Brent Learned – Battle Creek, Michigan … The Rocky Mountain Conference’s (RMC) Aurora Las Aguilas and Loveland Cougars Pathfinder Club teams joined over 190 other teams from across the United States, Canada, and Australia in Battle Creek, Michigan, to participate in the North American Division-level (NAD) Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE), April 25-26. Both RMC Pathfinder teams scored first place rankings at the event.

The Pathfinder teams each consisted of six or less team members and answered 90 Bible questions over this year’s Bible books of Romans and 1 Corinthians. Each pathfinder studied their Bible diligently for months in preparation for their team’s testing and successfully worked together to progress through the area, conference, and union-level testing in the months of February and March as a prerequisite to receiving an invitation to participate in PBE at the NAD level.

“PBE has made me study the Bible books that I never thought too much about before,” commented Cayli Rodriguez, Loveland Cougars team member. “I understand a lot more things now than I did previously.”

Emma De La Cruz, Aurora Las Aguilas team member, remarked, “PBE has impacted my relationship with Scripture by helping me learn more about the Word of God. It has helped me learn more about what I need to know, and I can tell others so they too can have a relationship with God.”

“Being in PBE has given me the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of Scripture by reading, listening, and memorizing Scripture. All of these study methods allow the Bible to speak new things, and I realize how great God is,” reflected Carissa Rodriguez from the Loveland Cougars team.

“It was incredible to see the tremendous support from thousands of club leaders, parents, and siblings for each pathfinder team,” commented Brent Learned, RMC Club Ministries director. “Aurora, for example, had over 30 present and in person at the event supporting their church youth who diligently worked to study and meticulously memorize both Romans and 1 Corinthians.”

Katherine Juarez, Aurora Las Aguilas team member, remarked, “Over the past several months, PBE has become less of a memory game and much more of a relationship. When I was in a particular low point earlier this year, I remembered 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV)—But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him’—and that verse really helped lift me up out of that low point.”

Learned concluded, “In the RMC Youth Department, which includes the Pathfinder Club Ministry, our vision is ‘to live the greatest story’ which envisions the Adventurers, Pathfinders, youth, and young adults living Holy Spirit-filled and Holy Spirit-led lives by faith through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Romans 6:13-14 (ESV) says it well: Present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

—Brent Learned is the RMC Youth assistant director and Mills Spring Ranch manager. Photos supplied.