom.
RAs at PCBC is comprised of Lads, 1 st – 3 rd Grade and Crusaders, 4 th – 6 th grade.
Class time and activities are designed around boys’ interests so they can become
excited about their life-time mission as an Ambassador for Christ.
The RA Pledge provides a summary of the entire program.

Accomplishing the Task
The RA program use character virtues related to the RA Pledge to teach commitment
to God’s mission and to reinforce the promises of the Pledge. Components of the
program include: Missions Projects, Character Virtue Studies, Missions Activities,
Guest Missionary Speakers, Special Interest Activities/Events and Special Studies.
RAs is led by Dads and other male church members. The ratio of RA Leaders to boys
is about 1:5 with a minimum of two leaders per classroom. RAs meets at PCBC meet
each Wednesday evening, following area school calendars from September through
April.
Missions Projects
Boy-oriented Missions Projects are ways of reaching persons with special needs
through activities our RAs can do. By applying the RA Motto, “We are Ambassadors
for Christ,” to mission activities, boys grow in their commitment to missions and mature
in their Christian experience. In our desire to teach RAs to DO Missions, we plan many
projects to involve them in how to be a missionary in their own city. Mission projects
may include collection of items such as school or hygienic supplies for local
organizations; underwear for Buckner orphans; canned food for Brother Bill’s, etc.
Items that are collected for RAs need to be brought to the RA classroom by the due
date. These items are collected from RAs and distributed to the various ministries.
We also provide many in-class mission projects such as stuffing Easter Eggs for a local
Easter egg hunt, putting bible verse labels on bottled water or detergent packages,
making gifts for PCBC homebound members, etc. RA’s also have the opportunity to
give of their time with family projects such as sorting shoes at Buckner, organizing
Brother Bill’s food pantry, RA Car Wash and Hoops for Missions.
We hope you will encourage your RA to be truly involved in these projects. Encourage
him to earn and then use some of his own money to purchase the requested items.
Take your son to the store to purchase these items. His participation in purchases,
attendance in class and at various family mission projects will help him learn to work
with others and help him understand the great needs in our world.
Character Virtue Studies and Missions Activities
Class time is spent learning about the character virtue with magazine stories of current
real-life missionary that emphasize the usefulness of that virtue in growing God’s
kingdom. RAs learn bible verses associated with each virtue and play games to
memorize the verse. Missions activities and games lend a fun way to reinforce the
virtue. For example, during the study of teamwork, team games and group projects will
be done. There are 2 virtue sets – one for Lads and one for Crusaders. Each virtue
set includes 5 character virtues which are detailed above with the pledge.

Guest Missionary Speakers
We have found that real-life missionaries, especially those that are active in our
church, provide the boys with an opportunity to have a first-hand experience with a
godly role model. Most speakers show slides or videos, have artifacts from their
country and are familiar with sharing with groups of boys. Speakers usually relate the
character virtue the boys are studying to the effectiveness of their mission work.
Special Studies
These special studies give the RA an opportunity to earn a patch or year chevron.
Each study has specific requirements, but usually require participation in the mission
project and attendance on specific nights. Details will be mailed to your home prior to
the special International Missions Study.
International Missions Study
RAs will participate in a special International Missions Study during the year. Past
studies have included the Balkans, China, and Mexico. This missions study will help
RAs have a deeper understanding of Baptist missionaries outside the United States.
North American Missions Study
RAs will participate in a special North American Missions Study during the year . This
study usually focuses on specific North American missionaries and their work in places
like Chicago, New York, or California.
World Hunger Study
RAs will participate in a special World Hunger Study during the year. This study usually
focuses on how the Southern Baptist World Hunger fund aids people around the world
and how local food banks provide care.
Special Interest Activities/Events
Interest Activities provide teaching avenues and learning situations, enhancing
relationships along with the total program. Such special interest activities may include:
camping, games, sports, crafts and physical fitness.
Parent Meeting
A parent meeting will be held early in September to discuss most of the details in this
booklet. It will be led by the RA Directors and held during RA time. Parents of first
year RAs are strongly encouraged to attend.
Initiation
Separate initiation programs are held for Lads and Crusaders. 1 st grade and new Lads
will be taught the RA pledge and motto prior to the initiation, then asked to recite it at
initiation. They will receive their vest at initiation and may then begin wearing it to
class and special events. 4 th grade boys will be initiated into the Crusader program

