Chapter 31

Outpost Chaplain

T he outpost chaplain is the spiritual adviser of

the outpost. He encourages boys to become
everything they can be in Christ. He functions as
the conscience of the outpost, considering spir-
itual needs and offering spiritual direction. He
provides opportunities for every boy to receive
Christ as Lord and Savior, and encourages each
one to seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR
OUTPOST CHAPLAINS
The outpost coordinator, in consultation with the
pastor, may assign someone to serve as outpost
chaplain. A chaplain could be the lead pastor,
another staff minister such as the children’s or youth
pastor, a retired minister, or someone who serves as
the pastor’s representative to Royal Rangers.

A chaplain has the opportunity to personally
shape the lives of many boys. He will see mental,
physical, spiritual, and social growth as the boys
develop in Christlike manhood. A chaplain will
have the satisfaction of knowing he has helped to
build the spiritual foundation in boys’ lives. He
will one day see the fruit of his labor as the boys
become men of God. Many of these boys will take
over the reins of Royal Rangers leadership for the
next generation.
The outpost chaplain should possess the same
qualifications as other Rangers leaders but should
also be evaluated based on who he is, how he acts,
how he looks, what he says, and how he says it.
Who the Chaplain Is
An outpost chaplain should be a mature Christian,
rooted and grounded in God’s Word, God’s ways,
church life, Bible doctrine, and the fundamentals
of faith. He should be sensitive to the leading of
the Holy Spirit and possess the spiritual insight

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ROYAL RANGERS LEADER MANUAL
that comes to those who are totally dedicated to
God and His purposes.
How the Chaplain Acts
Although words are important, how a chaplain
acts will exert a more powerful influence on
those around him. As a role model, he must be an
example of godliness, bringing glory to God, the
church, and God’s calling on his life—because
people tend to imitate spiritual leaders. The spiri-
tual welfare of an outpost will be greatly affected
by the chaplain’s actions wherever he may be. A
chaplain’s spiritual maturity will have a definite
bearing on his effectiveness.
How the Chaplain Looks
During each Royal Rangers function, the chaplain
should be sharply and properly dressed in a Royal
Rangers uniform. He sets the example by looking
the part of a distinctive man, proudly wearing an
impeccable uniform.
The impression the chaplain makes on the boys
will determine how well they receive and accept
him. If the chaplain appears to be a strong, resolute,
and motivated man of God, he will inspire confi-
dence. Conversely, if he seems weak-willed and
uncertain, the boys will lose interest in him and in
what he tries to communicate.
What the Chaplain Says
A good communicator is aware of the force of
words, the value of inflection and emphasis, and
the effect of volume. A chaplain’s communication
skills should include pleasant, positive ranges of
expression. His messages should not deteriorate to
the level of condemnation, accusation, or faultfind-
ing. Rather, he should speak from a warm, compas-
sionate heart of love. The chaplain should cultivate
his communication skills by studying outstanding
speakers and observing their techniques and skills.
Many bookstores carry selections with helpful tips
on improving communication skills.
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unauthorized use constitutes a violation of the agreement and may result in the revocation of TRaCclub membership.
©2010 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved worldwide.
EVANGELIZE • EQUIP
ELIZE • EQUIP • EMPO
EQUIP • EMPOWER
EVANGELIZE • EQUIP
ELIZE • EQUIP • EMP
EQUIP • EMPOWER
OUTPOST CHAPLAIN
DUTIES OF THE OUTPOST CHAPLAIN
The duties of the outpost chaplain are determined
by the outpost coordinator, but typically include
conducting devotions during Royal Rangers meet-
ings or events, serving as a spiritual counselor for
everyone in the outpost, offering spiritual direc-
tion, and visiting boys and their families in their
homes.
CONDUCTING DEVOTIONS
The chaplain may be asked to give a devotion
for the whole outpost at a meeting, Council of
Achievement, council fire, or other gathering. He
may be asked to give a devotion for a particular
group during its meeting.
The chaplain should conduct devotions in the time
specified in the meeting plan. He should also be
aware of the short attention span of most boys and
briefly present truths in understandable, appealing
ways. Using props and visual aids usually keeps
boys interested in the message. The topic should
be relevant to the age group being addressed. (For
information on developing powerful devotions,
read chapter 25.)
SERVING AS COUNSELOR
The outpost chaplain should carefully seek God
for guidance before each outpost meeting. This
will help him to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s
leading before, during, and after the devotion.

