Lisa Anobile wanted a Pathfinder club for her three children, Tony, Aurianna and Andrew. Since the Anobile family was attending a new church company in Gilbert, she decided to organize their own club. With 20 members, the Gilbert Pathfinders meet three times each week.

A new Wal-Mart store was opening in Gilbert, and the club decided to submit their plans for a community services work-a-thon, hoping to win an award that was being given away by the new store. They won an award. What a thrill to have the mayor and store manager present the club with a check for $500!

In her acceptance speech, Anobile was proud to tell her community what a Pathfinder club was. She explained that these young people learned about the Bible, learned to serve their country and fellow man, and were being trained to be good citizens.

During the work-a-thon, Gilbert Pathfinders enjoyed cleaning up a museum, making and distributing food baskets for needy families, and visiting the elderly and shut-ins of their church in an attempt to help them with their various needs.

One young Pathfinder commented how he had been afraid of a disabled man they chose to help, only to find that this man was a really nice person who appreciated what they did for him. "Now I’m not afraid of a disabled person," he said.

Recently the Pathfinders participated in the Pacific Union Bible Bowl. They won first place with two other clubs, the Cottonwood Explorers and Mesa Roadrunners, and will traveled to Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich., for the finals in April.

Lisa Anobile is proud of her Pathfinders. "While studying Acts for the Bible Bowl, our Pathfinders began to learn what it is to really like to study a book of the Bible for the very first time," said Anobile. "Many are public school students and have little opportunity to get into the Word of God. They were asking questions like, ‘Why are these stories in Acts, and what is God trying to say with them?’ It was a great experience. Five have already been baptized this year."

How did they spend the check for $500? They purchased a camping stove and some tarps, and covered some of the expenses for the youth who needed help with uniforms. The camping supplies came in handy at the Phoenix regional campout near Fountain Hills. Nine of the Pathfinders had never been camping and enjoyed this new experience outdoors.

Three have preached Global Evangelism sermons at Apache Junction, and Tony Anobile, Jr., will go with his father to preach a series in Guatemala — making him Gilbert’s first 15-year-old evangelist.