Pathfinder Strong
To learn more about Pathfinder and Adventurer Club ministries check out https://www.clubministries.org/ feel free to message me or leave a comment with any questions you might have regarding club ministries since I will not be going into great detail in this post.
Personal Experience
I joined many different Pathfinder clubs while growing up. My parents have pictures of me in diapers at Pathfinder campouts back in Brazil, I was too young to be a Pathfinder but my parents were heavily involved and they brought me with them. I love the outdoors and adventures, however, growing up I never finished any of the classes (for more on investiture achievements check out https://www.clubministries.org/investiture-achievement/). This was due to a lack of consistency. Either my parents were too busy and could not consistently bring me to the club meetings, or the club staff were inconsistent and never finished the year. As it turns out, running a successful Pathfinder club ministry takes a lot of effort and dedication from a lot of people.
It was not until I was in high school and joined a club as a counselor that I finally finished a Pathfinder year. Looking back on those experiences I realize that being a counselor for our church’s Pathfinder club played a significant role in nurturing my leadership abilities. Being responsible for my unit, helping them with their honors, connecting with them, helping them at camp, and connecting with their families helped me realize the value of investing in others. It was a great experience for me, as a teenager, to be responsible for kids and their success, it got me to stop thinking of just myself, it gave me responsibilities, and helped deepen in me a sense of duty and a call to mission. I wanted to see the kids in my unit succeed. I wanted to help them finish all their class requirements and achieve at investiture what I have never been able to do, to get their pins and patches for finishing a class.
In my experience Pathfinder club was about service, responsibility, and adventure. It helped me develop as an individual and have a better understanding of what God was calling me to do with my life. Club ministries are not so much about being perfect or an expert. Club ministries are all about having the courage to try new things. I believe that all the kids in my unit went camping for the very first time with the club. They learned to set up tents, they learned about camping safety, and they each had a responsibility and a specific way to contribute. I was there with them teaching them how to build a fire, and for the first time in their lives, they experienced telling stories around a campfire. This was also my first time being responsible for others. As an 18/19 year old I hardly ever interacted with those outside my age group and I had little patience for those who could not keep up with whatever I was into. My involvement with club ministries helped me become less selfish and to see the value in helping others grow. I realize I enjoyed teaching and helping others and seeing them succeed.
Looking back on my experiences that first year as a Pathfinder counselor I realize that it helped me learn in a deeper sense what being a follower of God is all about. Following Jesus is not all about me, and what I want, rather it is about me sharing what I have to help those around me. Growing up I had the privilege of experiencing the outdoors and camping trips. My father taught me about setting up tents and building fires. I grew up in a home where there was discipline and my parents encouraged me to persevere and succeed. But many of those kids in my group had not. I had no idea it would feel so good to teach them what I knew and to learn with them brand-new things.
Ministry
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV
Perhaps many think that in order to do ministry they must be perfect, above reproach and that it all must come easily to those gifted in those areas. I would encourage you to think of ministry as service, as serving others, as serving God. Personally, I get this idea when I read about ministry in the Bible. On that note, I believe we are all called to serve in some capacity for it is in service that we find the application of all the theology that we have learned. Theology is useless unless it is lived out, your faith does you no good until it begins to shape your behavior. I am constantly praying for God to show me how to make practical the theological truths I have learned over the years of studying the Bible. It is amazing how your faith grows once you put it into action. I believe that some truths can only be grasped once they are lived out, once they are put into action in a tangible and practical sense.
I do believe that there is a moral requirement for those who engage in ministry. If you are going to preach or teach something you must be willing to live it. This does not mean you must have mastered it to perfection, otherwise, I would never be able to preach since I am still learning and growing. If you have a favorite sin that you do not want to part with just know it will cause suffering in your life and in the lives of those you love most. So you should turn away from all known sin, regardless of your role in ministry.
I remember, especially early on, I felt this incredible burden to live the perfect life and be an example for everyone. I was constantly afraid of doing something wrong or saying something wrong, not knowing something, and not having all my opinions and views thoroughly analyzed. This fear was paralyzing and at times I even thought about walking away from pastoral ministry. I remember one night just wrestling with God, praying, and feeling desperate, the burden was too great and it was crushing my soul. I wanted to be a good spiritual leader, I never wanted to make anyone upset or cause anyone to stumble. Then the thought occurred to me, would I walk away from pastoral ministry just so I could be a stumbling block and enjoy my favorite sins?
