Wednesday Rally Report


The newly renamed Camporama worship band took took the stage as campers flowed in the gates to fill Stutsman Theater, eager and excited to hear a challenging and encouraging word -- and they weren't disappointed.

Camp Commander Jim Barger took a few minutes at the beginning of the rally to introduce  the men who campers have been seeing all weekall over the camp -- the Camporama security staff.  Each of the dedicated men tasked with keeping campers safe and Camporama an enjoyable event is a full-time law enforcement officer in their daily life.

As the blue security shirts left the stage, they were replaced with young men in a different type of uniform -- ones made from buckskin and gauze.  One by one, the boys' representatives to the Frontiersman Camping Fellowship were introduced to cheers from the thousands still gathering on the hillside.

The last uniquely dressed groups to come forward for special recognition were the international delegations from Mexico (which brought 22 members from one outpost), Germany, Australia, Sweden, the Dominican Republic, Russia and Finland. Doug Marsh, director of Royal Rangers International presented the group to the crowd, and spoke from his heart about the mission of RRI to spread the message of John 3:16 to the whole world.

The Camporama worship band, now named Aaron Cruz and The Worship Out Band, soon had the Ozarks hills echoing the praises of Jesus with unique arrangements of well known worship songs.  Imagine Hillsong's "Jesus, You Are The Savior Of My Soul" done to a reggae beat, or a version of "Lord I Lift Your Name On High" that borrows many of its riffs from the Jackson Five's "ABC-123".  The unique sound really got the young crowd to its feet, dancing and jumping in excited worship.

The excitement and fun had only begun, though. Dave Roever's introduction brought a roar of approval from the group, and his message brought many roars of laughter.  He used his personal story to encourage the young men that God is faithful if we'll persevere through the hard times.

He told the story of his Vietnam experience, which resulted in an exploding hand grenade destroying most of his right hand, the right side of his face and his left thumb, leaving him in a condition that would require more than a year in tortuous burn recovery.  He quickly noted that you don't have to go to Vietnam to get hurt, because so many of the boys in attendance go through intense pain each day living in broken homes and even abusive situations.

Dave challenged them to give their lives to Jesus, because He loves them, cares about them and wants the best for them.  He made an altar call appeal to those boys who may feel unloved, or have a rough home life, and the aisles soon filled with hurting young men headed for the altar -- so many that the altar soon filled, and then the aisles.

God performed healing miracles in the emotions, souls and spirits of hundreds of young men, as commanders prayed with them.

Dave Roever closed by thanking National Commander Richard Mariott for the opportunity to be a part of Camporama, nothing that he'd waited nearly three years to get to do it.  Following the service, he greeted the dispersing crowd individually and signed autographs.



Royal Rangers