Camporee in Venezuela Results in 170 Baptisms; Provides Training, Counseling, and Inspiration

More than 5,000 Pathfinders attend the event in the eastern part of the country.

April 29, 2024 | Caracas, Venezuela | Steven’s Rosado and Inter-American Division News

“If you don’t believe in your dream, no one else will.” It is what Seventh-day Adventist international evangelist Pastor Arnaldo Cruz recent told more than 5,000 young people from the East Venezuela Union (UVO) who fulfilled their dream of attending the II Pathfinder’s Camporee #Conquista2paratriunfar Mar. 24-30, 2024, ten years after the first gathering.

Organizers shared that some of the participants had to travel up to three days to reach the event venue in Las Aguas de Moisés, in the state of Sucre. The participants’ journey included walking through jungles and mountains, by canoe on the river, and by car. Others sold Adventist literature and prepared meals to raise the funds needed to attend, they reported.

As part of an atmosphere of celebration and spiritual renewal, around 170 of the young attendees gave their lives to Christ through baptism. Another 600 were invested in the various Pathfinders honors, according UVO youth ministries director Pastor Jesús David Chacón. “To get great results, we need to make great efforts,” said Chacón. “And that’s what young people and their leaders across our territory did to participate in our camporee. We can only say: ‘Glory to God!’” said Chacón, visibly moved.

A young man who was among the baptized shared that he had been already baptized years before. “For various reasons, however, I walked away from the church. But I came to the camp and Pastors Andrés Peralta [Pathfinders world director] and Cruz motivated me with the Word of God to renew my covenant with the Lord and today, thanks be to God, I did it.”

Similarly, Andreina, a member of the Stars of Israel Pathfinders Club said that she gave her life to Jesus through baptism “because He has always been with me.” She added, “He has always helped me and when I feel alone, He never leaves me. He is the only one who watches over me and protects me from heaven.”

On the other extreme of the age spectrum, Vestalia Vachesco, an 80-year-old Adventist from the Northeast Venezuela Mission, she has always felt passion for the Pathfinders Club. “I have been attending Pathfinders events for 27 years, since I met the Lord,” said Vachesco. “A month before I arrived here, I had surgery but that didn’t stop me. I shouldn’t be here because I have prostheses in both hips, but I don’t like missing camporees,” she explained.

Along with Peralta and Cruz, two musical duos from Argentina, Zimrah and Sosteny2, attended the event and shared songs of praise and worship to God. “We feel really connected to this atmosphere of worship. Singing here has filled our hearts,” Zimrah members shared.

Young people also enjoyed a still unpublished musical based on the life of the life of Joseph, written by Francis Viloria. Live daily drama performances took place during the event. According to camporee participants, the musical touched their hearts and strengthened their commitment to stay faithful to God in every circumstance.

“Apart from his faithfulness to God, one thing I learned from Joseph’s life is excellence in everything he did,” said Viloria. “I have always thought that when a young person places themselves in the hands of God, the Lord does wonders for them.” It is something that reflects itself in everyday life, added Viloria. “If we have to sweep, we sweep well; if we need to write, we write well, and if we must take a photo, we try it to become the best photographer. When God sees that disposition, He will begin to use us more and more.”

In a specially set House of Prayer, approximately 2,500 attendees received spiritual support. Also, camporee participants were able to receive psychological support, thanks to stations distributed throughout the camp. Many others received training on various honors.

The House of Prayer was kept open 24 hours a day during the camporee. People had the opportunity to spend intimate moments with God, meditate on His Word, pray, shed tears if needed, shared their distress, or express their gratitude.

Pastor Juan Mariño of the Central East Venezuelan Conference and one of the counselors during the event, explained that “many young people, teens, and pre-teens arrived in this place with their parents because they have problems in their homes. Here, they found practical advice.”

On the other hand, Samuel Peña, who traveled from Mexico and oversaw the camporee instructors, shared that in his first visit to Venezuela, he enjoyed the enthusiasm and affection of the people, their interest in learning, their specific questions, and their brave spirit. “Human warmth is very beautiful here,” Peña said.

During the camporee, regional church leaders announced the missionary medical cadets project, which participated in the event helping to keep participants healthy. More than 50 of them were certified as new members of the team.

In closing, Peralta emphasized the importance of aligning personal dreams with God’s dreams. “When you allow God to work in you and align your dreams with God’s dream for your life, not even the devil can stop those dreams from being fulfilled,” he said.