Liz Kirkland, Highlands Ranch, Colorado – Twenty-nine Pathfinder Club teams representing the six conferences in the Mid-America Union Conference (MAUC) gathered at Mile High Academy in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, on March 21 for this year’s Union-level Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE), after months of preparation.
PC: Sean Lee
For some clubs, the journey to this next level of testing came with extra challenges. Christine Armantrout, a director for the Sedalia, Missouri, and Sunnydale Adventist Academy Pathfinder clubs, shared how a multi-club trip to PBE became a powerful testimony of unity and faith. Young people from different clubs bonded and encouraged one another along the way.
“Our club has a coach bus, and we picked up the other teams along the way,” commented Armentrout. “The bus has screens and we practiced PBE questions on the way.
It was remarkable how it didn’t matter what clubs they were in. They got together with small groups and were supporting and encouraging each other. They were like, ‘You’ve got this’!”
The trip took an unexpected turn when the bus broke down during a sightseeing stop. What could have been a major setback quickly became a moment of answered prayer.
“I called up one of our area coordinators and said that we need help. They had a bus that could fit all 27 of our kids. So, then we called a service guy who had a mobile hydraulic guy. He, my husband, and another parent got everything taken apart and back up, and we were back on the road before sundown.”
The Pathfinder Bible Experience, formerly known as the “Bible Bowl,” is the official North American Division (NAD) Pathfinder Bible study program. Teams of six members study a book of the Bible and are tested on their knowledge.
The first Pathfinder Bible Bowl began in the MAUC territory, with the first event held in 1988 in Sheridan, Wyoming. It later expanded throughout the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) and beyond before being adopted division-wide in 1993.
PC: Sean Lee
This year’s PBE focused on the book of Isaiah. Each team answered a series of 90 questions. Teams advanced to this event by earning first-place marks—scores of 90% or higher—at both local and conference-level testing. Those who received first-place rankings at this event will move on to the final division round in Hawthorne, Florida, on April 17–18.
The United Central Pathfinder Club from the Central States Conference has participated in PBE for several years. When asked how they prepare each year, club member Bradley said,
“We study hard. You don’t just read the verse, you memorize it. We love how we can learn about the Bible and know what God has done and what all of the Bible characters have done. It gives us a better point of view of what happens in the Bible.”
PC: Venus Douglas
But PBE is more than just a Bible study program. Months of preparation create opportunities for Pathfinders to build friendships and connect with others both locally and across the wider church community.
“What I like a lot about PBE is meeting new people and spending time with friends,”
said Damian from the Mount Rushmore Mountaineers Pathfinder Club of the Dakota Seventh-day Adventist Conference.
New to this year’s union-level event was a full worship service to open the day.
It included a song service led by a praise team from RMC’s Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church and a message from Tyrone Douglas, MAUC Church, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries director. He began with the biblical story of Samuel, reminding the youth that the hope is that one day they will say, “Speak, Lord, for I am listening.” Douglas encouraged them to be in the right place, to be available, and to be ready to serve God.
“I really focused on the experience this year,” remarked Douglas.
“I want the kids to come and not just do the testing and leave with a trophy, but I really want them to have an encounter experience when they come. And, today, we also want to include a ministry activity with it being Global Youth Day. That’s why we had the worship service the way we did it this year.”
After testing was completed and lunch was served, provided by RMC’s Las Aguilas Pathfinder Club, teams gathered for a service project. They decorated food delivery bags for Project Angel Heart,* a Denver-based nonprofit that provides nutritious, medically tailored meals for people experiencing severe illness.
PC: Venus Douglas
Douglas opened the awards ceremony by inviting Pathfinder members and leaders to recognize those who supported their PBE journey. Many lined up to thank club leaders, parents, and supporters who dedicate time and effort to their teams.
PC: Venus Douglas
Of the 29 participating teams, 18 earned first-place rankings and will advance to the division-level event.
Three conferences—Iowa-Missouri, Minnesota, and Kansas-Nebraska —celebrated having all their teams advance. Below are the results by conference.
Iowa-Missouri Conference
- Ankeny Wisdom Warriors
- Ankeny Son Seekers Knowledge Seekers
- College Park Roaring for Christ
- Springfield Thunderbolts Team 1
- Sunnydale/Sedalia Team 1
- Timberwolves Order of the Seraphim
Minnesota Conference
- Heavens Crew
- Heavens Crew Lions
- Light of the World Glorifiers
- Light of the World Warriors of Christs
- Ostego Northern Star
- Rangers Swords
- Southview Sabers Bible Panthers
- Southview Sabers Light of the Darkness
- Southview Sabers The 6 Seventh-day Adventists
- Rangers Valiants
Kansas-Nebraska Conference
- Lenexa Panthers
- Tribe of Isaiah
Douglas hopes to continue growing the event in the future. “I would love to make it a weekend experience where, when [the Pathfinders] come, they’re refreshed and revived by the Spirit of God. So, we really want to focus on the experience beyond just the testing aspect.”
* Project Angel Heart is not affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
—Liz Kirkland is the Rocky Mountain Conference communication director.
Want to see more from this year’s PBE? Follow the Mid-America Union Pathfinders Facebook page or check out the Mid-America Union Flickr page on Thursday evening, March 26.
PC: Sean Lee
