"In the next few hours, we’re going to meet Jesus together,” said Bob Wong, Southern California Conference Pathfinder director, welcoming a capacity audience to the 2004 Pathfinder Convocation.
As Pathfinders rose from their seats, Wong introduced them: “This is the army that God has given us to train for Him,” he said. “They represent many nations of the world, so we will be taking an international delegation to the Camporee this summer.”
An international flavor pervaded the high-energy morning, including a colorful parade of national flags; costumes, singers and orchestras carried out the international theme. Adventist college students who had served as student missionaries shared inspiring personal experiences. When Wong asked, “How many would like to be student missionaries?” many hands went up. “Go to college, and you’ll have an opportunity to do that,” he encouraged.
During the 11 o’clock service, a 55-voice Pathfinder choir invited, “God wants everything—give Him everything.” Ron Whitehead, director, North American Division Center for Youth Evangelism, affirmed the importance of studying the Bible to help “insulate yourself with Jesus,” in order to live for God, as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had in Daniel’s day. He cited “three secrets to building faith: choose good friends; stand firm for what is right and give your heart to Jesus.”
Excitement built during the program as mention of the 2004 NAD Camporee threaded throughout the morning’s presentations. Some 1,300 Southern California Conference Pathfinders and leaders from 40 clubs had been busy earning and saving money to attend the event, so anticipation ran high. The camporee will draw an expected 30,000 young people from 100 countries, representing a wide variety of languages.
The majority of Los Angeles-area Pathfinders will fly to the Camporee’s Oshkosh, Wis., location, but some clubs, such as the Eagle Rock Pathfinders with 66 in their entourage, will drive a scenic route for added interest. The 40 youth and leaders of the Glendale Club, based at the Vallejo Drive Church, will also coordinate and sponsor a club of 22 Pathfinders and leaders from Japan.
