The Maratroopers Pathfinder Club was established in 1987 at the Maranatha SDA Church in Jamaica. Over the decades, the club has grown and participated in various activities, camps, and events both locally and overseas. Some highlights include early camping trips, participation in pathfinder camporees, outreach in the community, and continuing to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic through virtual meetings and activities. The club aims to support the spiritual and personal growth of youth through the Pathfinder program.
2. THE HISTORY OF
THE PATHFINDER
CLUB
FROM NORTH AMERICA TO MANCHESTER,
JAMAICA TO MARATROOPERS CLUB
3. EARLY BEGINNINGS
In 1879, Luther Warren (17)
and Harry Fenner (14) began
the first youth society in the
local church.
In 1901, the General
Conference began to
approve these Youth
Societies. At the time, they
fell under the umbrella of
the Sabbath School
Department.
5. NEW BEGINNINGS
In 1907, at a General Conference
session, an action was taken to
establish a youth ministry.
In 1909, the Junior Missionary
Volunteer (JMV) was born.
Baden Powell borrowed from the
Scout Movement and began
training young men.
Lawrence Skinner – Youth
Secretary
6. PATHFINDER BEGINNINGS
Adventist leaders explored the
idea of having a club similar to the
Scout Club.
In 1919, Arthur W. Spalding
developed the Mission Scout and
introduced the idea of the
Pathfinder Pledge and Law.
In 1929 a Pathfinder Club was
developed for boys and girls,
which included classes and craft
but the idea was rejected because
of its affiliation to the Scout
Movement.
7. PATHFINDER BEGINNINGS
In 1946, John Hancock, a Youth
Leader in South Eastern California
Conference, began the first
Pathfinder Club in his home
church.
He composed the Pathfinder Song.
8. PATHFINDER BEGINNINGS
In 1950 the General Conference
adopted the Pathfinder Club
Organization.
In 1951, the first Pathfinder Fair
was held in California.
Master Comrades was changed to
Master Guide.
JMV Pathfinder Day, September
12, 1959
9. SPREAD OF THE CLUB
The club moved to Australia in
1953 led by Pastor Kevin Silva.
They had a camporee in 1975.
Camporees were held all over the
world.
1971 – Sweden and North Africa
Camporee
1972 – Euro-Asia Division
Camporee
1978 - First division camporee in
India
10. SPREAD OF THE CLUB
April 15, 1962 Pathfinder Pool at
Palm Springs Boys’ Club provided a
source of entertainment for the
youngsters.
The club began to add more
honours and activities to its
curriculum.
11. SPREAD OF THE CLUB
Pastor Samuthram in 1958,
founded "Society of Missionary
Volunteers" in Malaysia.
New Zealand also opened its
church doors to the Pathfinder
Club.
14. OTHER CHANGES
In 1979,the name Missionary
Volunteers was changed to
Adventist Youth (AY) and Junior
Missionary Volunteers was
changed to Adventist Junior Youth
(AJY)
The Adventurer Club was
organized in 1989.
15. PATHFINDER CLUB IN JAMAICA
The Seventh-day Adventist church in Jamaica had a functioning
Missionary Volunteer Society and that set the stage for the Pathfinders
Club.
Pathfinder Classes began in Jamaica in 1949; however, it was not until
1952 that major restructuring took place in the club.
The first Pathfinder Club was established at the Andrew’s Memorial
church in 1952 under the directorship of Mrs. Moen.
It improved under the leadership of E.T. Heisler and was named the
Nautillus Pathfinder Club.
16. EARLY CLUBS IN JAMAICA
Church Club names Director Year
Andrews
Memorial
Nautillus E.T. Heisler 1959 - January
Rollington Town Clover 1959 - February
North Street Crusaders Mr. Carnegie 1959 - June
Hagley Park 1959 - August
Kencot Vanguards 1960
17. SPREADING AROUND
JAMAICA
The first youth congress was held in 1941 in Kingston at the Ward
Theatre.
In 1963, the first sponsored camp was held in Denbigh by CJC. It was
dubbed Camp Hamilton.
In 1966, W. Val Chambers formed Central Jamaica Conference Youth
Federation. Other federations were developed after.
The Conference then inaugurated Camp Verley as the official campsite
of the conference
In 1974, under the leadership of Pastor K.C. Henry 600 clubs from
various parishes marched through the town of Mandeville.
The first Pathfinder Camporee to be held in Jamaica was in 1987 in
Westmoreland. 600 members attended.
18. HISTORY OF MARATROOPERS
The Pathfinders Club at Maranatha
SDA church began on January 10,
1987.
First director was Sis Blossette
Plummer.
Twenty-five members turned up
for the first day Opening
Ceremony.
The Theme was “If Christ is in the
Centre, then the Circumference
will be taken care of”
19. HISTORY OF MARATROOPERS
First Instructors were
Enid McLymont
P. Jones
A. Powell
Meetings were held on Sabbath
evenings 2 – 3 p.m.
Sunday evenings and Tuesday
afternoons.
20. HISTORY OF MARATROOPERS
A fund raising was held and
uniforms were secured for the
members.
The club members were not
invested that year but the
membership increased to forty-six
members.
21. MARATROOPERS CLUB
By 2003, with Sis Tracia as
Director, the club had sixty-five
Pathfinders, ten Adventurers and
ten Officers.
Sunday mornings was the meeting
time.