Easy Royal Ambassadors is an exciting and simple way for children to learn about missions. As Royal Ambassador (RA) chapter members, children become special messengers for Christ our King and learn the importance of missions through mission study, mission action projects, Scripture memory, crafts, and camping. Younger children in grades 1-3 become Lads who "Learn and Do in Jesus' Name." Older children in grades 4-6 become Crusaders who learn ways to "Help Others in Jesus' Name." Using the Easy RA method, your church can join a growing number of Southern Baptists excited about missions.

1. Simple Three-Part Meeting

•Missions Games and Activities

Exciting missions games, led by the Missions Games and Activities Leader, teach children basic missions ideas and are a key ingredient of the Easy RA method. Craft activities lead children to creatively identify with people of other cultures who need Christ. Children who participate learn about being on mission and bring others to the meetings.

Lively stories and activities found in Lad and Crusader magazine provide children with current Southern Baptist missions information. The Missions Focus Teacher shares the gospel of Jesus Christ and His mission command, using suggestions in the Easy RA Planbook.

In Bible/Advancement Time,  fun activities are used to help the RAs learn the Bible verse each week.  The Bible/Advancement Advisor helps the RAs as they learn the Bible verses and work on their advancement requirements.  Easy RA Tracker Slips can be used to keep track of advancement activities and then entered in the advancement books.  The Easy RA Motivational Kit can be used to encourage RAs to work on their advancement.

2. Shared Leadership

Easy RA meetings are perhaps most effective when led by three adult leaders, each leading a different part of the meeting. One- and two-leader options can also be effective.

•One-Leader Option

This solo leader guides children through each meeting part.

•Two-Leader Option

The meeting parts are divided and leadership responsibilities are shared. One leader may choose to lead the games and activities, the other may choose to lead the mission focus, with both guiding the Bible/Advancement Time.

•Three-Leader Option

With three or more leaders, each leader can be assigned one meeting part. With a large group, the children may rotate from leader to leader, and the leaders can repeat their assigned activities several times.

3. Adaptable Administration

The Easy RA method provides a wide range of organizational options.

Churches with few children and leaders may choose to group everyone together for the meeting.

Children may be organized into younger children (Lads) and older children (Crusaders) for separate advancement and missions focus times. Missions Games and Activities time is shared by both groups. Coed groups may also use this option, using RA materials and incorporating GA (Girls in Action) missions materials from Woman's Missionary Union in the small-group settings.

Churches with large numbers of children may divide the children into three groups and use three rooms. The groups move from room to room for different meeting parts. Even with large groups of children, less planning is required of adults for effective meetings because their focus is on only one part of the meeting.

RA chapters build Christ-like character in today's children through mission study, mission action, and Bible memory. Easy RA is for the church wanting to reach children for Christ and teach them about Southern Baptist missions. It is the Southern Baptist missions education method that provides missions information in a simple club-type program with an easy coed option. The EZRA method is fun for children and leaders, easy to understand, simple to lead, and effective as an outreach ministry for your church.

Resources

Along with dated curriculum pieces (the Easy RA Annual Leader Book, Royal Ambassador Leadership Resource Kit, Lad, Lad Leader, and Crusader, Crusader Leader), the following undated resources will help you lead an effective Easy RA chapter.

•On Mission Resources 2000-2001 Resources Catalog—Describes available RA products. (ISBN 084008590-7)

To order, call LifeWay at 1 800 448-8032; fax (615) 251-5983; or mail to Customer Service Center (MSN 108) 127 Ninth Ave., N; Nashville TN 37234-0108. You can also order online at www.lifeway.com.

Royal Ambassador Craft Kits—These packaged crafts are fun to make and easy to do. Each kit contains all essential parts and instructions. Credit for earning advancement awards may be given on completion of any kit. To order, call (931) 935-8201; fax (931) 935-8203.