Essentials for Starting an Adventurer or Pathfinder Club
Congratulations—You're Starting Something Eternal!
You’re about to begin one of the most meaningful adventures you can take with God: launching a club ministry that helps children and youth grow in faith, friendship, and service. Whether you're starting an Adventurer Club for younger children or a Pathfinder Club for older youth, you are stepping into a vital role that will impact lives for eternity.
This journey begins with prayer, vision, and a willing heart. As you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and commit to building a Christ-centered program, you’ll find joy in watching young people discover their purpose and potential.
With the right tools, support, and guidance, your church can become a place where kids and teens thrive—and your ministry, your church, and your life will never be the same.
Acquire these Ministry resources from the Conference Youth Ministries office.
1. Contact your Pastor, Area Coordinator, or Conference Adventurer Director, to plan and meet with them on a regular basis for guidance and direction.
2. Read relevant resource below and follow the steps as outlined with guidance from your Conference Coordinator.
“Adventurer Club Director Quick Start Guide”
OR
“Seven Steps for Successful Pathfinder Leadership”
3. Become familiar with the Philosophy & Objectives and the concepts and structure of the Clubs ministry with the relevant resource:
Get church board approval to start an Adventurer Ministry.
1. Because having a club is an outreach ministry of your local church, it is required that your church board approves it with recorded actions in the board minutes. Items you should include for the church board to approve is the Curriculum, Calendar, Special Guests, Field Trips, and Club Finances.
2. Together with your Pastor, review the New Club Worksheet in order to put together a proposal to present to your church board.
Adventurer New Club Worksheet
Pathfinder New Club Worksheet
3. Get signatures from church board members as specified on the following New Club Charter Application and mail the completed form to:
Oklahoma Conference Youth Ministries
4735 NW 63rd St
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
Gather Your Leadership Team
- With the support of your Pastor and the church board, recruit members to become active as Staff. Share the need, vision, and enthusiasm of what Pathfinder ministry can do for your youth and larger community around your church.
- Invite your Area Coordinator to join you for Staff organizational meetings to help teach the fundamentals of Pathfindering and to build the ministry vision of your Staff. Use the New Club Worksheet you started working on with your Pastor.
- Have all your staff (including yourself) complete the Adventist Screening Verification. This is required for ALL staff.