April 8, 2023 | Trelawny, Jamaica | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

“You don’t belong to the [church’s] youth movement if humility is not part of your life,” said Pastor Busi Khumalo, youth ministries director of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Khumalo was addressing thousands of young Pathfinders and youth leaders  on the last day of the Inter-American Division’s Pathfinder Camporee in Trelawny, Jamaica, Apr. 8, 2023. “You must be a servant of God,” he said.

Being a servant of God means being active participants in the mission of the church, with conviction and determination to share God’s love, he added. Like Jotham in the biblical story of Judges chapter 9, “you must be bold for Jesus,” he said. “If you are suffering from low self-esteem, if you have identity issues, or think you don’t have power, I challenge you to think again.” Khumalo reminded the young delegation that God created each one to be powerful, to exert influence over others, and encouraged them to channel that God-given power correctly toward fulfilling the mission.

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Youth Ministries Director Busi Khumalo speaks during the last day of Inter-America’s 5th Pathfinder Camporee at Trelawny Multipurpose  Stadium in Jamaica, on Sabbath, Apr. 8, 2023. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
The theme of the camporee, Pathfinders In Mission, means being fearless, godly young men and women with wisdom, he said. “When being courageous in rebuking sin, we must do it with love, wisdom and diplomacy, as Jotham did when he addressed his brother Abimelech.”

“Let the truth do the cutting but let the words do the soothing,” said Khumalo. “Don’t be a thorn bush, like the passage says. “Don’t be arrogant, seeking pride. Do things honorably.”

Pathfinders were challenged to not just go through the motions of dressing up in their uniforms, or be engaged in marching drills and club activities that look cool and are important parts of the values taught. All that is a means to an end, and the the end is to lead young people to Jesus and be committed to the mission of the church. “You must be part of the mission of the church. It’s not about just getting baptized, but You must go on God’s errands,” Khumalo said.

Part of the group of Pathfinders and and youth leaders who moved to the stage in response to Pastor Busi Khumali, youth ministries director of the General Conference, to be actively involved in the mission of the church. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
“Be a missionary in your street, in your neighborhood, abroad, overseas, at school, at work, everywhere,” said Khumalo. “If you’re sharing Jesus, that means you’re a missionary wherever you are.” He reminded young people to use the Word of God to speak the truth boldly with in love.  “Church leaders around you can’t reach your friends and peers, only you can speak the youth language. They call us old timers but you are the right person to tell others that Jesus loves them in your own style, your own way as a young person today.”

Hundreds of Pathfinders and youth leaders moved toward the front stage during Pastor Khumalo’s invitation to commit to being faithful missionaries as they return home and go about their lives.

The worship morning service also included a large ceremony where 30 Pathfinders were baptized.

Fernanda Garcia, 12, stands next to Pastor Victor Martínez, youth ministries director of the Southeast Mexican Union, after baptism on Apr. 8,2023. [Photo: Courtesy of Victor Martinez/IAD]
Fernanda Garcia, 12, was among the more than two dozen Pathfinders who were baptized. “I hadn’t decided to get baptized yet but I did,” said Fernanda. She was accompanied by her parents and seven-year-old brother who are from Campeche, Mexico. They made the trip to camp out with the rest of the club members and leaders from the Southeast Mexican Union. Her parents  are not Seventh-day Adventists but wanted to accompany their daughter on the long trip. “She’s learned a lot from the club and we are happy to be among so many Christian people,” said Jacqueline, Fernanda’s mother. Fernanda’s father, Fernando, said that after her daughter attended an honors class about knocking on doors to share the gospel earlier this week, she made the decision to get baptized.

Traveling to the camporee took some fund raising and help from her parents, said Fernanda. She   has made new friends from Colombia, Jamaica, Venezuela and other countries. It’s an experience we will never forget,” Jacqueline said.

“We typically see Pathfinders at the perfect age to make a decision for baptism, between the ages of 10 to 15,” said Victor Martínez, youth ministries director for the Southeast Mexican Union. “At their tender age children and adolescents still have a sense of astonishment, innocence, and spirituality,” he said. “They are open to hear the voice of God.”  God touched his heart this weekend and we are happy about it.

Fernanda Garcia (left) sits with her parents Jacqueline and Fernando, and brother Jafet, sit on a hammock at camp, a day after her baptism. The family spent the week camping with the delegation of the Southeast Mexican Union and got to witness Fernanda’s baptism early on Sabbath, Apr. 8, 2023. [Photo: Daniel Gallardo/IAD]
Martínez was pleased to learn of Fernanda’s decision to get baptized at the camporee today. She was the only one of the group that had not been baptized, he said. “They will never forget this experience here.” Leaders expect to baptize dozens more by the end of the day.

To watch the camporee’s Sabbath morning program of Apr. 8, 2023, visit webcast.interamerica.org

To view a daily photo gallery of Inter-America’s 5th Pathfinder Camporee, click HERE

For updates on the week’s events, visit us at interamerica.org