Pathfinders from the Alfa Orion Pathfinder Club in Medellin, Colombia, take part in a knot-tying demonstration at the Aguas Frias Community on World Pathfinder Day, September 18, 2021. The activity was part of community impact, where Pathfinders also showcased first aid techniques, purified water, and distributed food to needy families, as well as books and other edifying items during a week leading up to World Pathfinder Day, celebrated across the Inter-American Division and around the world church. [Photo: West Central Colombia Conference]
United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

Thousands of Seventh-day Adventist young people across the church in Inter-America put on their uniforms, scarves, and patches to salute, commemorate, and serve in their communities during the 71st anniversary of World Pathfinder Day on Sabbath, September 18, 2021. It was the culmination of a week filled with spiritual, physical, social, and missionary activities.

“This is one of the most celebrated events throughout Inter-America because it reminds us of the history of Pathfinders and brings together current members and rekindles the spirit of older Pathfinders to continue serving and impacting the community around us,” said Pastor Al Powell, Youth Ministries director for the church in Inter-America. “Wherever you go in Inter-America, people recognize the uniform and the scarfs because they see the young people serving, volunteering, and assisting when the community needs it the most. We are so proud of our Pathfinders and celebrate the way God has led in this great ministry.”

A Club with a Purpose

There are more than 151,000 Pathfinder members and 5,686 organized clubs in Inter-America. Pathfinders is open to churchgoers and non-believers alike, gives young people a purpose in life, and trains them how to live for God and serve their communities, added Powell.

Tied to the Adventist World Church’s five-year mission initiative, “I Will Go,” Pathfinders took to the streets to testify of their commitment to serving and making a difference in their communities. In North Colombia, more than 15,000 Pathfinders took part in a week-long event that engaged them in online programs, Bible competitions, and onsite camporees. Pathfinders distributed food, passed out literature, held health expos, marched in the streets, took part in spiritual retreats, and performed concerts in parks throughout the territory.

Pathfinder Elia Martínez prepares to be submerged in baptism by Pastor Heber Olmedo at the Las Mercedes Adventist Church in Tabasco, Mexico, on September 18, 2021. She was among 436 pathfinders who were baptized thanks to committed Bible study efforts by club leaders throughout the South Mexican Union. [Photo: Las Mercedes Adventist Church]

Pathfinder Elia Martínez prepares to be submerged in baptism by Pastor Heber Olmedo at the Las Mercedes Adventist Church in Tabasco, Mexico, on September 18, 2021. She was among 436 pathfinders who were baptized thanks to committed Bible study efforts by club leaders throughout the South Mexican Union. [Photo: Las Mercedes Adventist Church]

“What a blessing it is to have our Pathfinders very active,” said Pastor Mauricio Buitrago, Youth Ministries director for the church in North Colombia. “We were able to keep them captivated during the whole week with fun missionary challenges.” The church honored eight of the oldest Pathfinder clubs in the union, with special recognition for the Alfa Orion Club in Medellin, Colombia, which was established in 1953.

Historic Baptism of Pathfinders

In Southeast Mexico, 436 Pathfinders were baptized after hundreds of Bible study efforts were conducted across Pathfinder clubs months before.

“This has really been a watershed moment on this special Pathfinder day, with so many young people accepting Jesus in the midst of the pandemic, where last year, we had limited activities, and many club members dropped out,” said Victor Martínez, Youth Ministries director for the church in Southeast Mexico.

Pathfinder Elia Martínez prepares to be submerged in baptism by Pastor Heber Olmedo at the Las Mercedes Adventist Church in Tabasco, Mexico, on September 18, 2021. She was among 436 pathfinders who were baptized thanks to committed Bible study efforts by club leaders throughout the South Mexican Union. [Photo: Las Mercedes Adventist Church]

Pathfinder Elia Martínez prepares to be submerged in baptism by Pastor Heber Olmedo at the Las Mercedes Adventist Church in Tabasco, Mexico, on September 18, 2021. She was among 436 pathfinders who were baptized thanks to committed Bible study efforts by club leaders throughout the South Mexican Union. [Photo: Las Mercedes Adventist Church]

Church leaders are doubling their efforts to help Pathfinders build a relationship with Jesus, said Martínez. “Our interest is for Pathfinders to accept Jesus and be discipled during the early time in their life.” Church leaders traveled throughout the region to meet and baptize the Pathfinders at different meeting places and churches across the territory.

