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We are, without a doubt, smack in the middle of the information age. Since you are making the time and have the interest, we welcome you to surf through the web page of Pathfinder Ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America. We are delighted with your interest in this ministry, and hope that you will be able to easily access what you are looking for.
If you are not yet a Pathfinder, join. If you are already a Pathfinder, stay. If you are a Pathfinder staff, parent or pastor, thank you for all you do to make this ministry viable and relevant.
If you are not yet a Pathfinder, join. If you are already a Pathfinder, stay. If you are a Pathfinder staff, parent or pastor, thank you for all you do to make this ministry viable and relevant.
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Who are Pathfinders?
Pathfinders are a worldwide organization of young people sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, though young people of any religious persuasion, or none at all, are welcome and encouraged to join the organization. Pathfinders offer a wide range of activities including, but not limited to:
Joining a Local Pathfinders Club Pathfinders is for those who are in the fifth (5th) grade or its equivalent through the eighth (8th) grade. 5th and 6th graders are often referred to as "Junior" pathfinders, and 7th and 8th graders are often referred to as "Teen" Pathfinders. The Teen Leadership Training (TLT) program works closely with the Pathfinder program and is for high school students (grades 9-12). Staff positions are available in many locations that offer adults the opportunity to make a difference for young people, develop friendships with fellow staff, learn more about God's creation, and improve their training skills. What's Coming UP?
CALLING ALL PATHFINDERS!
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Pathfinder History in Brief : 1907 Missionary Volunteer Societies organized
1908 Junior Reading Course First MV Day, March 7 1909 Junior MV Societies organized 1911 MV Leaflet Series began 1922 JMV (now AJY) Progressive Classes introduced - Friend and Companion A. W. Spalding and Harriet Hold advocate basic idea of Pathfinder Clubs 1926 First junior camp held in USA (Town Line Lake, Michigan) 1927 Master Comrade (now Master Guide) officially approved 1928 Southern California's first youth camp, San Gabriel Canyon Vocational honors introduced 1929 "Pathfinder" name first used at a summer camp in Southeastern California 1930 Pre-JMV/AJY classes developed 1931 First Master Comrade Investiture 1932 First JMV Pathfinder Camp, Idyllwild, purchased 1938 Master Comrade Manual published 1946 First conference-sponsored Pathfinder Club (Riverside, California) Pathfinder Club emblem designed by John H. Hancock 1947 First North American Division Youth Congress as San Francisco 1948 Helen Hobbs makes the Pathfinder flag First area Pathfinder coordinators appointed (Central California Conference) 1949 Henry Bergh writes Pathfinder song 1950 General Conference authorizes JMV Pathfinder clubs for world field Pathfinder Staff Training Course and How to Start a Pathfinder Club booklet Explorer class added Pathfinder History in Brief Page -2- 1951 First Pathfinder Fair, September 23, Dinuba, California Master Comrade changed to Master Guide Pathfinder Staff Manual published 1952 Pathfinder song copyrighted 1954 First Pathfinder Camporee, May 7-9, Idyllwild, California 1957 JMV Pathfinder Day added to church calendar 1960 First Union Camporee, April 11-14, Lone Pine, California 1962 MV Pathfinder Field Guide Pathfinder Drill Manual Published 1963 John Hancock elected World Pathfinder Director 1965 JMV Handbook combined with Master Guide Manual to be MV Handbook 1966 Pioneer Class added (later changed to Ranger) First North American MV Camp Directory published 1970 Pioneer Class name changed to Ranger (8th Grade) 1974 Pathfinder Staff Manual revised and expanded 1979 MV changed to AY (Missionary Volunteer --> Adventist Youth) JMV changed to AJY (Junior Missionary Volunteer --> Adventist Junior Youth) Pre-AJY changed to Adventurers (4 yrs. - 4th grade) 1980 Les Pitton elected NAD Youth Director MV Camp Directory changed to World Adventist Youth Camp Directory 1981 Pathfinders Sing Songbook published 1982 New Pathfinder World replaces MV World Voyager Class added NAD Pathfinder uniform revised 1985 Norm Middag appointed NAD Pathfinder Director First NAD Pathfinder Camporee, Camp Hale, Colorado Pathfinder History in Brief Page -3- 1987 Current NAD Pathfinder emblem designed by Norm Middag 1989 NAD Pathfinder Honors Manual revised, new honors added Friendship Camporee in Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Columbia Union New AY Classwork Curriculum integrated in Pathfinder curriculum Adventurer Program becomes an independent program from Pathfinders 1993 Restructuring results in Office of Pathfinder Ministries 1994 "Dare to Care" International Pathfinder Camporee, August 2-6, Denver, Colorado 1995 Teen Leadership Training (TLT) Program established for training High school students(grades 9-12) First Pathfinder Web Site established First Pathfinder Club web page, Fort Worth Eagles, Fort Worth, Texas 1996 Basic Staff Training, Pathfinder Leadership Award (PLA), & Pathfinder InstructorAward (PIA) curriculum developed 1997 Willie Oliver becomes NAD Director of Pathfinder & Camp Ministries NAD Pathfinder Honors Manual revised, new honors added NAD Pathfinder Staff Manual updated 1999 NAD Pathfinder Web Site established Discover the Power International Camporee held in Osh kosh WI (USA) with anattendance of over 20,000. 2000 Elder James Black appointed to be NAD Youth Ministries director, overseeing Youth,Pathfinder, Adventurer, and Camp MinistriesPathfinder Uniform changed to Black & Tan 2001 AY Honor Handbook adds 17 new Honors as well as several International Honors. 2003 NAD Youth Ministries develops Website Community ministering to Youth, Pathfinders,Adventurers, and Camping Ministries (YPAC). 2004 NAD Pathfinder Ministries under the leadership of James Black and Ron Whiteheadhosts the Faith on Fire International NAD Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, WI (USA)with over 32,000 tickets sold, and close to 200 Pathfinders baptized at the event. |