Empower

This is part 3 in a 3-part series. To read part 1 on Evangelize, click here. To read part 2 on Equip, click here.

In a confusing and uncertain world, the importance of empowering boys for life and ministry cannot be overstated. While the focus on empowering girls has rightfully gained momentum in recent years, the need to equip boys with the skills, values, and understanding to navigate life with purpose and contribute meaningfully to society and ministry is just as urgent. Empowering boys is not just about their personal success but also about raising a generation of men who have the confidence and determination to serve, impact, and transform their communities with faith and integrity.

This is part 3 in our look at the mission of Royal Rangers to evangelize, equip, and empower the next generation of Christlike men. Empowering boys is both a natural outflow of the first two steps in the Royal Rangers mission and a commitment to intentionally engage in their development as Christlike men.

Faith Is Foundational for Empowering

Empowerment begins with knowing who Jesus is and what He has done for each of us (evangelism). It is essential to invest in our boys’ spiritual, emotional, and social development early in life. Building a solid understanding and commitment to the Word of God gives our boys an unshakeable foundation for everything else they will need to face life. In a world that is constantly changing and lacks a moral baseline, young men who are encouraged to engage with their faith on a personal level experience a deeper sense of purpose, belonging, and confidence. By helping them develop habits of prayer, Bible reading, and worship, they develop anchors that will guide them and give them a confidence in knowing what is right.

Instruction Empowers Through Confidence

Along with a solid spiritual and moral base that comes from knowing God and the unchanging teaching of His Word, a boy develops confidence through instruction (equipping). Christ while on earth had to grow socially, mentally, physically, and spiritually (Luke 2:52). This growth happens in an environment of intentional instruction. Learning various competencies, such as technology, mechanics, or survival skills, helps a boy gain confidence in his abilities. A boy must also be taught about responsibility, integrity, and perseverance, which empowers him with tools for future challenges and decisions. How to properly understand and manage his unique emotions as a male or how to have emotional resilience, empathy, and accountability are also learned skills that will give him the tools to lead effectively.

Putting boys in environments with other boys where they must face challenges and/or learn new skills creates opportunities to instruct. Boys who have been instructed and given the opportunity to develop skills are more likely to grow into men who can lead with compassion and reflect Christ’s values while having the ability to make wise decisions under pressure.

Empowering Takes Creating Intentional Opportunities

Evangelizing and teaching boys the Word of God gives them a solid foundation for faith and morality, helping them know Christ personally as well as know right from wrong. Instruction empowers boys as they develop new skills—physical, leadership, and relational skills. However, one of the most effective ways to empower boys is through mentorship. It’s positive role models—whether a father, a leader, or another man—who through the intentional process of relational discipleship, have an impact on a boy’s life. It’s more than just spending time with boys and teaching them spiritual or life skills; it’s walking with them through life, helping them learn how to take the lessons and life skills and apply them to their everyday lives.

Jesus did this with His disciples. He spent time involved in their lives, inviting them to be involved in His life. He taught them spiritual lessons but also helped them put those lessons into practice. He challenged them to live at a higher standard than culture. He called out their immaturity and taught them how to pray and apply what they learned. Then, He sent them out to practice and do what they learned. It’s this intentional application of truths and opportunity to live it out that empowered His disciples. Mentorship provides boys a safe space to ask questions, seek guidance, wrestle with their questions, and develop an understanding of who they are while learning how to apply the truths they have been taught in their lives.

Empowering boys is more than helping them know Jesus and the truths of His Word. It’s more than learning skills and amassing knowledge and abilities. It’s about shaping young lives, creating followers of Christ—individuals who are not just hearers of the word but doers! It’s the process of transformation—becoming Christlike men! By investing in their spiritual growth and character development and teaching them what they need to know for life and leadership, we lay the groundwork for godly men. When trusted mentors then create intentional opportunities for these truths to be put into practice or to be lived out, boys develop the confidence to truly become the next generation of Christlike men and lifelong servant leaders.