Team of Three Heads to North American Division’s Pathfinder Bible Experience

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

For months in advance, teams typically comprised of six members are tasked with memorizing chapters of Scripture for Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) events. But this weekend, the Potomac Conference Leesburg team from Virginia is going to the North American Division-level event with only three members and twice the amount of memorization per member than the average team.

Anthony Adjei has been on the team for four years. and says he studies three times per week, in addition to group practice time, which began in October 2020. His teammates share similar study schedules.

Daniel Vargas, who has been on the team for three years, says that being part of the team takes serious time management skills, but enjoys the challenge of it all.

The team started the PBE season with five members, but two left early. “At first when I found out two teammates left, I was worried,” says Aiden Moreno, who moved to Maryland in the middle of training season but continued with the team, thanks to online practices. “But after we passed [our] area level, my confidence was renewed.”

Though only three members, the team is supported by coaches Ilcias Vargas Jr. and Samuel Vargas—who had previously participated in PBE events—and Donna Vargas, the Pathfinder club’s director and previous PBE coach.

Donna attributes the team’s accomplishments to God. “He has been helping us through, guiding us through, helping our members to remember all they studied,” she notes, adding that their entire church family has been continuously praying for the team.

Twenty-four other teams from the Columbia Union Conference qualified to participate in the division level event. The Angola Hawks (from another union), a team of two, have also qualified to participate.

The Pathfinder Bible Experience North American Division level will broadcast live on April 16-18, at 8 p.m. EDT on April 16 (vespers); 10 a.m. EDT on April 17 (prep/worship); and 2 p.m. on April 18 (awards ceremony). The PBE is the official NAD Pathfinder Bible study program. This year the youth studied Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, and 2 Peter. WATCH the livestream here: https://nadpbe.org.—NAD Communication