In my mind, the only way to start this article is with the text found in Joel 2:21: “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!”
We could definitely say this as we celebrated the 71st anniversary of the Pathfinder ministry on September 18, 2021.
God has truly done great things in our church through so many different ministries, but he has used Pathfinders in a special way. With nearly two million members around the world and continually growing, we see what Pathfinder clubs are able to do for inreach, but more importantly their ability and potential for outreach. According to data included in the Adventist Church's membership management system, ACMS, children and teens are among the most baptized age groups in our church. There are three times as many baptized members in this age group compared to any other age group.
Pathfinders is helping our young people to develop social, civil, physical, and creative skills, but above all, a relationship with God. If a young person joins the Adventurer club at age six, (and many can now join at age three), they would complete all ten Bible studies levels by the age of 15. And in case you do not yet have this beautiful ministry in your local church, it is never too late to start. You can begin now and plan to join us next year for the 72nd celebration of this Spirit-filled movement.
I thank God for a wonderful opportunity for all of us around the world, but also in TED, to take a moment and remember to celebrate what God has done through this group. Tthis year we could see an overwhelming number of local, area, conference, and union level events and gatherings across our division. From community service programs to outdoor conference-organized events, to local church celebrations--we saw it all. And as the Pathfinder motto says, “Because Jesus loves me, I will always do my best.”
We left the 71st anniversary determined more than ever that no fear--or pandemic--will stop us from doing our best wherever we are for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The next World Pathfinder Day will be on September 17, 2022, and we hope that until we meet again, this year will be filled with passion, growth, and purpose in fulfilling what God has called us to do at this moment.
This article was originally published on the Trans-European Division’s news site.