Young People in Inter-America Serve Their Communities on World Pathfinder Day
Pathfinders from the Alfa Orion Pathfinder Club in Medellin, North Colombia, take part in a knot tying demonstration at the Aguas Frias Community on World Pathfinder Day Sep. 18, 2021. The activity was part of community impact where Pathfinders also showcased first aid techniques, purification of water, distributed food to needy families, books and more during a week leading up to the World Pathfinder Day celebrated across the Inter-American Division and around the world church. [Photo: West Central Colombia Conference]
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 Saturday, Sep. 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,” said Powell. “We are so proud of our Pathfinders and celebrate the way God has led in this great ministry.”
Pathfinder leaders and members take part in a camporee event on Sep. 18, 2021, with more than 2,000 pathfinders in attendance at the Pabellon de Balonmano, in the East Park, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic [Photo: Jovenes Sureste]
There are more than 151,000 Pathfinder members and 5,686 organized clubs in Inter-America. Pathfinders is open to church goers and non-believers alike, and give young people a purpose in life, 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 Sep. 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]
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 Jose A. Sánchez of the Fragata Club preaches in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico, during the special pathfinder emphasis week, Sep. 12-18, 2021. Sánchez was among 621 young preachers who took part in preaching segments throughout the Southeast Mexican Union. [Photo: Southeast Mexican Union]
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 and 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.
Pathfinders Roberto Cuervo (left) and Jahel Garcia (right) of the North Mexican Union hosts the online program of Sep. 13, 2021, at the Montemorelos University Church during the Pathfinder Week leading up to the World Pathfinder Day. More than 5,000 pathfinders tuned into the virtual program and took part of activities and community impact in their communities.[Photo: North Mexican Union]
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 have a personal encounter with Christ and as a result become 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 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.
A pathfinder club in Caracas, Venezuela, stands in attention before demonstrating a drill exercise at a plaza on Sep. 18, 2021. [Photo: Central Venezuela Conference]
In Caracas, Venezuela, Pathfinders took to visiting 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.
A group of pathfinder leaders and members of the Parcelas Amadeo Adventist Church in Vega Baja, North Puerto Rico, take a group photo before visiting homes and distributing magazines and gifts on Sep. 18, 2021. [Photo: North Puerto Rico Conference]
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.
A pathfinder in gets her vitals checked before she donates blood at El Progreso Adventist School in Guatemala City, in coordination with Red Cross of Guatemala. Hundreds of pathfinders donated blood and took part in community impact. [Photo: Guatemala Union]
It’s all about being part of the ‘I Will Go” initiative to encourage every Pathfinder, every young Pathfinder at heart in the church to be a witness for Jesus wherever they are so others can be ready for His coming, said Powell. Powell, along with other church leaders and staff at the Inter-American Division Office in Miami, Florida, dressed up in black and their Pathfinder scarf to pray with people, 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.”
Pastor Al Powell (right), youth ministries director for the church in Inter-America, speaks to two persons about the work of Pathfinders around the world during a visit to businesses in Miami, Florida, United States, on Sep. 15, 2021. More than a dozen employees and staff members of the Inter-American Division Headquarter Office dressed in black attire and a pathfinder scarf as they distributed “Priorities” missionary magazines, health tracks and offered to pray with onlookers and business owners. [Photo: Zoraida Powell/IAD]
Daniela Arrieta, Victor Martínez, Keila Urbano, Steven’s Rosado, Joel Lizardo, David Sebastian, Gustavo Menéndez, and Royston Philbert contributed to this report.