How Royal Ambassadors Started: Origin of Royal Ambassadors

I know quite well that, little of Royal Ambassadors will be able to say how the inspiration of this great organization started. I personally cannot even tell you how it happened but there is no how a great organization will be without the origin which I spare my precious time to have a look at with the help of my research.

Woman’s Missionary Union appointed a “Committee on Mission Work for Boys” in October 1907. Miss Fannie Heck, president of WMU, was chose to be the chairman of the committee. Miss Fannie Heck and other committee member, Miss Elizabeth Briggs (now Mrs. T.C. Pittman), attended a young people’s missionary conference in Asheville, N.C. where they heard a song, “The King’s Business,” that was about Christian “Ambassadors.” Miss Elizabeth Briggs suggested the name “Ambassadors” as a good name for a boys’ missions’ organization while Miss Fannie Heck added the “Royal.”

At the 20th annual meeting of Woman’s Missionary Union in May 1908, WMU members voted to sponsor a mission’s organization for boys ages 9-17, the name be the “Order of Royal Ambassadors.” That was how Royal Ambassadors started through the inspiration of Miss. Fannie Heck and Miss. Elizabeth Briggs.

Mrs. W.M. Petway, was so excited about the new organization, she rushed home to form the first Royal Ambassador chapter in the Southern Baptist Convention, which is Carey Newton Chapter of First Baptist Church, Goldsboro, N.C.

By 1909, there were 45 R. A. chapters, involving several hundred boys in the Southern Baptist Convention and by 1915; there were 500 chapters with 4,500 members. Program materials for boys were first appeared in Mission Fields, a WMU publication for women which included materials for several youth organizations. A ranking system was introduced in 1924, featuring the ranks of Page, Squire, Knight, and Ambassador. Ambassador Extraordinary and Ambassador Plenipotentiary were two higher ranks added in 1929 for boys 13 and older. Camping became a very important part of R. A work, create enthusiasm among the boys. The first R. A camp was held at Virginia Beach in 1917. R. A camps were being held in Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and Kentucky by 1925. The 25th anniversary of Royal Ambassadors was celebrated in 1933.

There were 4,369 chapters with 41,864 members during the anniversary. In recognition of the anniversary, M.E. Dodd, pastor of First Baptist Church of Shreveport, LA, arranged for a 45 minute, coast to coast broadcast, one of the first major Southern Baptist broadcasts in the history of the convention.  By 1943, Royal Ambassadors work had grown to the point that a full time convention wide Royal Ambassador Secretary was needed.

WMU employed J. Ivy Bishop to fill the position. J. Ivy Bishop had worked as R. A. secretary for Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina, making him the logical choice for the convention wide job. He served until 1st September, 1953.

Royal Ambassadors has served as a guide to many in missions, national politics, professional sports, and businesses, with over 6 million attending RA’s since the organization begin.