Elia Martínez was among the hundreds who were baptized in Tabasco. She decided to join the club after she saw her peers singing, praying, and reading the Bible during a new small group meeting in her community in April. Elia made new friends in the club, took part in distributing books, and helped teach children during Vacation Bible School. 

“When I began going to church, I felt attracted to the club activities,” said Elia. “I spent time with my new friends, and I met Jesus while I was serving others, so I was ready to give my life to Jesus.” Elia was baptized at Las Mercedes Adventist Church.

As part of the week-long Pathfinder week, 621 Pathfinders took center stage to preach at churches and meeting locations throughout the region.

Social Media and Physical Challenges

More than 5,000 Pathfinders throughout North Mexico tuned in to an online evening program last week. They took part in social media to connect with a friend who had left the church, prepared a food basket for a needy family in their neighborhood, prayed for others, wrote encouraging letters, helped with chores, and more. Keynote speakers from Montemorelos University and the North Mexican Union presented spiritual messages during the week.

“The most important thing expected of a Pathfinder is that he or she has a personal encounter with Christ and, as a result, become[s] a servant of God and a friend of humanity,” said Pastor Oscar Rivera, Youth Ministries director for the church in North Mexico.

Encountering God brought more than 2,000 Pathfinders who met in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic to camp at the Parque del Este and commemorate the day with spiritual messages, music, dramas, and baptisms. The special event followed a full week of Bible competitions, talent development courses, social media and physical challenges, and more.

Witnessing in Many Ways

In Caracas, Venezuela, Pathfinders visited the elderly, beautified parks and plazas, and cleaned up streets, as well as participated in worship programs, sports activities, and marching exhibitions in different parts of the city. Club members distributed literature and invited others to sign up for Bible studies.

“These kinds of activities help bring about revival in our young people here in our conference, for it helps us point to bigger things like the call to preach that Jesus is coming soon,” said Pastor Edgar Parra, Youth Ministries director in the Central Venezuela Conference in Caracas. Fourteen clubs from nine church districts in the conference impacted over 1,000 people in the city during the week.

Similarly, in Puerto Rico, thousands of young people showcased their uniforms with acts of kindness throughout the week on the island. Pathfinders distributed literature, took part in social media challenges, distributed goods in their community, and gathered in parks to celebrate the activities commemorating the club.

In the Northern Caribbean islands, 539 Pathfinders were invested during a week of Bible competitions, arts-and-crafts activities, drills, drum corps demonstrations, and community service projects. Pathfinders in St. Maarten painted gazebos and benches at several parks and gathered for devotionals and additional witnessing activities.

Hundreds of Pathfinders in Guatemala distributed books in hospitals and businesses on the streets. They also donated hundreds of units of blood to the Red Cross blood bank throughout the country.

“Once a Pathfinder, always a Pathfinder”

It’s all about being part of the “I Will Go” initiative to encourage all Pathfinders and Pathfinders at heart in the church to be witnesses for Jesus wherever they are so others can be ready for His coming, said Powell. He, along with other church leaders and staff at the Inter-American Division Office in Miami, Florida, dressed up in black and put on their Pathfinder scarves to pray with people and distribute missionary magazines, health tracts, and other tokens at nearby stores and businesses. “Once a Pathfinder, Always a Pathfinder,” said Powell. “No matter how old we are, we can still shine for Jesus everywhere.”

The Pathfinder Club is a worldwide program organized and directed by the Youth Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. To find more information and resources on the Pathfinder Club and World Pathfinder Day, click HERE.

This article was originally published on the Inter-American Division’s website 

arrow-bracket-rightCommentscontact