Pathfinders Celebrate Over 70 Years of Ministry

On September 19, 2020, the Alberta Conference celebrated a wonderful and momentous occasion. It was the celebration of 70 years of Pathfinding ministry around the world. “Pathfinder ministry may be the most effective evangelistic initiative in the Seventh-day Adventist Church today,” says Gary Blanchard, youth director for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (GC). “Like ‘arrows in the hands of a warrior,’ God is sending Pathfinders young and old into churches, campuses, cities, and unreached countries of the world with the three angels message. [sic]”

The Pathfinder ministry was voted into existence by the world church in 1950. Pathfinders is for youth from the ages of 10–15. It was created to help youth learn about practical life skills, biblical knowledge, service to others, and how to be a follower of Christ. To date, there are over 2 million pathfinders in over 60,000 countries in the world!

World Pathfinder Day has been a tradition since 1957; this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Pathfinder program which started in 1950. We had a great time with both a morning program at 11:30 a.m. and an afternoon program at 4:00 p.m.

We invited Pastor Brian Walh, Union Youth Director and British Columbia Youth Director, to be our guest speaker over a Zoom call to help celebrate. It was a powerful experience. Pathfinders shared live special music and videos, and pictures displayed Pathfinder clubs out and about in the community helping to bag customers’ groceries. There were also Pathfinders reading and reciting biblical passages, and there was even one Pathfinder who demonstrated how to make up her bed. It was great to see that even though COVID-19 is here, pathfinders are still active and engaged in Pathfinder ministry!

Pastor Brian shared about how we are to remain faithful even in difficult circumstances. He pointed out that as much as we are to remain steadfast in trying and unforeseen circumstances, more importantly, God remains faithful to us even when we are not faithful.

The celebration was one to remember. Seventy years have come, and by God’s grace, there will be many more to come. All in all, we know, global pandemic or not, God will remain faithful and is coming back to take home those who love Him, so we must remain faithful, even in these unprecedented times!

— Submitted by Dr. Lyle Notice, Youth Director, Alberta Conference