and asked to recite the RA pledge and the Crusader motto. Any Crusader, new to the
RA program will receive a vest. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend.
Campout and other social activities
During the year, special events such as campout, rock climbing, archery, etc. may be
offered. These events are optional and offer an opportunity for fellowship among RAs,
Leaders and parents. To attend any of these special interest activities, an RA must be
accompanied by a parent or designated guardian. You will receive information about
these events as they develop.
Hoops for Missions
Hoops for Missions is a fun winter evening for RAs. Prior to "Hoops" night, each RA
may contact family, friends and neighbors to sponsor him for each successfully
completed events during the evening. Money raised during the event goes directly to
Southern Baptist missions endeavors. In past years, the RAs have raised money to
help earthquake, tsunami and hurricane victims.
RA Celebration
Our RAs work hard during the year. We like to applaud their efforts and encourage
their friendships with an end of the year party. This is usually held on the last
Wednesday night of RAs.
Basketball
RAs no longer offers a separate basketball program. RA’s are encouraged to
participate in PCBC’s Upward Basketball. The program is administered by
Don Duren.
United Missions Emphasis
Each year PCBC unites to emphasize the importance of Missions work. RAs are
usually asked to participate in Saturday night and Sunday morning worship programs
by handing out programs, carrying flags or distributing materials. All RAs are
encouraged to wear their vest to worship service during this time. You will receive a
postcard with details as the time nears.

RA Race Car Derby
The RA Derby Races are usually held in the Spring. The race becomes a true family
event as everyone cheers on their RA and his car to win. Car kits are ordered through
the RA director and are worked on in class during the few weeks before the race. RAs
have a great opportunity to show their creative talents by designing, painting and
decorating their cars in their unique style. We will ask for parental help during this busy
time so that wheels can be aligned properly and paint won’t bog the cars down.
Each RA receives a ribbon on the night of the race, applauding his unique design
efforts. Trophies are given to first, second, and third place winners in each grade. The
fastest overall Lad car and fastest overall Crusader car are also awarded a trophy.
Some of the Derby Rules are listed below. A more detailed list will arrive with the car s
and made available to you when you are helping your son in class. These rules help
ensure healthy competition and Christian sportsmanship.
• Car kits must be purchased through the PCBC RA program.
• Wheels & axles must be original to the RA kit.
• Cars entered must be made by the RA.
• Cars made for previous events are not eligible.
• Overall width shall not exceed 2 3/4 inches.
• Overall length shall not exceed 7 3/8 inches.
• Be sure that the undercarriage will clear the track.
• Borrowed cars are not permitted.
• Cars must not exceed 5 oz, AS WEIGHED BY THE PCBC SCALE.
• No loose materials of any kind are permitted on the car.
• The car shall not ride on any type of springs.
• Steering wheel, driver or decals are permitted, if securely attached to the
car.
• The car must be free-wheeling with no starting devices.
• Each car must pass inspection by the RA Race Committee.
• Wheels may not be reduced in size or altered in any way.
• Wheel bearings, washers, spacers and bushings are PROHIBITED.

Royal Ambassador Vests, Patches and Awards
“I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind,
to reward a man according to his conduct,
according to what his deeds deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:10 NIV
Vests
1 st graders and any other new RA will receive his vest at RA initiation in the fall. They
are welcome to wear their RA vests anytime. They will be encouraged to wear them
during all special events/activities.
Awards Ceremony
RAs will receive their awards at the year-end Awards Ceremony in May. Awards
include patches, bars and stars, and Challenger Award. The patches and bars and
stars are to be put on the vest. You will receive a placement guide with your awards at
the ceremony.
Patches
The first time an RA participates in an event, he will receive a patch and a year-specific
chevron. In subsequent years he will only receive the applicable year-specific chevron.
Advancement: Awarded for completion of all 5 virtue studies. Virtue studies are
done in class and all boys will be given an opportunity to make-up virtue studies.
Missions Patch: Awarded for participation in at least 70% of the mission projects.
World Hunger: Awarded for completion of the World Hunger Study.
International Mission Study: Awarded for completion of International Mission
Study.
North American Mission Study Awarded for completion of North American
Mission Study.
Campout: Awarded for attendance at the RA campout.
Hoops for Missions: Awarded for collection of money for Hoops.
Basketball: Awarded to a boy who participates in PCBC Upward Basketball.
Race Car Derby: Awarded to a boy who builds and/or races a car at PCBC RA
Derby.
Athletic Patch: *optional extracurricular activity. Requirements include a threemonth
dedicated exercise routine. Exercises may be completed during any
consecutive three months from September through March. Exercise routine forms are
available through the RA director. When complete and signed by the RA's parent, this
will earn the RA the Athletic Patch at the year-end Awards Ceremony.

