NNED Royal Rangers “Let Freedom Ring” at Pow Wow 2011
By Jay M. Woodward
NNED Publications Coordinator
On the weekend of August 19-21, NNED Royal Rangers held Pow Wow 2011 at Camp Bomazeen in Belgrade, Maine. Over one hundred boys and leaders from across the District’s three states came together for a time of fun, fellowship, competition, and most importantly, drawing nearer to Christ. This year’s Scripture verse was John 8:36, “He who the Son sets free is free indeed.”
For many, Pow Wow is the most anticipated event of the summer, and this year’s event didn’t disappoint! On Friday, boys and their leaders arrived, settled into their campsites, and were then able to enjoy a fun afternoon of swimming, canoeing, and kayaking! The evening services were held at the Camp’s outdoor amphitheater, with worship led by Pastor Tim Haynes, followed by leaders’ testimonies and a short devotion by this year’s Pow Wow Guest Speaker, Gerry “Moose Whisperer” Blodgett, an avid outdoorsman who is also a passionate evangelist with a heart for reaching the lost. His presence, along with his songs and many outdoor stories and testimonies, brought joy and laughter to both boys and leaders throughout the weekend!
Saturday began with a bang- literally- thanks to Commander Ron Daigle’s mini-cannon wake-up call! Following morning orientation, it was time for the competition to begin! This year’s events included .22 Rifle Shooting, Cross Country Racing, 2-Man Canoe, Kayaking, Paintball, Hawk Throw, Archery, and Obstacle Course, which was a basic-training style event created by District Director Kendall Sperrey to test both physical and mental skills. All these events made for some hungry boys, and Commander Willy Gusha brought his famous Missions BBQ trailer to cook up some hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixings. An offering for lunch was taken, with the money raised going to Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge (BGMC)!
That afternoon, Commanders Mike Morin and Ken Beaufort brought several boys and leaders out on their boats for water tubing on Great Pond, which was available for any boy who passed the required swimming test. This was an exciting addition for this year’s Pow Wow, and lots of fun was had by those who were being towed along by the motor boats! Also, there was plenty of time for swimming for anyone who wanted to jump in the lake and cool off! Indeed, God blessed the camp with wonderful weather through the entire weekend!
For Saturday dinner, each Outpost brought selected items to cook, and the result was a variety of foods to enjoy, including turkey, chicken, and stuffing, corn on the cob, potatoes, and many different pies!
The Saturday evening Council Fire was a special one. Following worship, Commander Kendall presented the District Director’s Cup to GMA recipient Steven Kroh, who was also recognized for earning his Saber. He was also announced as this year’s recipient of the Whittingham Scholarship, which will help him cover the costs of his college expenses! The most important part of the evening came when Brother Gerry came and shared an emotional message about being set free in Christ, which fit in to this year’s Pow Wow. Brother Jerry spoke from his heart to the boys and leaders gathered, and several came forth at the altar call to ask God for salvation and healing of broken hearts. The Holy Spirit was definitely present!
On Sunday morning, Brother Gerry gave a final devotion, sharing his heart for the boys and men of Royal Rangers, and that this was his new “tent ministry.” Following the handing out of awards, Pow Wow closed with a bang, thanks again to Commander Ron!
This year’s Pow Wow was made possible with the help of the Staff members who took various responsibilities behind the scenes to coordinate the events and make sure everything was ready. This made for an easier work load for all. Also, Commander Ken and the Security Color Guard did an amazing job throughout the weekend, from the posting of colors to inspecting campsites to making sure the camp was running smoothly and safely! These SGC boys will get the chance to serve as Security for Camporama 2012!
God has more planned for the future, and plans to bless the Royal Rangers ministry even more. Commander Kendall stated that he believes God has a place for Rangers to call their own for Pow Wow and other events, and that he will be setting out to find it. He asks for prayer and support in this mission, as we work together to evangelize more boys and men, and let freedom in Christ ring!
