The 30x60 ft. stage worked well for the Saturday evening pageant. Here Brother Jim brings the message of the Holy Spirit treasure.

Take more than 360 Royal Rangers, great weather, a fantastic guest speaker, the presence of the Holy Spirit and add swimming, camping, games, canoeing, competition, and top it off with a fully stocked concession stand - and you have the ingredients for a great PowWow. It was just such a PowWow when the Mississippi District Royal Rangers held its annual statewide camp on June 7-9, 2002 at Ranger Trails Camp located just South of Jackson, near Terry, MS. This year’s camp featured a full slate of activities to make this a memorable treat for the boys. It also proved to be another opportunity for the Holy Spirit to minister, with many boys responding to the alter calls for salvation and to seek the Holy Spirit.

Jim Barger

In keeping with tradition, members of the Frontiersmen’s Camping Fellowship (FCF) conducted the Friday evening service. As the boys arrived to the amphitheatre, they were greeted with the sounds of music and excitement in the spirit of the old mountainman rendezvous complete with teepees, men in buckskins and fur trade era garb. The program included skits, music, and “competition” between several members of the audience and some FCFers. Brother Jim Barger brought the message.

Saturday was filled with a many fun and exciting activities. The morning assembly kicked things off right with the color guard raising the flags and our guest speaker bringing the devotion. After breakfast, the boys competed in the morning outpost cart races and inner tube races. Outpost 64, Crossroads Free Pentecostal Church, won the first place trophy for the cart races. The rest of the day was divided into three activity periods. Each group rotated between three different venues including the swimming pool, the field games, and the pond for canoeing.

The newly painted swimming pool was obviously the most popular activity for both boys and leaders. This year’s field games were fun and challenging. They required boys to work together as a team to complete the maneuver. Thanks to Eddie, Eugene and Donald, many boys said they really enjoyed these games. The field games also included BB-gun shooting and archery. Bruce Pepper set up these ranges with pie plates and cans so the boys would hear a “ping” when they hit the target - which added a nice touch to the event. The boys also got the opportunity to try their hand at canoeing. Some managed to complete the course while going in circles was the course for some.

Topping off the day’s activities was the FCF Village. Members of the Frontiersmen’s Camping Fellowship set up teepees and other primitive lodges and treated everyone with a taste to days gone by. They served watermelon, cooked a pig over an open fire, tomahawk-throwing demonstration, had live music, and traded trinkets and other “valuables” with the boys.

The Saturday evening theme pageant was the climax of PowWow. Under the direction of District Productions Coordinator, Steve Thompson, the Treasure Island play featured comedy, music and inspiration. The new 30 ft. x 60 ft. stage served the production well with two different scenes. The play gave way to a serious message that painted Jesus and the Holy Spirit as a treasure to seek. Following Brother Jim’s message, boys and leaders responded to the alter call and many where filled. Some sought the Lord until late in the evening.

PowWow concluded Sunday with Brother Jim speaking to the leaders and Brother Eddie Hilburn speaking to the boys. Jim included some comments about his recent missions trip to Tibet. Eddie used the potter’s wheel to illustrate his sermon. The award ceremony was the final activity before packing for home. Trophies for games, campsite grading, best of camp and, the ultimate trophy, the District Commander trophy presented to the best overall outpost for the past year including PowWow. This year’s District Commander trophy went to Outpost 68, New Hope Assembly of God under the direction of Senior Commander, Bruce Pepper. Congratulations outpost 68!

“This year was one of the most rewarding PowWow’s I have been a part of,” said District Commander, Wesley Harmon. “So many people stepped forward to contribute. We had four camps going on during the week and I am so appreciative of all those leaders who helped out and worked so very hard to get the camp ready. I am especially proud of the local outpost commanders for taking the time to bring their boys to PowWow. I believe the stage is set for many great things to happen in the future because of what took place at camp.”