Bars and Stars
A grade level specific bar will be awarded to a boy who completes all his virtue studies.
He will also receive one star for each level of Challenger he obtains – 3 stars for gold,
2 stars for silver, 1 star for bronze.
RA Challenger Awards
RA Challenger Awards are presented at the year-end Awards Ceremony. These
special awards, unique to PCBC, award boys who have made participation in Missions
Projects and attendance at RA’s a high priority. Past awards have included an RA
knife, an RA water bottle, or an RA sports bag. There are four components to earning
a RA Challenger Award: Mission Project Participation, Completion of all 5 virtue
studies, Behavior, and Attendance. Success in these areas may earn the RA a
Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.

Procedures
Behavior
The behavior system implemented for the RA program works very well for the boys as
well as the RA Leaders. It is called “The Three Strike” Rule. Boys understand
baseball . . . Three strikes and you’re out. A similar principle applies in the RA
classroom. Each RA Leader Team determines a short list of classroom rules which
each RA must follow. Expectations are made clear to the RAs at the beginning of the
year.
When a rule is broken, the RA leader will give a warning - “one strike.” A second
“strike” is given for a repeated offense. Rarely is a boy given more than one strike
during an evening. However, if a boy receives three strikes, he is then escorted to one
of the RA directors to complete the evening. “Strikes” are history at the end of each
Wednesday meeting. Our goal is that “strikes” will be given in a fair and subtle
manner. Problems beyond the “Three Strike” policy should not be handled in front of
the other boys.
“The Three Strike Rule” has been an effective tool in the RA classroom and has
enhanced the learning experience for all class members. We want all our RA boys to
hit a home run!
Insurance/Permission Slip Forms
For special events away from church, a special permission slip may be required and
must be signed by a parent/guardian. You will be notified anytime the RAs will leave
the building. Permission slips and or liability waiver forms will be mailed to you if they
are required.
Clothing
We often paint and such in class, so dress accordingly - we don't have enough smocks
for all.
Parent Requests
Please let us know of your talents and interests that would enhance our RA program.
Do you have a saw or drill and know how to use it?
Have you or a family member been part of a Southern Baptist Missions
Program?
Have you been a missionary to a foreign country or do you know of any
missionaries who would like to share their story with RA’s?
Please pray for your son’s RA Leaders. Please encourage your son in his missions
endeavors. Make him part of the process of bringing mission items to RAs and
attending the RA special events. Please communicate with RA leaders and directors
when you have a concern or praise.

Communication
Communication is important to the success of any program. Each month, your RA will
receive a reminder card packed with information for the upcoming month. This will
include important dates, missions projects information and attendance requirements.
Most communication from RAs will be printed on bright blue paper. Please put this
card in a visible place so that your RA may participate in all the missions projects and
other activities and earn every award.
We would also like to communicate with you by email. An email will be sent in early
September to all families that gave an email address on the registration card. If you do
not receive an email, please contact the RA Director to be added to the email lists.
We hope this handbook has been helpful in explaining some of the details of the
program. Please do not hesitate to talk to the RA director leaders for more information.
A grade-level listing of teachers and phone numbers is included in this booklet. We
want to make RAs the best place for your son to be on Wednesday evening. To the
glory of the Lord, we want to educate him about Baptist Missions around the world and
encourage his desire to share the love of Jesus Christ. Thank you for the opportunity
to teach your son about Baptist missions work.
If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns, please contact a director listed
below.
RA Directors
Greg Lavender
Julie Jackson
9517 Chiswell Road 4444 Elmhurst Drive
Dallas, TX 75238 Plano, TX 75093
214-221-1048(h)
972-964-2769(h)
214-906-0856 (cell) 972-467-6848(cell)
lavenders@sbcglobal.net Julie.jackson@verizon.net