Disclaimer

I am neither employed by nor do I speak for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, its administration nor agencies. I'm just one Adventist guy with a studied opinion - more of a watchman on the walls than a voice crying in the wilderness.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Becoming a Master Guide


(c) 2012 by Tom King

One responsibility of Adventist men is to mentor our young people. The church offers a nice basic training course for would be youth leaders in the form of the Master Guide program. The Master Guide Program, according to the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists website is at the highest level of Adventist Youth Ministries.
Apparently, not quite the highest level, though.  Since I got my Master Guide work completed, they've added three more levels.
You have to be 16 or older to be a Master Guide. The completion of the course allows you to wear the patches and scarves and things in the picture above along with your Pathfinder uniform and to sign off Pathfinder honor cards for your Pathfinder club.

Master Guides serve the church in all areas of the Youth Ministry including Adventurers, Pathfinders, youth/young adult and Youth Emergency Service Ministries. The elements of the course emphasize in-service training and active pursuit of new skills in church youth leadership. Every church needs a Master Guide or two.
It takes a while to earn it, but it's not too difficult given the level of reading and study most of us Adventists do as a matter of course. Just to give you an idea of what it will take:

I. Prerequisites:
   A. Be at least 16 years of age.
   B. Be a baptized member of the
        Seventh-day Adventist Church
   C. Complete a basic staff training course in
         one of the following:
        1. Adventurer Ministries
        2. Pathfinder Ministries
        3. Youth Emergency Services
        4. Teen / Young adult ministries

II.    Spiritual Development
    A. Read the book Steps to Christ.
    B. Complete the devotional guide Encounter Series I, Christ the Way.
         read each day.
    D. Demonstrate your knowledge of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs by completing
         one of the following:
         1. Write a paper explaining each belief
         2. Give an oral presentation on each belief
         3. Give a series of Bible studies explaining each belief
         4.Conduct a seminar, teaching each belief.
    E. Enhance your knowledge of church heritage by:
         1.  Reading The Pathfinder Story by John Hancock
         2.  Earning the Pathfinder Church Heritage Award
         3.  Reading a book about church heritage such as;
              a.  Anticipating the Advent by George Knight (a brief history of
                   Seventh-day Adventists)
              b. Tell It to the World by Mervyn Maxwell (the story of Seventh-day
                   Adventists)
              c.  Light bearers to the Remnant (denominational history college
                   textbook) Books are available from the ABC or AdventSource.

 III.   Skills Development
        A. Supervise participant's through either the Adventurer class curriculum
             OR AY class curriculum.
        B. Have or earn the following AY honors
            1. Christian Storytelling
            2. Camping Skills I
       C. Earn 2 additional AY honors not previously earned.
       D. Have a current first aid certificate
       E. Attend and complete a 2-hour seminar in each of the following areas:
            1. Leadership Skills br />
            2. Communication Skills
            3. Creativity and resource development
            4. Children and youth evangelism
 IV.   Child Development
       A. Read the book Education       
       B. Read either the book Child Guidance OR Messages to Young People

       C. Read a book OR attend a 3-hour seminar dealing with child development
            about the age group of your ministry

V.    Leadership Development
       A. Read the book Leadership is an Art by Max de Preez, OR a current
            leadership book of your choice.
       B. Demonstrate your leadership by doing all of the following:
            1.  Develop and conduct three worships.
            2.  Participate in your local church children’s/youth group in a conference-
                 sponsored event.
            3.  Teach three Adventurer awards OR two AY honors
            4.  Assist in planning and leading an Adventurer, Pathfinder, or Sabbath
                 School field trip.
            5.  Be an active Adventurer, Pathfinder, YES, or AY staff member for at
                  least one year, and attend 75% of the staff meetings
        C.  Write goals in which you would like to accomplish in your ministry.
        D.  Identify three current roles in your life, one of which is spiritually oriented,
              and list three goals for each.

VI.   Fitness Lifestyle Development
         A. Participate in a personal fitness plan for three months, and evaluate and
              show improvement (recommended: the Cooper Aerobic program or its
              equivalent).

REFERENCES:
    C. Keep a devotional journal for at least four weeks, summarizing what you

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