The chaplain should anticipate the possibility of a
boy coming to him for counsel, advice, prayer, and
straight answers to life’s problems. He should be
prepared to listen to the boy and help the boy to find
godly solutions if the boy should ask. The chaplain
needs to understand the problems boys face today.
He should know how to relate to troubled boys.
Many types of boys attend Royal Rangers meet-
ings and activities. Some come from situations
with only one parent in the home. Some live with
people who are not their parents. Some have fam-
ily members addicted to alcohol or drugs. Some
live in abusive situations. The chaplain should
read articles and books on what today’s boys face
and stay informed so he can be as effective as
possible in leading boys to follow Jesus.
The chaplain should protect the confidentiality of
each discussion, not sharing with others what he
has heard. However, some issues, such as abuse,
must be reported to the proper authorities. Chap-
lains should consult the reporting laws for the
areas in which they minister. If a boy discusses
abuse with a chaplain, the chaplain should thank
the boy for his honesty. However, the boy should
also be told that, for his own safety, the chaplain
has to inform the proper authorities about the
situation. If complications arise or a severe psy-
chological problem presents itself, the chaplain
should consult the pastor for further direction.
Offering Spiritual Direction
A wise outpost chaplain will become proficient in
soul winning. He will prepare himself carefully
and prayerfully for each meeting, ready for the
opportunity to lead a boy to Christ. He should be
very familiar with leading a boy to Christ. While
there are many ways to lead someone to Christ,
having one plan in mind will give some direction.
As the chaplain listens to and obeys the Holy
Spirit, God will do His work in an individual way
in each boy’s heart.
This license grants permission to Tomas Barraza to use and reproduce this sheet from Jan 05, 2023 to Jan 19, 2025 for use in a local outpost/group or self-study. Any
unauthorized use constitutes a violation of the agreement and may result in the revocation of TRaCclub membership.
©2010 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved worldwide.
OUTPOST CHAPLAIN
Visiting Boys in Their Homes
The chaplain should take advantage of opportu-
nities to visit the boys and meet their parents. He
should dress like a Royal Rangers leader, present-
ing a sharp, professional appearance. He should
bring literature, if possible, to give to those he vis-
its. He should keep a record of his visit, noting the
contacts made, names, addresses, dates, and other
special information. He should share his findings
with the pastor to help him and the church address
the needs of the family. The chaplain should be
sure to call the boy by name when he sees him.
CHAPLAIN AIDE
As God moves in the hearts and lives of Royal
Rangers, some boys will receive a call to occupa-
tional ministry. Royal Rangers offers training for
their future ministry as well as providing oppor-
tunities for them to serve in their outpost while
they are still in school. This can be done through
the chaplain aide position. A boy who has a heart
to see others grow spiritually and perhaps desires
to one day be an outpost chaplain (but may not
sense a call to full-time ministry) may also be
considered for the position.
The chaplain aide position gives young men the
opportunity to use their training and skills to serve
God and their peers. They also gain valuable expe-
rience as they grow into whatever ministry God is
preparing them for. The chaplain aide assists the
chaplain in his duties, and in this way, the chaplain
mentors these young men in people-helping skills.
Qualifications and Duties of the Chaplain Aide
The chaplain aide is usually an older or more
mature young man who is active in the local
outpost. He must be a mature Christian, rooted
and grounded in God’s Word, living God’s way,
and involved in the church’s activities. He should
be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and
have spiritual insight and wisdom.
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ROYAL RANGERS LEADER MANUAL
The chaplain aide works with the group leader and
the outpost chaplain to meet the spiritual needs of
the Rangers in the group or outpost at-large. This
may include delivering devotions or Bible studies
during meetings or outings, planning a spiritual
emphasis during outpost or group activities, and
visiting boys at their homes or at school. The chap-
lain aide should read his Bible and pray regularly.
He should be faithful in church attendance and be
friendly toward his peers.
How a Chaplain Aide Presents Himself
Leaders must understand that the chaplain aide is
still a young man. While he may assist the outpost
chaplain and present himself in ways similar to the
chaplain, he will do so with a younger perspective
and less experience. The chaplain and group leaders
should work with him to help him grow personally
and spiritually, and in the people-helping skills of
a chaplain.
The chaplain aide should realize that his actions
and spiritual maturity will greatly affect the
spiritual welfare of the outpost. He should be
willing and able to speak to any age group and be
developing an awareness that his words impact
This license grants permission to Tomas Barraza to use and reproduce this sheet from Jan 05, 2023 to Jan 19, 2025 for use in a local outpost/group or self-study. Any
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unauthorized use constitutes a violation of the agreement and may result in the revocation of TRaCclub membership.
©2010 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved worldwide.
others. Younger boys will look up to him and
want to follow and be like him. He should speak
pleasantly, with positive ranges of expression and
be warm, with a compassionate heart of love. He
should observe and study the techniques of other
speakers. He should complete the Communica-
tions and Public Speaking merits, which will help
to develop his skills.
The chaplain aide should always be sharply
dressed in his Royal Rangers uniform at each
function he attends. He should be a strong, moti-
vated young man of God, inspiring confidence in
others (1 Timothy 4:12).
The outpost chaplain and the young men serving
as chaplain aides provide much needed spiritual
support, guidance, and a strong spiritual example
to the boys and young men in the outpost. Allow
them to play those key roles in the outpost, and
your boys will grow to even greater depths of
spiritual maturity and leadership.