During the International Camporee in Gillette approximately 40 young people were baptized from the Minnesota Conference. Two clubs had more than 10 baptisms each: Kenyan Community Church and Southview Adventist Church. Witnessing the hordes of people committing their lives to Christ was an incredible experience, with the glory of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit resting on the gathered crowd.
After speaking with the young people from Southview, it was clear that the working of the Holy Spirit was so evident. Pathfinder Hilder’s desire for baptism began two years ago. She stated that she experienced Jesus specifically at North Star Camp, and waited to get baptized at camporee so she could be with all her friends and family as she dedicated her life to Jesus.
Another Pathfinder, who had been contemplating baptism for some time, felt that the International Camporee was the perfect moment to make this public declaration of faith. Surrounded by friends and family not just from Minnesota but from as far as Kenya, he shared, “I’ve been thinking about it and wanted to make sure I was ready to give my life to God. I felt that camporee was the best time because I could share this moment with everyone.” For him, the camporee wasn’t just a gathering; it was a global celebration of faith, making it the ideal setting to commit his life to Jesus.
Pathfinder Becky hadn’t initially planned to be baptized at Gillette, but she experienced Jesus in a mighty way as she got involved with Pathfinder Bible Experience. Studying for PBE helped her learn so much more about Jesus and learn how to study the Bible in a way that is personally impactful. Before coming to camporee, she wasn’t sure how many people were going to be there, because she wanted her whole family to be present. But it turned out that her whole family would be here, plus all her friends, and it was the right moment to be baptized. Her father was in the special cordoned-off family area to witness her baptism, and it was especially meaningful for the baptism to take place at such an incredible event.
In January or February of this year, Pathfinder Celeste was very sick. She healed without any lasting effects, and that experience showed her how much God loves her and cares for her. As a result, she decided she wanted to be baptized. She talked to her mom about it, and due to the timing of the Bible study classes, being baptized at camporee was the best time to commit herself to God. “No matter what I do, I know God loves me,” Celeste shared. “No matter if I make a mistake, I know God will forgive me.”
Pathfinder Faith shared that her favorite Bible hero is Daniel. When asked why, she said, “Because even when he was thrown in the lion’s den, he didn’t lose faith in God.” Faith also shared that the key to keeping that kind of faith lies in “praying to God everyday, reading the Bible, going out with friends and having Bible studies, and understanding the idea that I’m with God and God is with me.”
Pathfinder Ethan, a Companion and a two-year veteran of the club, shared he loves Jesus because, “He’s our Savior, He died for us, and I want to spend eternal life with Him.”
