Central Texas Pathfinders have been active in their communities over the past several months. We have had clubs visiting the sick in the hospital, visiting and singing in nursing homes, and doing visits to shut-ins and the elderly and sick at home. Several groups organized food drives and delivered food to those in need in their communities. Others participated in clothing drives, and in programs to distribute clothes to those in need. Several groups participated in raising funds for disaster relief and/or putting together disaster relief packets (this has been a tough year in Central Texas for fires and floods). Some groups have helped out the younger Adventurer clubs, at their camp and at their activities. We have had groups involved in the Lake Travis clean-up near Austin, in blood drives, 5K runs, and numerous other activities. Pathfinders is a service organization, and it is always a blessing to see our youth eager and engaged in serving the needs of their communities.
We had 15 teams representing 9 different Pathfinder clubs from Central Texas at our recent Pathfinder Bible Experience practice session. The teams have been studying the book of Exodus in preparation for the 2015-16 PBE program. You can find out more about the PBE program, as well as review two practice sessions and other materials on our Pathfinder Bible Experience page. The Area PBE program will be held in Scenic Hills on February 6. The Conference level on March 5. The Union will be March 16, and the Division April 15-17. Exodus will carry through as a theme for our upcoming Camporee as well, which will be held March 25-27. We are looking forward to a wonderful weekend Walking With God in the Wilderness. In the meantime, our Central Texas clubs have been busy with activities, community service projects and other outreach programs, assisting in their neighborhoods and beyond. It continues to be inspiring watching the youth living up to the call to be Servants of God and Friends to Man. Welcome to a new Pathfinder year!
I am pleased to welcome three new Pathfinder Clubs in Central Texas this year - one in Georgetown, one in Kerrville, and one in Temple. Its time to register your club - please visit the Directors’ Corner for information. We have just finished the major leadership training weekend for all of Texas conference - there were 678 attendees and 72 teachers and translators. We hope you gained some new insights from the training, and were spiritually and communally refreshed. It is wonderful to see so many leaders in one place, and particularly uplifting to see the number of teen leaders that attended. This year, there is no Texas Conference Camporee, so we will have our Central Texas Camporee in March, rather than October. The Pathfinder Bible Experience theme this year is Exodus. The Area event is Feb. 6, Conference is Mar. 5, Union is Mar. 19, and Division is Apr. 15-17. Visit the PBE page for additional information and practice material. We will have additional updates regarding the various Area activities over the next few weeks. We are nearing the start of a new Pathfinder year here in Central Texas. Club registration will begin soon, so watch for information on some potential adjustments to the process. August 15-16 is the Texas Youth Leadership Training program, which will include several tracks of the new AYMT program of leadership training for Pathfinder staff, as well as Adventurer and Master Guide training sessions and special training programs for those involved in the Teen Leadership Training (TLT) program. Information about the training weekend is available at http://www.texasyouthministries.org/. We will be moving the Central Texas Camporee to March this year, instead of October. There will not be a Texas Conference Camporee this year. The theme this year is Walking with God in the Wilderness, a reference to the wanderings of Israel in the book of Exodus. Exodus is our book this year for the Pathfinder Bible Experience, and we are looking for 100 percent participation from Central Texas Pathfinder clubs. Information and preparatory materials for PBE are available here on the CTX website (http://centraltexaspathfinders.weebly.com/pathfinder-bible-experience.html). Pathfinders from Central Texas and around the Southwestern Union and beyondhave been taking part at the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference session in San Antonio, assisting in the Sabbath offering collection. This has been a wonderful opportunity to meet people from around the world, and numerous Pathfinders have told stories of people coming up to them to talk, have their photos taken, and express enthusiasm and support for the Pathfinders in their activities and commitment. |
Upcoming Events
Pathfinders is a faith-based co-educational youth leadership and development program, boasting some 2 million members worldwide. The Pathfinder program provides a safe and nurturing environment where youth are able to develop and strengthen their spiritual, mental, physical and emotional skills, to participate in service to the community and to God, and to spend time in nature overcoming challenges and appreciating creation. The Central Texas Area comprises some 30 Pathfinder clubs, stretching from Laredo in the south to Waco in the north. The Area staff coordinate region-wide training and activities, and support the local club staff and members.
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