The Bermuda Conference of Seventh-day Adventists marked World Pathfinder Day on Sept. 20, 2025, by celebrating 75 years of Pathfindering and honoring leaders who helped shape the ministry in Bermuda. The special service recognized individuals whose leadership and dedication have influenced generations of young people over the past four decades.
Under the leadership of Kenneth Manders, Bermuda Conference president; Dwayne Caines, Adventist Youth Ministries director; and LaGregg Smith, Bermuda Conference Pathfinder director, the conference organized a worship service to express gratitude to past and present Pathfinder leaders. During the Divine Worship service, organizers recognized these leaders for their faithful service, commitment to youth mentorship, and lasting impact on the church and community.
Each honoree received a commemorative plaque acknowledging years of service to local clubs and the Bermuda Conference and recognizing their positive influence on the spiritual development of Bermuda’s youth. Many of those recognized once guided children who are now leading out in Pathfinders and Adventurers, reflecting the enduring legacy of the ministry.
Those honored included Sandra Bean, Carolyn Wilson, Sheryll Kelly, Cheryl King, Troy Pitcher, Eileen Rodriguez, Maureen Fox, Sonya Holder, Keva Evans, Marquita Lee, Anthony Albuoy, Carolyn Albuoy, Lynette Albuoy, Roy Butler, Alsena Russell, Curtis DeGraff, Anthony Caisey, Cheryl-Ann Norford, Sandra Lightbourne, Juanita Swann, Deborah VanPutton, Elizabeth Ray, Cynthia Mallory, Rosamund Gibbons, Marie Binns, Gina Richardson, Erma Nisbett, Tanya Bean, Joann Furburt, and LaGregg Smith.
Pathfinders and Adventurers extend beyond camping, honors, and activities. Their central mission is to guide young people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. The Pathfinder ministry began in 1920 in Anaheim, California, and expanded worldwide by the 1950s, when the General Conference adopted it as an official youth organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The Adventurer Program supports parents in their role as primary spiritual educators by strengthening family relationships and nurturing children’s spiritual, physical, mental, and social development. Through age-appropriate activities and lessons, Adventurers learn to live out Christian values rooted in obedience, kindness, respect, and service.
The program now includes six age-based classes for children ages 4 through 9, creating a structured pathway for early spiritual growth. Through collaboration among church, home, and school, the Adventurer ministry aims to develop confident, Christ-centered children.
Pathfinders serve youth ages 10 and older, emphasizing leadership development, service, and personal responsibility. The program challenges teens to live with purpose, demonstrate Christian character, and share God’s love through service and outreach. Its guiding principles encourage a daily commitment to faith, integrity, health, respect, and service to others.
Through the Pathfinder and Adventurer ministries, the Bermuda Conference continues to invest in the spiritual formation of its youth, while honoring the leaders whose dedication has made the ministry a lasting influence across generations.
—Michael Simmons, communication director, Bermuda Conference
