Small Pathfinder Club Fuels Powerful Faith Journey

DALHART, TEX. – When my wife and I arrived at our district, we noticed there weren’t many youth. But we quickly decided to work with the kids we had and made it our goal for them to experience Jesus in a personal way, believing that while young people can get used to believing in the God of their parents, the moment they have a personal encounter with Jesus, their lives change forever.

Club ministries are very special to my wife and me, especially Pathfinder ministry. Being Pathfinders changed our lives and played a big role not just in helping us remain in the Church but in becoming leaders in our churches.

Hesitant but hopeful, we started a Pathfinder club in 2022. Our club was composed of youth from two churches: Dalhart Seventh-day Adventist Church and Pampa Seventh-day Adventist Church. Between the two churches, we had only four Pathfinders. We were small in number, but we had the desire to accomplish something special.

At our first Pathfinder camporee in fall 2022, we were the smallest club in attendance, with only one Pathfinder able to make it. Our next event was the Pathfinder fair in 2023, and we took four Pathfinders. This ministry opened the door for our youth to begin participating in church—from singing to sharing scripture readings and more. They began to feel comfortable serving God, their church and the community in different events.

One special moment was when we visited both the police department and the fire department. We had our Pathfinders pray for them and thank them for their service. This is something our youth still talk about today.

The Pathfinder International Camporee in Gillette, Wyo., was an event we did not want to miss, but we knew it would be a challenge. As a small club with limited resources and no camping equipment, we had many reasons to feel discouraged. But our youth and church members committed to making sure the trip happened.

Our experience at camporee was extraordinary. We took six Pathfinders, and all of them returned with powerful testimonies. Their time at camporee started conversations that led some to express a desire to be baptized. When we returned, we began Bible studies, and on April 12, 2025, three of our Pathfinders publicly declared their love for Jesus through baptism at the Dalhart church. 

Our newly baptized Pathfinders have stepped into leadership roles as junior deacons. One of them, 11-year-old Matthew, has even started Bible studies with one of his school friends.

This journey has shown us that no matter the size of the group, God’s work can flourish. Our Pathfinders are proof that dedication, faith and community support can transform lives. We look forward to watching them grow as they continue to serve and lead in the church and beyond.

By Julian Escobedo Santillan

Pastor

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