On Sabbath, September 14, the Detroit City Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church marked a significant milestone as they hosted the first-ever Pathfinder Day for the Inkster Community Nighthawks, their sponsored Pathfinder club. The special occasion was celebrated with great enthusiasm, as clubs from across the Motor City area gathered to support the Nighthawks.

Earl Baldwin, youth director for the Lake Region Conference, was the Sabbath speaker. In addition to Baldwin, Ron Whitehead, Lake Union youth director, shared greetings and encouraged the congregation. Whitehead, executive director for the Center for Youth Evangelism, emphasized the critical role the Inkster Community Nighthawks play in fostering community engagement. “I had to be here today,” he said. “This is a community club. It’s about taking care of your community. The greatest asset you have is your young people.”

Sandrew King, director of the Inkster Community Nighthawks, echoed these sentiments, stating, “We are here because we believe in the promises of God.” His leadership has been pivotal in shaping the vision of the Nighthawks as a club dedicated to service, spiritual growth, and community outreach.

A baptismal ceremony was held after the sermon. Neville Lendor, pastor of City Temple Church, alongside Baldwin, baptized nine Pathfinders and three adults, symbolizing the power of faith and commitment within the Pathfinder ministry.

The first Pathfinder Day for the Inkster Community Nighthawks not only showcased the vibrant faith and dedication of the club members but also highlighted the strong sense of unity and support from the surrounding community. With such a promising start, the Nighthawks are poised to continue their mission of service and spiritual development for years to come.

~JeNean Lendor is the Lake Region Conference communications director.

Motor City Youth Find Purpose and Family in a Community-Based Pathfinder Club

American International Academy in Inkster, Michigan, based in the suburb of Detroit, is not a Seventh-day Adventist academy. 

However, both Principal Jeff Wilder and the District Superintendent Thomas White are products of Adventist education and club ministries. The two men noticed students slipping through the cracks, getting in trouble at school, or simply struggling with their studies and knew something had to done.

Drawing upon their memories of Pathfinders, they saw the opportunity to create an uplifting, faith-centered space where students could thrive. As a result, at the beginning of 2020, the wheels for the first community-based Pathfinders Club were set in motion. However, the pandemic thwarted their plans and led to a four-year pause.

Fortunately, God used that time to align planning and leadership to make the Pathfinder Club a reality. In 2023, Sandrew King, executive coordinator for Lake Region Conference youth, young adult and camp ministries, was hired as the school district’s community and parent liaison. He would recruit kids from the community and invest the community in the school. This made him the perfect person for Superintendent White to approach for the role of Pathfinder director.

However, they soon met a unique challenge: finding a church sponsor. As a rule, Pathfinder clubs are church based. Since Pathfinder ministry is a staple of most Adventist churches, finding one that did not support an existing club proved difficult. After five and a half months of dedicated searching, City Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church in Detroit agreed to serve as a sponsor, and the Inkster Community Nighthawks Pathfinder Club officially shifted into gear.

The goal for the club was simple: Create a community-based Pathfinder club through the local charter school, while providing a positive outlet for students to connect with the community, invest in their future and encounter God.

Source: Lake Union Herald

Click here to read the Lake Union Herald's full article about this unique, community-based club and here to watch a video interview with Sandrew King and a few of the Inkster Community Nighthawks, live from the 2024 "Believe the Promise" International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming, after God opened doors for them to attend.