20 Teams to Represent Columbia Union at Pathfinder Bible Experience Finals

Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Photos by Ray Hartwell, Darrell Bullock and Lana Bidley

Pam Scheib thought that participation in the 2016 Pathfinder Bible Experience would be down since the topic was the book of Exodus [versus a seemingly easier New Testament book last year]. “Boy was I wrong!” says the Pennsylvania Conference Pathfinder/Adventurer director and Columbia Union Pathfinder/Adventurer coordinator.

On March 19, 39 teams from across the Columbia Union participated in the event that asked Pathfinders 90 questions of Bible trivia. Twenty of the teams answered 90 percent of the questions correctly, giving them a first place score, and allowing them to advance to the North American Division (NAD) round in Prescott, Ariz., April 16.

"You can tell by the number of teams moving on to the NAD level just how much time they put into studying the book of Exodus,” says Scheib. “To see the impact studying the Bible has had on the young people who have been participating over the past four years is phenomenal. And now some of those young people are mentoring and/or coaching the younger Pathfinders who are participating for the first time.”

Last year 30 teams participated in the Columbia Union level competition, including five from Potomac Conference’s Beltsville church. This year six teams (one pictured left) from the Beltsville Broncos participated and advanced to the NAD level. This is the first time any club has sent six teams to the NAD level from any conference, reports Scheib.

Leading up to the competition, Justin McKoy, a member of the Liberty Light Bearers Team 1 (pictured below) from the Allegheny East Conference’s Liberty church in Windsor Mill, Md., says he studied the book of Exodus about four hours a week to prepare. McKoy says, “It is kind of fun to study the Bible and use it in competition. It makes it seem more alive,” he says.

This is McKoy’s fourth year in the program, and he says he still remembers parts of the books he studied over the years. “It gets embedded in your mind and you really never forget it,” he adds.

Scheib says all the participating clubs, who moved through several local rounds of testing before the union level competition, did an awesome job. “They studied hard and it did show!  For those who aren’t moving on to the NAD level, they can get a “head start” for next year. The Books being studied are:  Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and I and II Timothy.”

Genome Small-Moore, event coordinator and executive director of Allegheny East Conference’s Pathfinder ministry, says she can’t wait to go to Arizona to cheer on all the teams, and hopes that the participants will also take time to enjoy the trip. “You have made it to the finals, so you know your stuff.  Now it’s time to apply it with some fun.  It’s not over, so get a good nights rest for Sabbath morning,” she says.

Although Moore didn’t personally study with the Pathfinders, she says that the experience has reminded her of the importance of studying the Bible everyday. “I, too, should be studying everyday,” she says. “We must lead by example.”

Participating Clubs Include:

Allegheny East Conference

• Genesis Jaguars
• Liberty Light Bearers
• Living Springs Lions
• Metropolitan Metrolites

Chesapeake Conference

• Hagerstown Explorers
• Pikesville Tigers
• Triadelphia Sparks

Mountain View Conference

• Charleston-River City

New Jersey Conference

• Hackensack Angeles de Israel
• New Brunswick Joshua
• Piscataway Eagles
• Rockaway Guardians

Ohio Conference

• Akron Crusaders

Pennsylvania Conference

• Bethlehem Eastern Trumpets
• Hamburg Blue Mountaineers

Potomac Conference

• Arlington Spanish Pioneros
• Beltsville Broncos
• Community Praise Center (CPC) Panthers
• Patterson Redeemers
• Petersburg Hawks
• Southern Asian (SASDAC) Rocks
• Vienna Stars
•  Woodbridge Redwood

First Place Winners include:

• Akron Crusaders – Faithful Friends
• Akron Crusaders – Pentateuch
• Arlington Spanish Pioneros
• Beltsville Broncos – Asher
• Beltsville Broncos – Benjamin
• Beltsville Broncos – Gad
• Beltsville Broncos – Joseph
• Beltsville Broncos – Judah
• Beltsville Broncos – Naphtali
• Bethlehem Eastern Trumpets – Team A
• CPC Panthers – Silver Cats
• Liberty Light Bearers – Team 1
• New Brunswick Joshua – Angels,
• Patterson Avenue Redeemers – Cherubim
• Piscataway Eagles – Benjamin
• Piscataway Eagles – Dan
• Piscataway Eagles – Reuben
• SASDAC Rocks – Judah
• Triadelphia Sparks
• Vienna Stars – Mass Exodus

Feature photo: Team captains display their certificates