Story by V. Michelle Bernard
Some 2,000 Master Guides, including 600 registrants from the Columbia Union Conference, recently attended North American Division’s First Master Guide Camporee at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, W.Va.
“It was wonderful to see leaders of all ages, from young adults to senior adults, come together to participate and reaffirm their call to serve with love, compassion and faith,” says Carolina Ramos, Pathfinder coordinator for the Columbia Union. “This event was designed to provide leaders and leaders in training spiritual inspiration, leadership training through the many seminars, and plenty of fun through the activities the camp offered. Because the camporee was designed specifically for leaders, many expressed how much they valued having an event created just for them.”
Ramos also adds, “One of the most touching moments was standing among more than 2,000 leaders as we passionately reaffirmed our calling to serve. Speaker Myron Edmonds shared a quote that struck me deeply, challenging [us] to approach leadership with greater humility and to always keep a servant’s heart at the center of everything [we] do, sharing, ‘If you’re too big to serve, you’re too small to lead.’
I know that as we return home, we do so with renewed energy, fresh vision and an even deeper commitment to making service a way of life in our churches, Pathfinder clubs and communities.”
The Master Guide program is a youth ministry leadership program within the Seventh-day Adventist Church.