and for some good news

by strods June 5th 2014, 7:15 pm

Our church has been highly involved with another ministry, Teen Challenge. Over the last few months we have had one of their interns be one of my Commanders. Well this weekend I found that he received word he'll be promoted to a director of a new boy's ranch for, what's the current term? "At Risk" youth I think, over in Nebraska. He wants to use Rangers as a staple in the programming there. As he's been with me and I have first hand experience in founding an outpost we are brainstorming on how Rangers would work in this new format. While I can see where the boys are coming from a much harsher environment and background, I also see where they will have much MORE Outpost time. For all intents and purposes, they will be living at their Outpost and their Commanders for 16ish months. GMA likely won't be a focus, but we're looking to make FCF one. The goal is that when a Ranger has complete his stay he'll have BMA, FCF, and a contact to a local outpost near where he lives as an additional local support.

by **Phillip Gross** June 5th 2014, 8:51 pm

I like it! Keep us posted on how it goes.

by **Claymore** June 5th 2014, 10:31 pm

Tom, that is an absolutely OUTSTANDING Idea. It is truly thinking Outside the Box, and is using the Ranger Program to supplement an already Great Program.

Many of those people are considered "Throwaways" by their Peers, Society, and even Themselves.

Rangers will give them a sense of Recognition and Advancement; something that many of these folks may not see, outside of being in a Gang.

I can see it being a lot of work, but possibly for reasons different from what many of us deal with. You may have young folks CRAVING what Rangers has to offer.

If you have the Leadership to get the Program going, then I would expect Great Things.

The Success Rate for Teen Challenge Graduates is about six times that if the National Average.

by **joecool** June 5th 2014, 11:58 pm

Somebody please pass this news to national HQ. Back in my last section, the Salvation Army chartered an outpost. Don't know if it still exists, but it was working nicely when I moved north.

by strods June 6th 2014, 12:02 am

Thank you. We're trying to team up. I know Rangers, he's a TC grad.
We will likely revise a merit, here or there. The Tool Craft may expand to include hammer and basic repair. Things like that.

I'll keep you all posted