In a Pinch



From time to time we catch ourselves not fully or totally unprepared to teach R.A.'s during the scheduled time because of one reason or another. It happens to the best of us. It doesn't matter how long we've done R.A.'s, it matters how we conduct ourselves in a pinch as leaders and how we lead in front a bunch of boys. They see all and remember all.

Don't panic, the calvery is around the corner coming to the rescue. These ideas aren't the sure thing, but they will do to get us out of a pinch.

Improvising is the key!!!

If you have any suggestions or ideas that would add to this section, send an email to :

info@royalambassadors.com

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" Click a Pinch"

I forgot to bring the... or where is the...
To Much Time Left
Help is in Short Supply
The VCR Ate the Tape

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I forgot to bring the...
or where is the...

There was something forgotten, miss-placed somewhere, or it was the wrong thing was gotten and that caused what was planned to go "a-muck" . It's to late to look for something else to substitute what was needed because the boys are here, already. What do we do?

This is what can be done:
1. Improvising is the key to this problem. It doesn't matter how witty the leader is on his feet, it's cleverness and flexiblity that will work. The leaders aren't the only ones to come up with the answers to save the day. The boys can, too. If the end results is appearance that is on the line, it doesn't matter as long as it works. (Call it fellowshipping.)

Example: Archery practice

The targets were forgotten. The guys are using 80 lb compound bows. Use boxes and rug reminents for targets. And for fun, shoot at coke cans to see who has a steady hand. It maybe tacky and flights may need replacing---It's better than throwing in the proverbial "towel".

This really happenend...

The R.A. magazines were ordered by a church. Lifeway told the person ordering the magazines that the magazines were put on "Back Order" because they ran out. What can be done in this situation? You can order outdated magazines at no cost. But you will have to pay for the shipping, handling, and necessary postage. You will get those back issues [quickly] and use them while waiting for the current ones to arrive. When the current issues come, the mission study didn't get delayed.

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To Much Time Left


You ran out of things to do in the alloted time you planned for and the boys are getting out of control. The games that were planned have been already used up. What do you do?

This is what you do:

The games and activities you did before you ran out of what to do and mix them together like a blender. Now, ask the boys to help you to to modify the same rules that were used to play and do the games and activities. There will be some tweeking that needs to be done.

For Example:
You had planned "Red Rover" and "Football" in the same night. So, call it "Football Rover". Combine the rules, form the two apposing teams and have one team say, "Red Rover, Red Rover, kick the football rite over."

Have the football kicked to the apposing team kick the football. The other team receiving the football go for the apposing run for the touch down. The game is played with rules of both games in mind.

Now, you get the idea!!

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To Help is in Short Supply


You have a bunch of boys that came to R.A.'s and you are the only leader. You are the "Chief Cook and Bottle Washer". That is hard to do.
This is what you do:

To relieve you from some the responsibility, have the boys help you do the R.A. meeting. If you are reading from the magazines, the boys that get stuck on a word---have the others help him get "unstuck" . (They can read, also.); If you are in the middle of doing a mission project with the boys, you have the captivated sources to be gophers for odds-and-ends. The chapter room setting is perfect for them to get exposed to church work. You might want to show them what it takes to run the R.A. program. For example: If you need to order materials, do it during the chapter meeting so they can see that part of how to run the program.

If you elect to go outside, (as a last resort), and they want to play football, have them run the game.

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If you are the only leader that shows up to meet the boys to go on an outing and none of the other leaders show up, let the boys know you are short-handed and they will need to help with the goings-on of the outing. Make it a fun-time, but controlled.
If you (the leader) and only one or two boys show up to an outing, do the outing regardless of the turnout. Call the parents of the boy(s) that showed up and let them know of the small turn-out. You might be surprised the parent(s) might come and lend assistance. You being the only one there will say alot to the boys and the parents.

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The VCR Ate the Tape.


Things go according to plan and all of a sudden, the VCR has a bad case of the "Baptist Munchies" ---It eats the VCR tape that is showing "Kids on Mission" as a part of the mission focus in the meeting. Or, you are using the slide projector and the carousel goes carnel on you and decides to doesn't work anymore. The projector's lamp is still faithful and is a light in a dark room. In either of these cases, what do you do?

This is what you do:

You can plan equipment failure to be a sucess of the night. When the VCR has had it's feast on the tape in the middle of the mission focus, have the boys do an in-prompt-to skit to conclude the mission focus.

In the case of the carousel being unfaithful and the lamp being faithful, have the boys do a "Shadow Show". In the shadow show, have them conclude it what they think what the ending was. Expect the unexpected to show up on the wall due to the nature of the situation. All is not lost.

In both cases, the boys will get more out of the mission focus because they were a part of it.


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