The Pathfinder club is the glue that binds all the ministries of the youth department. The Pathfinder club was not founded by any single person, but was a collective effort of those pioneers who loved the Lord and desired to instill spiritual values in the youth. 

The first Pathfinder Club of record was in Anaheim, California, directed by John McKim and Willa Steen. This club began in the late 1920s and ran through the 1930s. In 1944, McKim died and the Steens had moved. In 1930, Lester and Ione Martin--along with co-directors Theron & Ethel Johnston--began a club in Santa Ana, California.

The main goals of the Pathfinder club is to lead young people into a redemptive relationship with Jesus, to build them into responsible and mature individuals, and to involve them in active and selfless service. The club encourages youth to participate in all aspects of church life. 

September 18, 2021, was Global World Pathfinder day for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, commemorating the 71st anniversary of the now-global Pathfinder program. Pathfinders celebrated this global special day in style. Celebrations around the world were witnessed by our young people, but what made it more special for Pioneer Adventist church in the Southern Africa-Indian Division in Pretoria, South Africa, was the launch of their first-ever Pathfinder club in 40 years.

Gary Blanchard, youth ministries director for the General Conference, was among the invited guests who gathered virtually. He challenged all our young people to be part of the Pathfinder club as it brings them closer to Jesus.

Busi Khumalo, youth director for the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division, attended the launch and was accompanied by his conference colleagues from the Southern Africa Union Conference (SAU) and Pioneer Church members as he issued a charge to the new Pathfinder club members.

“A church without young people is a dead church,” Khumalo stated, “as we believe that you, the young people, are the future of the church. I am excited to be part of this launch. This is a good sign that Pioneer Church is in good hands.”

Deon Heger, district pastor for Pioneer Church, encouraged the young people to soldier on with the mission of the church.

“Young people, as we champion our strategic plan, I want to encourage you to answer to the call of I Will Go,” he said.

The young pathfinders were excited to know that the day they had all been waiting for had finally arrived. Peace Kampira, a Pioneer Church Pathfinder, said, “Today is a big day for me because my church has a Pathfinder club and I love and enjoy the club as it teaches us discipline and skills.”

For some parents, Pathfinders is not just a way to bring young people together, but to instill discipline, skills, and, as is evidenced by Valencia Schippers, to offer opportunities for finding life partners. 

“My life partner, who is my husband today, found me because of the Pathfinder club,” Schippers explains. “I told him, ‘If you want me, you better join me in the Pathfinder club.’ He went through all the stages to the Master Guide level, and today we have been married for more than 20 years. We are still together and still supporting our Pathfinders.”

Tsiri and his wife Oliva Rakotonirina, the brains behind the launch of Pioneer Church Pathfinder club, said it was a dream come true. 

“When we started this club, it was in fact the late Elder Jannie Baker who pointed out that this beautiful church is 40 years old and has never had a Pathfinder club,” he says. “This struck us in a significant way, and today we are witnessing that dream of hers in our church.”

The Senior Pathfinders and Master Guide leaders from the Northern Conference were all there to support the birth of this new club. 

“We are so excited to be part and parcel of this history-making,” Ndaba Mvelasi said during the event. “Today we are donating small Bibles for our new Pathfinders and Adventurer club members, as a sign of encouragement and support for them.”

To put a cherry on top, special cakes representing the three Pathfinder classes were prepared especially for this day. 

“Catch them young” is a noble method that church leaders are employing in order to grow the church, as the young people are the future of the church. The launch of this new Pathfinder club at Pioneer is a sign that the church is indeed in good hands.

https://echo.sid.adventist.org/pioneer-sda-church-launches-a-pathfinder-club-after-40-years/