Pathfinder Day – Pathfinder Sabbath by Dixie Plata NAD Youth Historian
Dear Jesus thank you for dedicated staff, the church family and our parents. Thank you for each individual Pathfinder and their commitment to YOU. Help each of us to do our best and to remember we are here to praise You, our creator. Amen…
Attention! Now don’t forget to smile and please remember to be reverent… With those last words another Pathfinder Day (Sabbath) begins. Nervous Pathfinders from clubs around the world march quietly, behind their national colors and the Pathfinder Flag, into their church sanctuary often to the official Pathfinder Song.
“Oh, we are the Pathfinders Strong, the servants to God are we, Faithful as we march along, In kindness, truth and purity. A message to tell to the world a truth that will set us free. King Jesus the Saviour’s coming back, for you and me.
This song, written for Pathfinder youth around the world, by Henry T. Bergh in 1949 is sung by thousands of Pathfinders in their native tongue as they begin club meetings, Pathfinder Fair, Pathfinder Sabbath, and Camporees. In 2009 Pastor Henry T. Bergh was the only Pathfinder Pioneer that was still living. Pastor Bergh not only wrote the Pathfinder Song but also began the Pathfinder Coordinator’s program, held the first leadership training course and was on the MV Youth Leader’s Counsel of the Pacific Union that formed the Pathfinder Club Ministry as we know it today.
Great youth men of the Pacific Union; John H. Hancock – Southeastern California Conference, Clark Smith – Nevada-Utah Conference, Miller Brockett – Southern California Conference, Henry T. Bergh Central California Conference and Glenn Fillman – Northern California Conference lead by Union Youth Director Joseph R. Nelson met to set down on paper the foundation for the Pathfinder program that they were successfully providing within their conferences. These men gathered at the request of the General Conference Youth Department Leaders; Eldine W. Dunbar, Theodore E. Lucas and Laurence A. Skinner.
The Pathfinder program is filled with spiritual, mental and physical activities to strengthen the character of each boy and girl. Vocational Honors (AY Honors) had been part of the MV and JMV programs since 1928. The Pathfinder program added camping experiences as well as nature and outreach activities.
Pathfinder Day 1958
It was not until a meeting October of 1955 that it was voted to study the question of requesting in the church calendar a special day and offering, a day for promoting Pathfinder Clubs within each individual church. By 1957 special bulletins were printed and sent to each Conference for use as church bulletins for individual club “Pathfinder Day’ programs.
The tradition continues where youth present a Christ centered program, on a designated Sabbath, to demonstrate spiritual, mental and physical achievements. Youth presenting every faucet of the program from the morning welcome to the closing prayer, with special music, presentations, ushering, children’s stories and sermons.
Pathfinder Day is a time to thank God for young people, share their accomplishments and encourage young people to be involved in their church. It is also a time to thank the leadership of Pathfinder Clubs everywhere for their dedication to God’s lambs.
Pathfinder day is often the Sabbath that Pathfinder families stay for a potluck lunch and time of fellowship. A time when leaders can thank families for their support and to encourage their support in leading youth to Jesus Christ.
