Pathfinders Summer camp is one of the best programs we offer as a ministry dedicated to reaching children and youth living in generational poverty in the Reno/Sparks area. Every year we send 50+ kid to Cowboys Rest Christian Campground for a week in the wilderness to have fun experiencing the outdoors, enjoying hikes, swimming in the lake, playing games, and learning about Jesus.
Our camp, located 60 miles south of Elko, is the perfect place for the kids to lay aside their difficulties at home and open up to their camp counselors. Most important, they are given the opportunity to surrender their lives to become forever followers of Jesus.
Those who make a decision are then enrolled in an 8-10 week Pathfinders discipleship program on Friday nights.
Giving Pathfinders kids the opportunity to go to summer camp is a critical part of our ministry. This year we are facing a significant challenge. Donations have declined by 40% during the first five months of this year. At the same time expenses have increased.
In the past, we have relied on a church bus to transport children to camp, an expense of $3,200. This year, we have to turn to a commercial charter company at the cost of $12,200 plus the driver gratuity.
Your contributions and gifts make a substantial difference in helping these deserving kids to experience the joys and benefits of summer camp, fostering growth, friendships, and cherished memories that will last a lifetime. Can you help us to ensure that no child misses out on this transformative opportunity due to financial constraints?
In Pathfinders, we are dedicated to helping kids to grow spiritually and to deepen their connection with God. One way we achieve this is through our discipleship program which is available to kids and teens who make a profession of faith. Our 8 to 10 week, Friday evening discipleship program covers a number of topics that are crucial to our kids’ spiritual journey:
Each Friday meeting includes dinner, Bible study, small-group discussion and prayer. Children and Teens who complete the program receive a certificate at a special celebration.
For information about how you can help transform the lives of our Pathfinders kids, please contact Chuck Grimm or the Pathfinders Office.
We are thrilled to introduce the latest addition to our fleet that will greatly expand our ministry. We are grateful to Grace Church for their incredible generosity in donating to us a 28-passenger bus and for paying to wrap the bus with the Pathfinders logo. This bus will allow us to reach out to children and youth living near the apartments surrounding the Peppermill in South Reno and transport them to and from our Friday Pathfinders Program.
We are grateful for the opportunity to extend our reach and to help break the chains of poverty, one child at a time. We believe that every child deserves a chance to thrive, regardless of their circumstances. Thanks to the generous support of our donors and volunteers we can provide mentorship and opportunities that empower kids to overcome adversity and to enjoy a brighter future.
Summer always brings us a renewed excitement and hope. We're currently gearing up for a great summer camp and other special events. We are also busy planning for a great banquet in the fall. Lots to do!
I'm thrilled to tell you about one of our high school students. This boy has attended Pathfinders for many years. His home situation was far from ideal, resulting in him moving and changing schools 2-3 times a year. For years, his report card reflected this, often with straight F's. Meanwhile, multiple adult Pathfinders leaders invested their time and love into him. Two years ago he became a Jesus follower at our summer camp. We have watched him grow as a believer and as a student. He now has a 3.7 GPA and continues to be faithful in his walk with Jesus.
Another very different story concerns a seventh grade boy. He can't read and one of our volunteers is teaching him. He just read a complete sentence for the first time in his life!
I rarely mention finances, but support is down substantially for the first quarter of this year.
Please continue to pray for us!
Reno Christian Fellowship (RCF) raised funds during the month of December for Pathfinders Children's Ministry and presented us witha check for $12,735! That incredibly generous Christmas gift to us provided the resources to give each child a $50 Walmart gift card, a spectacular Christmas party, and much more. It was a sacrificial gift that affected every child and youth in Pathfinders. RCF has been a faithful supporter for over 20 years. Thank you, Pastor Nick Dalgardno, and all those who gave. You definitely made a difference!
Six Times a year Pathfinders offers a four hour class, Children in the Generational Poverty Culture. It is required training for all volunteers, but it is open to the public with no obligation to servce.
Please contact us for the next scheduled class. It's an eye-opener.
Mark your calendar for Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 5:00 pm for the annual Pathfinders Children's Ministry Banquet. The banquet will be held at Grace Community Church at 1220 Robb Drive in Reno.
The Banquet will include a Silent Auction and a delicious dinner provided by Nothing To It!
Dr. Wess Stafford, president emeritus of Compassion International, joins us again this year after a two year COVID break for our annual fundraising banquet. We are privileged that Pathfinders is the only speaking engagement outside of Compassion International that Wess accepted this year. Don’t miss it!
Visit our banquet page to get more information or to purchase tickets.
“Deep down, I have come to the conclusion that the reason children are such a low priority to the great
~ Wess Stafford
human institutions that seek to control this world, both secular and Christian, is that an invisible battle,
a spiritual war, rages over each and every child. It is above us and beyond us and engages the full fury of the hosts of both heaven and hell. Children may be ignored by government, church, and mission – but not by Satan or God Almighty.”
WOW! What a summer! It’s over 100 degrees outside as I write this. But there’s another side to the summer of 2022 about which I’m so excited. June brought us an unusual week of summer camp for our 5th-grade-up Pathfinders kids. The bus broke down in Battle Mountain on the way back and our kids didn’t get home until 2 a.m. Always some issues, BUT GOD (my favorite word combination in Scripture) turned awful into awesome. As a result of decisions made to follow Jesus, we now have 24 kids in discipleship training every Wednesday night. If you come to our annual banquet, you’ll hear about 9 year-old girls who are on fire for Jesus!
Which provides a great segway to………..Friday evening, October 20, is our annual banquet. We had to cancel two banquets due to COVID restrictions, but we’re ready this year to bring you a real night to remember. Dr. Wess Stafford, president emeritus of Compassion International will be our speaker, we’ll have a great meal provided by Nothing To It!, a silent auction, and much more.
I can’t wait to see you there!
How do you determine if a summer camp was effective? If you ask that question of any of the 56 kids we sent to our Pathfinders camp at Cowboy’s Rest, 60 miles south of Elko, the answer would be a resounding “YES!” But the surprise would be the why. Of course, there’s fellowship, the water slide, swimming, games, cabin conversations and more. But the greatest reason is that many of our kids came home with a new birthday. They were born again at camp!
