By Senior Reporter Andrew Weekes -The Youth Ministries Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is hosting a historic Demerara County Pathfinder and Masterguide Camporee at Loo Creek on the Linden Soesdyke Highway Campsite under the theme “Pass It On.” Over twelve hundred campers, including adults, are attending this County Camporee. It’s a three days Camporee started on Friday, June 28, 2024 at 6pm.
Pastor Exton Clarke, President of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and a former Youth Director, addressed the campers on Saturday afternoon and congratulated the organizers. “I am so impressed to see so many of you gathered for this historic Demerara County Camporee. I want to commend Youth Ministries Director Lennox Jason for organizing this event and acknowledge the coordinators and youth leaders of Demerara County. I am convinced that our youth are not just the future of the Church; they are the present reality. We must invest robustly in developing the abilities, skills, talents, and gifts of our young people. By doing so, we prepare a cadre of leaders who will serve the Church with excellence in the future.”
Camp Director for the Demerara County Camporee, Masterguide Leerandy Dawson explained that the camporee aims to help Pathfinders and MasterGuides develop their camping skills and enhance their spiritual experiences. “One reason we are hosting this camp is to cater to outdoor activities and improve their spiritual experience,” Dawson said. “We also aim to help the Pathfinders and Masterguides build a better relationship with God, humanity, and His creation.”
The Friday evening activities got started focusing on Bible Doctrine and Creative Worship. The mid-day Sermon was done by Pastor Rodwell Anderson. At the end of the sermon an alter call was made and ten Pathfinders were baptized into the Church.
During an activity called Sanctuary Honor on Saturday afternoon by Pastor Euwayne Issacs, Director Derill Gittens one of the coordinators of the camp elaborated on the significance of the Sanctuary Service Honor, explaining that “It’s a level one honor and it allows the Pathfinder from the Junior Club to complete the honor. It’s an important honour in the life of a Pathfinder because the Sanctuary Service is one of the fundamental beliefs of the SDA Church. So its an open honor and all can participate to achieve the Honor.” Pathfinders and Masterguides are instructed to listen to Pastor Isaacs’ presentation and answer a multiple-choice test to get the honor.
They are nineteen clubs attending this year’s County Camporee. Besides the camping experience, which promotes socialization and meeting new campers, Area Coordinator for the East Coast of Demerara, Excelcius Youth Federation Masterguide Ward, emphasized the transformative nature of the camp. “When a Pathfinder or Masterguide attends camp for the first time, the life-changing experience in Christ will inspire them to return to their church and community to share the message of Jesus Christ and to encourage others join the Pathfinder Club.” Ward said.
Meanwhile, Masterguide Raylene Philips, daughter of the late Calypsonian “The Mighty Rebel,” a Teacher by profession and a baptized member of the SDA Church, highlighted the holistic development fostered by the Masterguide curriculum. “The curriculum builds us socially, spiritually, emotionally, and physiologically. Being part of the Pathfinder and Masterguide Clubs makes you more aware of yourself, of God, and His importance. It draws you closer to Heaven, encourages Bible study, and promotes love for others, resulting in a total life change experience,” Philips shared.
There is a camp village on site, and in the camp village, campers set up their tents, cooking areas, and gathered for meals and fellowship then listen out for a call from the Program Coordinators to participate in the next activity. There is also a market area where campers can go and purchase needed items. As the sun sets in the west and night steps in, a Lashing Honor, took place at 8 PM among the nineteen attending clubs. Lashing involves securing and fastening items together using rope, wire, or webbing. It is commonly used in Scouting, sailing, and cargo containerization. After the Lashing activity there was a big Bonfire Social event where the entire camp played ring games, sing songs and then retire for the night.
On Sunday (today June 30, 2024 the program will continue with various physical fitness activities, including Camp Craft, Campaton, Road Relays, Swimming, Semaphore Signaling, Obstacle Challenge, and Sign Language, as stated by Camp Director Leerandy Dawson. The camp will conclude on Monday during the midday hour.
The SDA church nurtures and empowers its young members, not only at the local level but through the worldwide Youth Ministries department, which oversees ministries to specific age groups. Adventurers is a club for children ages 6 to 9, with 1 million members worldwide. Pathfinders, with 2 million members, is for young people ages 10 to 15. The Ambassador Group strives to meet the spiritual, social and lifestyle needs of those from 16 into their 20s. The Adventist Youth Society—created by youth for youth more than 125 years ago—now links 10 million youth on every continent of the globe.
The Youth Ministries department mission statement reflects its emphasis on service and its confidence in the abilities of the younger generation: “To lead young people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and help them embrace His call to discipleship.
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