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Armando Miranda, associate youth director, North American Division, speaks during the Lake Union Pathfinder Camporee. Nearly 2,500 Pathfinders have gathered for the camporee, one of the largest camporees in the North American Division. Photo: Samuel Girven

Samuel Girven Samuel Girven September 16, 2022

Fearless: Day 1

Nearly 2,500 Pathfinders have congregated at the Berrien County Fairgrounds for the Lake Union Pathfinder Camporee. Themed “Fearless”, the camporee has been over seven years in the making, even being postponed once in 2021. Pathfinders from across the Lake Union have eagerly looked forward to the camporee, one of the largest in the North American Division.

But before clubs can arrive on Thursday, days of setup take place. “We met on Monday, and we had our orientation. We put the main stage together in about two days. We put the big banner up first, and the lighting and other equipment came last,” explained Craig Harris, coordinator of club ministries for the Lake Union. “Another crew setup all the honor stations. Our flagpoles are not here all the time, so we had to put those up. Then, the conferences come out and mark the spots for all the different clubs. In two days, we have it all set up.”

We’re just getting started at Camporee, though. Thursday is the opening day of the camporee, and while many clubs were arriving and settling into their campsites, there were also a few activities. “We had the blacksmithing honor, and that was about three-quarters full today. The Old Testament sanctuary was also open today, and they had a few groups go through there. And, of course, the youth museum was open,” Harris said.

 

Conference Pathfinder directors and area coordinators assisted in setting up the Berrien County Fairgrounds for Lake Union Pathfinder Camporee. Photo: Samuel Girven
Conference Pathfinder directors and area coordinators assisted in setting up the Berrien County Fairgrounds for Lake Union Pathfinder Camporee. Photo: Samuel Girven

 

Evening Program

 

Chad Bernard, Michigan Conference youth director, and Armando Miranda, North American Division associate youth director, answering Bible questions at the conclusion of the evening program. Photo: Samuel Girven
Chad Bernard, Michigan Conference youth director, and Armando Miranda, North American Division associate youth director, answering Bible questions at the conclusion of the evening program. Photo: Samuel Girven

 

The real highlight of Thursday is the inaugural mainstage program at the grandstand. Pathfinders gathered for a program filled with entertaining stories, song services and music, and a message presented by Armando Miranda, associate youth director at the North American Division.

“We’re going to talk about something fearless,” Miranda said at the beginning of his message. He focused on the biblical story found in Numbers 13 and 14, where the Israelites explored Canaan, and fearing what they found, later rebelled against God. “We had two guys (Caleb and Joshua) who were fearless.  Two guys who said, ‘I don’t care what anybody else says, I believe in my God,’” he continued. 

Miranda concluded his message by giving a charge to be ‘fearless’. “You see Pathfinders, a fearless person believes in God. A fearless person will go against anybody if they’re with God. No matter what happens, they will stand up for God, even if they’re against the current…even if everybody else is against them.”

 

Samuel Girven, 15, is a student at Northview Adventist School and ASPIRE Academy.