No! Never! It seemed like a terrible idea to walk away from pastoral ministry simply to feel more comfortable about falling short of who God was calling me to be. This was where my journey matured and become more about being authentic rather than simply appearing to be perfect. The practical side remained the same. Confess and turn away from sins God revealed to me. What changed was my mindset. I simply recognized that we are all in this together, struggling at different levels and with different temptations but all in desperate need of God’s grace.
This does not mean that I allow my pet sin to remain. This does not mean that I became more comfortable with my shortcomings. I am grateful for the victories God has given me over the years. I am also more aware of where and how and when I am more susceptible to fall and have become more intentional about guarding those aspects of my life. In some areas, I have gained definitive victory to the point that I am no longer tempted and feel an aversion toward whatever used to attract me. In other areas, I will forever have to guard myself.
I know that I am not the only one because I have also talked with enough people and heard enough testimonies to figure out we have similar experiences. Some loved to drink alcohol and being intoxicated was synonymous with having a good time and God delivered them from it to the point that they simply had no desire. Others continue to attend meetings to receive help and to help others. I do not know why not all people experience victory the same way. I do know that to excuse and make room for sin in our lives is to invite pain and suffering and to miss out on how much better life could be.
I have experienced that most people are understanding especially as I am sincere and honest with them. What upsets people, understandably, is hypocrisy. Struggling with temptation and weaknesses is not hypocrisy. Hiding your favorite sin and behaving like you live the perfect life, that is being a hypocrite. Hypocrites put on a show, and feel the need to point out the sins of those around them because it helps with their act, they think it helps them look holier. So when their secret sin is discovered, and it’s always discovered, usually at the peak of their career, or even after their death, then great damage is done causing much suffering.
I tell you all this to say that you are called to ministry, do not let your personal struggles become an excuse for you not being involved. Through service, your faith and understanding will grow. However, I would also include that you should not get involved in service in an area that would expose you to temptation. For example, if you struggle with your personal finances you should not be volunteering with the treasury department. If cake is your kryptonite hanging out by the dessert table would be just torture.
Pathfinder Strong?
How does all this tie in with club ministries and being Pathfinder Strong?
The Pathfinder song begins with the line “Oh we are the Pathfinders strong.” But that is not because we are physically strong, it is rather because we learn that our strength comes from God. Club ministries, Adventurers, Pathfinders, or Master Guides are all about developing the person, they are about growth. This growth happens through activities that include community service, the study of the Bible, history, science, and many areas of life. Whenever a Pathfinder earns a patch it is not because she has mastered that topic, but rather because she has studied it and experienced it. As Pathfinders earn different honors they learn about life and are exposed to things they might never have otherwise have been.
I remember earning the cacti honor in Texas, we visited a church member who grew a wide variety of cacti in her backyard. It started off as a hobby and became a side business with some of her cacti selling for thousands of dollars. Another time we took our club to South Padre Island and worked on a windsurfing honor. This year I worked with our kids on a snowshoeing honor at Camp Ida-Haven.
Am I an expert in cacti, windsurfing, or snowshoeing? No, but I know more about them than the average person, and with that comes a curiosity for learning as well a desire to pursue further knowledge in some of those areas. I have also taught honors on storytelling and prayer and went on a survival camp with a Master Guide club, where we were not allowed to bring a tent but had to make our own shelters.
All these were bending experiences, they were fun and challenging and gave me a taste of what life has to offer. These experiences broadened my horizons.
Life is not about knowing everything and never making mistakes. Life is about having the courage to learn and explore and serve others.
As Paul recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, life is hard, even if we receive an abundance of revelations from God, from our study of His word, it does not mean that things will be easy. Like Paul, we each have our areas where we need help. But that is okay because it reminds us that God’s grace is sufficient for us and that it is in our weakness that we are made strong.
Being Pathfinder strong is about facing life with courage knowing that when we are weak, then we are strong in Christ Jesus, to accomplish His will in our lives, as we serve those around us.
