John Hancock, a driving force behind the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s international Pathfinder Club movement and its student missionary program, passed away on February 22 in Yucaipa, California at 83. 

In his 40 years of church service, Hancock helped develop the first Pathfinder Clubs for Adventist children and teens. He was youth ministries director for the Adventist Church worldwide for 10 years and, prior to that, was associate youth director for the missionary volunteer department of the Adventist Church. In 1991, La Sierra University, a Seventh-day Adventist owned and operated institution, honored Hancock for his ministry by naming their new youth center after him.

“The future of any church lies in the opinions of the young people under 30 years of age,” Hancock said in a 1991 interview. “They’re the future leaders.” Hancock traveled the world ministering to young people and eventually became known as the man with the “million-mile accordion,” a 55-pound instrument that he carried everywhere.

“Hancock was a catalyst in getting the Pathfinder Club going,” says Robert Holbrook, associate youth and world Pathfinder director for the Adventist Church worldwide. “He also designed the Pathfinder ‘triangle,’ or Pathfinder logo.” 

Pathfinders are similar to Boy and Girl Scout programs, but place strong emphasis on spiritual values and service. The program began in the 1940s in southern California and, though it slowly evolved and developed, was officially recognized in 1950. Currently there are 1.1 million Pathfinder members in around 80 percent of the 205 countries that contain an Adventist presence.   

A memorial service for Hancock was held March 3 at the Calimesa Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yucaipa, California.