I. Prerequisites
- Be a baptized member, in regular standing, of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
- Have a written recommendation from your local church board.
- Be at least 16 years of age to start the Master Guide curriculum and at least 18 years of age at completion.
- Be an active staff member of an Adventurer or Pathfinder Club.
- Complete a Basic Staff Training Course 1 and be involved for a minimum of one year in one of the following ministries:
- Adventurer Ministries
- Pathfinder Ministries
Additional Prerequisite Notes
- The Master Guide curriculum must be completed in a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years.
- Those completing the Master Guide curriculum do so under the supervision of the Conference/Mission Youth Ministries Director or his/her designated Master Guide.
II. Spiritual Development
- Read or listen to the book “Steps to Christ” and submit a one page response focusing on the benefits of the reading.
- Complete the devotional guide “Encounter Series I, Christ the Way”, or complete another year long Bible reading plan that covers the four Gospels.
- Read or listen to the book “Desire of Ages”.
- Do one of the following:
- Keep a devotional journal for a minimum of four weeks, summarizing what you learned in your devotional time and outlining how you are growing in your faith.
- Complete the “Steps to Discipleship Personal Spirituality Curriculum”
- Be involved in one or more evangelistic or community based outreach programs.
- Prepare a one page point form (bullet point) summary on each of the 28 fundamental beliefs.
- Develop and give a presentation on four of the following beliefs, making use of visual aids if possible.
- Creation
- The Experience of Salvation
- Growing in Christ
- The Remnant and its Mission
- Baptism
- Spiritual Gifts and Ministries
- The Gift of Prophecy
- The Sabbath
- Christ’s Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary
- The Second Coming of Christ
- Death and Resurrection
- Enhance your knowledge of church heritage by completing the following:
- Earn the Adventist Church Heritage Award.
- Read a book about SDA youth ministry such as:
- “The Pathfinder Story”
- “We are The Pathfinders Strong: The First Fifty Years” by Willie Oliver with Patricia Humphrey.
- Another book that is approved by your supervising Conference/Mission Youth Ministries Director.
- Reading a book about church heritage such as:
- “Anticipating the Advent” by George Knight.
- “Tell It to the World” by Mervyn Maxwell
- “Light Bearers to the Remnant” by Richard W. Schwarz and Floyd Greenleaf
- “The Church Heritage Manual” produced by the General Conference Youth Department.
- Another book that is approved by your supervising Conference/Mission Youth Ministries Director.
- Complete a two page (minimum) research paper about a standard temperament analysis program and complete the affiliated temperament inventory.
III. Skills Development
- Attend and complete a seminar in each of the following 12 subjects:
- Leadership
- How to be a Christian leader
- Vision, mission, and motivation
- Risk Management for Adventurer and Pathfinder Ministries
- Discipline
- Communication
- Communication theory, listening skills,
- Practical communication practices
- Understanding and teaching to learning styles
- Creativity and resources
- How to prepare effective creative worship
- Understanding and using creativity
- Child evangelism
- Principles of youth and children’s evangelism
- How to lead a child to Christ
- Understanding your spiritual gifts
- Have or earn the following honors:
- Christian Storytelling
- Camping Skills I-IV
- Drilling & Marching (if this Honor is not applicable in your country’s culture, suggest an alternative to your supervisor)
- Knots
- Earn two additional honors or awards of your choice, not previously earned.
- Hold a current Red Cross First Aid and Safety certificate or its equivalent.
- Supervise participants through either an Adventurer or Pathfinder Class level or teach a Sabbath School class for at least one year to a group of children ages 6 to 15.
IV. Child Development
- Read or listen to “Education” and submit a one page response focusing on the benefits of your reading.
- Read or listen to either “Child Guidance” or “Messages to Young People” and submit a one page response focusing on the benefits of your reading.
- Attend three seminars dealing with child development or educational theory relating to the age of your primary ministry group.
- Observe for a period of two hours a group of Adventurers or Pathfinders and write a reflection on their interaction with each other and with the staff.
V. Leadership Development
- Read a current book on your choice of topic under the general category of “Leadership Skill Development”. These are some suggestions:
- “Positive Church in a Negative World” by John Arrias.
- “Take The Risk” by Ben Carson.
- “Ellen White on Leadership” by Cindy Tutsch.
- “Help! I’m being Followed” by Clinton Valleyn.
- Other book recommended by your supervising Conference/Mission Youth Ministries Director.
- Demonstrate your leadership skills by doing the following:
- Develop and conduct three creative worships for children and/or teenagers.
- Participate in a leadership role with your local church children’s/youth group in a Conference sponsored event.
- Teach three Adventurer Awards or two Pathfinder Honors.
- Assist in planning and leading a field trip for a group of Adventurers, Pathfinders, or Sabbath school class for children ages 6 to 15.
- Be an active Adventurer, Pathfinder, or Sabbath school staff member for at least one year and attend at least 75% of all staff meetings.
- Write goals that you would like to accomplish in your ministry.
- Identify three current roles in your life, at least one of which is spiritually oriented, and list three goals or objectives for each.
VI. Fitness Lifestyle Development
- Participate in a personal physical fitness plan by completing one of the following:
- The physical components of the AY Silver Award. If you already have the AY Silver Award, then move on to the AY Gold Award.
- A school physical fitness program.
- A personal physical fitness program based on a fitness book of your choice or a workout program in consultation with your local supervising Master Guide or authorized instructor.
VII. Documentation
- Compile a portfolio documenting all of your work related to completing the Master Guide curriculum.
Notes
- Seminars should be of at least 90 minutes in length. All the seminar facilitators must be approved by the Conference youth director or the church pastor.
- It would be advantageous for a Master Guide to have working knowledge of both Adventurers and Pathfinders ministries.
- Suggested themes, questions and subjects are given in the “Master Guide Curriculum Manual.”
- The “Steps to Discipleship Personal Spirituality Curriculum” can be found and download at the General Conference website: www.gcyouthministries.org
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