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NAD Continues its Commitment to NextGen Leaders at Gillette Camporee

August 29, 2024 | Columbia, Md. | Christelle Agboka

Gladys Guerrero, tutoring and mentorship coordinator for the NAD Office of Volunteer Mission, interacts with Pathfinders during the “Believe the Promise” International Pathfinder Camporee. Photo: Art Brondo | North American Division — Gladys Guerrero, tutoring and mentorship coordinator for the NAD Office of Volunteer Mission, interacts with Pathfinders during the “Believe the Promise” International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming. Photo: Art Brondo

For the past five years, the North American Division (NAD) has tackled a growing pastor and teacher shortage caused by retirements, resignations, and fewer graduates entering those fields. Solutions such as improved educator remuneration and pastoral recruitment have been discussed at the NAD Year-End Meeting and student leader advisories. NAD leaders have increasingly sought to introduce young people to ministry opportunities and empower those feeling called to church work at major division events.

The 2019 Chosen International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, saw the launch of the NAD Ministerial Association “NextGen” initiative, featuring a social event for young people interested in pastoral ministry. One thousand attended.

At the 2024 camporee, held August 5-10 in Gillette, Wyoming, several NAD departments hosted booths designed to engage children, youth, and young adults interested in serving the church in different capacities. These included the Office of Volunteer Ministries (OVM), NAD Leadership, NAD Ministerial Association, NAD Adventist Camps (under Youth and Young Adult Ministries), and NAD Adventist Education, which had its own exhibit hall.

Visitors to all five booths could collect a complete set of patches for NextGen missionaries, leaders, pastors, teachers, and camp staff, each with activities and challenges related to that ministry area. For instance, NextGen Missionaries received three stickers daily — one to keep and two to trade with someone new while sharing that Jesus loves them. Gladys Guerrero, OVM tutoring and mentoring coordinator, noted, “Most of the kids who came today said, ‘I did my assignment yesterday. Can I get [the sticker] today?’” Some even asked for more than three stickers.

The booths also provided ministry resources, including details on a free virtual mentorship certification trainingscheduled for September 15, 2024, and leadership books from NAD Leadership; links to volunteer opportunities; and information about ministry options in education, camps, churches, and other Adventist entities.

Jose Cortes, NAD Ministerial Association associate director, reported that between noon on Tuesday, August 6, and 3 p.m. Wednesday, August 7, the ministerial team distributed 5,000 NextGen Pastor t-shirts and 12,000 pins. Clubs also engaged in 360 photo and video booths.

“But most important were the conversations and prayers we were able to share with teens and children who feel that God is calling them to ministry, the divine appointments,” said Cortes.

He continued, “A young girl passed by, and as she received the shirt and the pin we gave her, she said, ‘I am actually here because I would like to be a NextGen Pastor.’” Per Cortes, she was one of many young people they spoke to who are either contemplating pastoral ministry or are already enrolled in a theology program at an Adventist university.

Cortes concluded, “We wanted Pathfinders to know that we are looking for NextGen pastors, a new generation of youth, who are willing to say, “Speak God … I am listening.”

The NextGen Pastor booth at the Believe the Promise International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette Wyoming. Pictured are Jose Cortes Jr., NAD Ministerial associate director, and Paola Oudri, associate director, Adventist Learning Community. Photo : Art Brondo | North American Division — The NextGen Pastor booth at the Believe the Promise International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette Wyoming; pictured are Jose Cortes Jr., NAD Ministerial associate director, and Paola Oudri, associate director, Adventist Learning Community. Photo: Art Brondo

Further Information

Scholarships: Since 2022, Walla Walla University has been offering free tuition for aspiring pastors and teachers through NextGen scholarships, with other schools considering similar initiatives.

NAD leadership training: https://adventistleadership.com/

Ministry opportunities:

Volunteer ministries — https://hesaidgo.org/en/
Education — https://jobs.adventisteducation.org/opportunities
Camps — https://www.adventistcamps.org/ (camp directory)

Updates: Visit https://nadministerial.com/nextgen-pastors for updates on NAD initiatives supporting NextGen Pastors.

Networking in the Disabilities Ministries Community

On May 1-3, 2024, the Disability & the Church Conference hosted by Key Ministry took place in Orlando, Florida. The conference featured speakers and exhibitors from different parts of North America and various denominations and ministries who provided vital information about ways to foster an inclusive worship experience for individuals with and without a disability. They discussed the importance of accessible physical spaces, inclusive language and imagery in worship materials, and trained volunteers to support individuals with disabilities during services. Speakers and attendees also shared inspiring testimonies about their personal or family-related experiences with a disability.

NAD Continues its Commitment to NextGen Leaders at Gillette Camporee

For the past five years, the North American Division (NAD) has tackled a growing pastor and teacher shortage caused by retirements, resignations, and fewer graduates entering those fields. The 2019 Chosen International Pathfinder Camporee saw the launch of the NAD Ministerial Association “NextGen” initiative, featuring a social event for young people interested in pastoral ministry. One thousand attended. At the 2024 camporee, several NAD departments hosted booths designed to engage children, youth, and young adults interested in serving the church in different capacities.

Southern Adventist University’s Blacksmithing Club Forges Camporee Connections

At the largest ever hands-on blacksmithing event for young people in the United States, the “Southern Smiths” introduced the art of shaping metal with fire to more than 800 participants at a booth offering the blacksmithing honor, sponsored by Southern Adventist University, at the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming, in early August.

Moses Reenactment Touches the Hearts of Camporee Attendees, Actors, and Personnel

One of the prominent features of the International Pathfinder Camporee is dynamic biblical reenactment. The 2024 dramatic presentation that fueled the theme “Believe the Promise” was highlighted by a host skilled actors portraying the life experience of Moses. During the camporee, one-hour meet-and-greets were carved out of afternoon programming for the Moses cast to engage with attendees. Pathfinders, leaders, and parents were understandably eager to shake hands, take pictures, ask questions, and soak in the moment with the talented performers.

Wish of a Lifetime

“Camporee is the zenith of experiences for every Pathfinder,” says Vernon Norman of Huntsville, Alabama. That’s why it was his dream for almost 40 years to attend an International Pathfinder Camporee. This past August in Gillette, Wyoming, his dream came true.