PERSPECTIVES
PATHFINDERS: A SPIRIT OF EVANGELISM president at the North American Division, standing there on the boardwalk and just went up to him and hugged him tightly. Ken, who didn’t know the young man, was overwhelmed with emotion too. He didn’t even notice the Pathfinder’s wet clothing. He was happy just to receive the hug and celebrate the moment with this new disciple. How about you? What brings you joy? I once heard you can measure the quality of a person’s life by what brings Over 1,300 Pathfinders were baptized Aug. 13-17 during the International them happiness. Pathfinder Camporee at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. What are you doing in your journey that is evangerecently had the privilege critical piece of our evangekosh. Our kids know they are listic? The truth is, none of us are off the hook here. We of helping organize and listic work as a church. As we loved. Then—trusting that witness the baptism of 1,311 share with our communities they are loved—they are open are all called to make disciples for Jesus. Pathfinders at the Chosen Os- the marvelous revelation of to our invitations for them to We know in heaven there is hkosh Camporee. Now I know Jesus in the books of Daniel give their lives to the Lord. a party when someone gives some of you may be thinking: and Revelation, those whose CELEBRATING THE BIRTH their life to the Lord. If you “When you put young people hearts are open are amazed are deeply moved when you in a setting like that, emotions at what Jesus has done and is OF NEW DISCIPLES What do you think of when see someone make a stand for take over and they really don’t doing for us. They want to be you hear the word evanJesus, then I believe you have understand what they are part of God’s people! gelism? Public evangelistic the spirit of evangelism. committing to.” When Ellen White wrote efforts? Literature evangelism? As it turns out, Pathfinder about evangelism, she said Compassion ministry? Youth Camporee is an exceptional Christ’s method for winning ministry? The spirit of evanplace for young people to take hearts was to enter people’s GARY THURBER gelism should run through their stand for Jesus. A study lives armed with acts of love is president of the our veins no matter what is being conducted through and kindness. And after they Mid-America Union. role we play. And the most Andrews University with know we love them, we can exciting moment for a group the Pathfinders who were invite them to follow Jesus of believers is when someone baptized five years ago at Os(Ministry of Healing p. 143). is baptized … the moment hkosh, and to date 94 percent In many ways, that is what another disciple is born. of them are still active in their happens for our Pathfinders. I will never forget one church—praise the Lord! Pathfinder directors and staff Pathfinder who was baptized have chosen to give of their MULTIPLE KINDS OF at Oshkosh. I don’t know his time, energy and love. They EVANGELISM work with our youth week-in name or where he was from, When someone speaks of but when he was coming out and week-out, taking them baptisms and evangelism, of the baptismal pool, he was camping, doing community often public evangelism service, and spearheading the crying tears of joy. He saw comes to mind. This is a Ken Denslow, assistant to the efforts to get them to Osh-
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