Royal Ambassadors is the name of a Baptist worldwide missionary organization for boys between the ages of 10 and 35, an international organization found in many countries of the world, wherever there are Baptists. It is found on many continents of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North American, and South America. The organization in Nigeria is called Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria (RAN), Nigerian B
aptist Convention. In its mission education and ministry plan, RAN has a foundational Christian education plans for Junior RA, boys between the ages 10 and 15, basic discipleship plans for intermediate RA, boys ages 16 – 25 and solid mission education and action plans for Senior RA, who are boys within ages 26 – 35. It has the mandate of making real men out of boys. The vision and work of Royal Ambassadors started in the United States of America in 1908 among the Brotherhood Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, USA; and came to Nigeria as one of the world’s leading organizations for boys through SBC missionaries. The Women’s Missionary Union sponsored the organization from the beginning until 1954 when it was proposed that the men of the Nigerian Baptist Convention should take over the boy’s work. The situation that led to the proposal of Men and Boy’s Department in 1961 which served both men and boys. Later it became known as Men’s Missionary Union and Youth Department before translating to the defunct Missionary Organizations Department. Since 2010, the MMU has a departmental status fondly called Quazi Autonomous status. Today, the RA operates fully under the MMU. Royal Ambassadors National Executive Committee (RANEC) comprises all elected national officers of the organization only; while the National Executive Council (NEC) includes all conference RA Directors. The RA Marshal is the presiding officer in all meetings (executives or general sessions). But the council cooperates with the MMU NEC through an advisory representative designated RA Council Adviser; and operates from the MMU office, Baptist Building, (NOTE: the setup of the RA NEC, as above, is replicated at conference and associational levels). To the glory of God, RAN now exists in all Baptist Association (LGA) Conferences (States) and the Convention, (Nigerian Baptist). It also coordinates the activities of other RAs in West African Sub-region and indeed the entire Africa. It has organized two All African RA Summit successfully (2007, 2010) with the third (2013 edition) coming up in Accra,