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Pathfinders (Seventh-day Adventist)

Pathfinder Club
Pathfinders (Seventh-day Adventist).png
Pathfinder emblem
Abbreviation Pathfinder
Motto The love of Christ constrains us all
Formation 1950
Type Adventist youth organization
Key people
Gilbert Cangy
Website Pathfinders website

The Pathfinder Club, or simply Pathfinders, is a department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA), which works specifically with the cultural, social and religious education of children and teenagers located in the age group between 10 and 15 years.

Similar in many respects to Scouting, this differs by religious emphasis on their activities. Part of the official program of the Adventist Church since 1950. Globally the Pathfinder Club is part of the church's youth ministry, under Australian director Gilbert Cangy.

An estimated 38% of Adventist youth aged 18 and under "Are members of Pathfinders or a similar church-sponsored youth group", according to a 2002 worldwide survey of local church leaders.

The first step towards the organization of the Pathfinders Club within the Adventist Church in 1907 when the Department of Youth Missionary Volunteer ( Volunteer Missionary Society ) was established under the leadership of Pastor M.E. Kern.

In 1909 are the first organized societies Missionary Volunteer Youth (MVY), and in 1914 developed the first lessons to be MVJ's, that would be the precursor of the progressive classes Pathfinder.

In 1911 the embryos are formed from the Pathfinder club in Takoma Park, Maryland. Three clubs were formed in Takoma Park in 1911, they were: "Scouts Missions", "Woodland Clan & Pals" and "Takoma Indians". Were characterized by only accepting registration for boys. In 1919 Arthur Spalding founded the club "Scouts Missionaries", in Madison County, Tennessee. Spalding studied the organization, made compatible with the spiritual goals of the Adventist Church (a feature that was not initially adopted by clubs from Takoma Park), rules and created the outline of the movement. The "Scouts Missionaries" developed the fundamental ideals for the current club of pathfinders.

In 1929 for the first time the name "pathfinder" was used on a schedule of juvenile SDA activities. The Association of Southern California promotes a camp for Youth Missionary Volunteers, and entitles the camp "Pathfinder". The same Association (Southern California) in 1946 unilaterally formalizes and sponsors the program, with its first prototype recognized club being tested in Riverside, California.

Alongside the experience in California, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in 1950, formalizes a program the club, and adopts a uniform, a hymn (composed in 1947 by Henry Bergh) and a flag (made by Helen Hobbs in 1948) for the official new department. The name was adopted for the program "Youth Club - Missionary Volunteer".


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