Training and saving young people is one of the most important missions of the Seventh-day Adventist church. Scientists tell us that children's’ brain patterns are formed by the time they reach twelve years of age. This means that during their early, formative years it is crucial that they are taught good habits. Centuries ago the Scriptures recorded, “Bring up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). This is more than a cliché—it is now a proven fact. The Pathfinder Club, or simply Pathfinders, is a department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA), which works specifically with the cultural, social and religious education of children and teens. Boys and Girls 10 years and up are members of the club all over the world.[1][2][3]
Though similar in many respects to Scouting,[4] Pathfinders have a stronger Spiritual emphasis on all their activities.[5][6] the Pathfinder Club has been an official component of the Seventh-Day Adventist church's youth ministry since 1950.
The program offers action, adventure, challenge and group activities that produce team spirit and loyalty to the church.
One of the Pathfinder clubs’ basic purposes is to fulfill the Elijah message of Malachi in which the “hearts of the parents are turned toward their children and the hearts of the children are turned to their parents.” As parents and church members work, worship and play together with the Pathfinders, the so-called generation gap disappears in a bond of common experience. Children learn best by example; the whole Pathfinder philosophy is built on this idea. It is important, then, that spiritually committed, dedicated leaders of high principles
be chosen to work with the Pathfinders.