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| Companion/Personal Growth |
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Requirement 1 |
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Be 11 years old and/or in grade 6 or its equivalent. |
The Companion level has been designed to be within reach of a person in the sixth grade or higher. It should be challenging, yet achievable for a child at this point in his or her formal education.
Achievement Classes/Companion/General/requirement 2a
Weekly Devotional Guide
The purpose of this requirement is to have the Pathfinder connect with God each day and help establish lifelong personal devotions. It is not to be done in a marathon sit down and read-as-much-as-you-can event. By reading the weekly devotional guide (thirteen weeks for Friend, Companion, Explorer, and Ranger, and 26 weeks for Voyager and Guide), the Pathfinder should gain a broader view of the Bible. They can use their Bibles, computers, or other electronic or audio devices to complete this requirement. The best way to approach the reading is by establishing a habit of reading the Bible every day (i.e., keep the morning watch!)
In addition to the topical studies: Friends are introduced to our friend Jesus through the stories of Matthew. Companions learn about the origins of the world through Genesis. Explorers explore the early church in Acts. Rangers return to the story of Jesus in John. Voyagers experience salvation as explained by Paul in Romans. Guides cover prophecy and end time events in Revelation.
| Week 14: HOPE | Week 18: CELEBRATION
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Week 22: DEVOTION
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| Week 15: LOVE
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Week 19: PROMISES
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Week 23: DECISIONS
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| Week 16" JOY | Week 20: FAITHFULNESS
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Week 24: EXAMPLE
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Week 17 ADVENTURE
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Week 21: CHRISTIANITY | Week 25: LIFE WITH GOD |
| Week 26: OBEDIENCE |
Genesis
Achievement Classes/Companion/General/requirement 2b
The questions are to be asked in relation to the Bible texts read in Requirement 2a. The point of having the Pathfinder answer these questions is to encourage him think about the text in a way that he may not have before. It is easier than we like to admit to read a long passage and not even think about it. Journaling should help prevent this.
How the journaling is done should be left to the Pathfinder.
Writing
Some people are more comfortable writing things down. This can be done with a pencil (or pen) and paper in a notebook, in a diary, on a word processor, or even on a blog or social network posting.
Drawing
Some children do not like to write and will resist it mightily. For such children, the thought of not being invested in not likely to be an effective motivator. They may prefer to illustrate the concepts instead, and that is a valid way for them to journal their thoughts.
Electronic Process
The Pathfinder may choose to write his journal entries in a word processor, a blog, or a social network. While these may be considered either writing or an "electronic process," there are other options available. For instance, Pathfinders may wish to make an audio or video recording of their thoughts. If they have the equipment, this should be encouraged. If they are not comfortable sharing the material with the club, do not force them to.
Achievement Classes/Companion/General/requirement 3a
The Pathfinder Pledge and Law are listed below. These should be recited during a Pathfinder Club's opening exercises at the beginning of each meeting. By the end of the Pathfinder year, every Pathfinder in regular attendance will know them by heart without any effort on the part of the instructors (or the Pathfinders).
Pathfinder Pledge
| Pledge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| By the grace of God | Only as I rely on God to help me can I do His will |
| I will be pure, | I will fill my mind with that which is right and true and spend my time in activities that build a strong, clean character. |
| I will be kind | I will be considerate and kind, not only to my fellow men, but also to all of God’s creation. |
| I will be true | I will be honest and upright in study, work, and play and can always be counted upon to do my very best. |
| I will keep the Pathfinder Law | I will seek to understand the meaning of the law and will strive to live up to its spirit, realizing that obedience law is essential in any organization. |
| I will be a servant of God | I will pledge myself to God first, last, and best in everything I am called to do. |
| and a friend to man. | I will bless others and do to them what I would have them do to me. |
For something different, do the Pledge and Law in sign language.
Pathfinder Law
Every young person should have a code by which to shape his life. For the Adventist youth, the Pledge and Law is that code. These must be learned and their principles put into practice.
