Close to 800 Royal Ambassadors from across the state gathered at Prattville’s Camp Grandview for the annual two-day RA Congress held March 15–16.
The event featured a variety of sports-related activities such as Frisbee golf, archery and the ever-popular climbing wall annually provided by Glencoe’s Joe Brothers. In addition, educational talks or “interest conferences” with topics ranging from first aid to teamwork were part of the Congress’ agenda, which focuses on fun with a purpose.
Look beneath the excitement of a hot-rod car show or the frenzied competition of the RA Racers (a pinewood derby-style event) or soap box derby, one would find a 10-year-old’s genuine interest in ministry reflected by his entry in the Missions Fair.
Ten-year-old Blake Marlin of Walker’s Chapel Baptist Church in Fultondale is a product of the RAs’ trademark emphasis on international missions. A second generation RA, Marlin clocked an impressive 48 seconds in the obstacle course, his favorite event.
Though an RA for only a year, he expressed impressive concern for spreading the gospel. “People in other countries need our help sometimes. A lot of them can’t read the Bible,” said Marlin, “but they still need to know about Jesus.”
That same sentiment was echoed in the message delivered by this year’s inspirational speaker, Jack “Murf the Surf” Murphy. Now deeply involved in Christian prison ministry, Murphy was once an internationally known jewel thief in the 1960s before surrendering his life to God. The powerful testimony of his conversion after 21 years in a maximum-security prison commanded the attention of both child and parent.
On Friday night, Paul Harverson, a volunteer from the Gadsden area, presented his contemporary take on Aesop’s Fables. The production was an interactive montage featuring skit versions of the classic Greek stories, as well as showcasing the semi-improvisational talents of 25 RAs. But the most anticipated event of the weekend was the RA Racers derby. The competition started early Saturday morning. Hundreds of boys and their parents huddled for hours around the electronically monitored fiberglass track anxiously awaiting the results.
Though threatened with a 70 percent chance of rain, the 2002 Alabama RA Congress remained dry and successful. Steve Stephens takes pride in the fact that it has never rained in his 12 years as Congress director. “Some didn’t show because they were afraid it’d be rained out, but God knew there were 800 boys in Prattville who needed good weather, and it never has rained on us there.” This marks the 11th year the event was held at Camp Grandview.
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