It seems that every August and parts of September, our churches start anew with a bundle of activities. Summer is over and school is starting. Brand new dreams, brand new ideas for the year and it seems that in the church, children’s and youth ministries start anew also. With all that activity going on, parents seem overwhelmed as to what to choose for their children. There are many plans for activities and in those activities you have Club ministries: Adventurers, Pathfinders and Master Guides! 

Many of you know about two of these ministries, which are targeted towards children and youth from ages 4 through high school. Master Guide ministry is recently nascent in North America, but is growing. These ministries are a staple in many churches and some churches exist because of the life that these ministries bring into them. Yes, they bring life into the church…let me explain: 

Read more: What About Pathfinders?

Source:  General Conference YOuth Department Newsletter, September 2015

The Youth and Young Adult department of the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of the North American Division saw a need to promote inter-generational ministry. In a round table brainstorming session one young adult suggested a Family Game Day at an Atlanta Braves Baseball game. They invited all members in the conference to create an environment where all ages would spend time together. Conference employees discovered that there is a pre-game show that features a parade anyone can join—even Pathfinder Clubs. Youth Director Rob Lang met with an Atlanta Braves Vice President and when he came back, not only did the conference have decent ticket prices, but the Braves decided to return $5 per ticket as a fundraiser, which allowed people to choose what cause the money they spent on their tickets was appropriated for: Pathfinders, the Campership fund for Cohutta Springs Youth Camp or Young Adult Ministries. A Pathfinder color guard led the parade, other Pathfinders (and anyone that wanted to) walked in the parade, and Conference President Ed Wright beat the enormous Atlanta Braves Drum as they did the Tomahawk cheer. 450 tickets were sold this first year, with a goal to sell 1,000 next year. Special thanks to Associate Director Don Keele, Jr. for contributing this story. Photos here.