Rangers offer positive influence for boys

The City of Abbeville is recognizing New Life Church for their work with the Royal Rangers organization.

The Royal Rangers are an international ministry that reaches out to boys and young men around the world. They extend to about 90 countries and are also in all 50 states. The Abbeville group was started 30 years ago at Outpost 164, and have been primarily working out of New Life Church.

According to Seth Landry, who helps run the group in Abbeville, they hold Bible classes every Wednesday night at the church.

“We do a lot of different activities,” he said. “We have games, crafts, Bible studies, and things like that. We do a lot more camps and community outreach over the summer, when the kids are out of school.”

There are four different categories young men can join, depending on age. The Ranger Kids are in kindergarten, first and second grades. Then from the third through the fifth grade, they are a part of the Discovery Rangers. From sixth through eighth grade, they will be a part of the Adventure Rangers. And, once they hit high school, they will be a part of the Expedition Rangers.

The ministry of Royal Rangers focuses on helping boys develop in four key areas of their lives: Spiritually, mentally, physically, and socially.

The organization is a Christian ministry, helping students learn through Bible study and memorization, devotionals and Christian role models.

Landry has been a part of the Royal Rangers since he was five years old. After he had gone through his later teen years, he turned right around and began teaching the new young men coming up. He’s been with the group ever since.

“It was great,” he said. “I got to spend a lot of time with my dad, since he was a teacher in the group, too.”

The main focus of the group is the Wednesday night meeting, Landry said. “During school, it’s great because some of the kids bring their friends from school along and get them into it,” he explained. “And that’s what we want. We want a product that kids are willing to bring their friends to.”

The meetings are held at New Life Church at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

“It’s open to all who want to come in,” Landry added.

Landry also said that anyone interested in starting a group can. It’s not limited to a single denomination.

The New Life Church received a Civic Pride Award from the City of Abbeville because of their work with the Royal Rangers, who are very active in the Abbeville community and are at many public events held in the city and around the parish.