The Pathfinder Law is for me to:
| Law | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Keep the morning watch | I will have prayer and personal Bible study each day. |
| Do my honest part | By the power of God, I will help others and do my duty and my honest share, wherever I may be. |
| Care for my body | I will be temperate in all things and strive to reach a high standard of physical fitness |
| Keep a level eye | I will not lie, cheat or deceive and will despise dirty talk and evil thinking |
| Be courteous and obedient | I will be kind and thoughtful of others, reflecting the love of Jesus in all my associations with others. |
| Walk softly in the Sanctuary | In any devotional exercise, I will be quiet, careful, and reverent. |
| Keep a song in my heart | I will be cheerful and happy and let the influence of my life be sunshine to others |
| Go on God's errands | I will always be ready to share my faith and go about doing good as did Jesus |
Achievement Classes/Companion/General/requirement 3b
Pledge
A good time to address this requirement is just before the Induction Ceremony. At this time, the Companion class should re-study the pledge and law, and dive deeper into its meaning. Then during the Induction, those Companions who were inducted during the previous year can be assigned to explain a point of the pledge and law to the new inductees.
As counselor, it may fall to you to assign a point of the Pledge and Law for explanation by one of the Companions. This can be an opportunity to really reach your Companions if you make these assignments thoughtfully. If possible, assign a point of the Pledge or Law to a child you feel exemplifies that point, and let the child know why he or she was chosen to explain that point. This will make the child feel that he or she has an important part to play in the Induction service, and the delivery of that explanation will be more heartfelt and effective. This offers the greatest chance for affecting both the Inductee as well as the Pathfinders who explain the Pledge and Law.
- By the grace of God
- This means that the Pathfinder will rely on God for the strength, courage, and determination to keep the Pathfinder Pledge.
- I will be pure
- The Pathfinder will avoid those things which lead into temptation, and seek to fill himself with heavenly thoughts rather than worldly pleasures (see Philippians 4:8). This means the Pathfinder will avoid such things as dirty jokes, pornography, lewd or crude entertainment, and gossip. Being pure is the same thing as being holy - set aside for a special purpose. The Sabbath is holy because it has been set aside as a special day for us to spend with our Creator. We do not pollute the Sabbath with thoughts of work and toil. Samuel was set aside as pure from before his birth. As a Nazarite, he did not pollute his life with wine (or any grape products). A Pathfinder will set himself aside for the Lord and not pollute his life with impure things.
- I will be kind
- The Pathfinder will place the needs of others above the needs of the self. This means holding doors open for others, allowing others to go first in line, taking the smallest cookie, etc. It means relieving the suffering of others, including not only people, but animals as well. It means making friends with new kids and making them feel welcome and part of the group.
- I will be true
- Being true means "practicing what you preach." That means that our actions are not in contradictions with our professed ideals. We do what we say. This was the charge Jesus laid against the Pharisees. They would say one thing, but do something else.
- "For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness." (Matthew 23:27 NKJV)
- I will keep the Pathfinder Law
- The Pathfinder will adopt the Pathfinder Law as a way of life. It will be observed and respected at all times, not just during Pathfinder meetings and events.
- I will be a servant of God
- The Pathfinder will make Jesus the Master of his life. A servant does not do what he himself wishes, but rather does as his master commands. To be a servant of God means setting aside one's own will and seeking the will of God. When people think they are serving themselves, they are really serving Satan.
- I will be a friend to man
- The Pathfinder will seek to help others. A properly-functioning Pathfinder Club will engage in community service on a regular basis. The purpose of this community service is to help our fellow men. The service is not limited to the members of the Pathfinder Club or even to the members of the church. It is to serve the community outside the church.
Law
- Keep the Morning Watch
- This means that the Pathfinder will devote time to studying the Bible every day. Taking time for devotional study as the first thing in the morning sets the course and tone for the day. However, more important than the time of the study is the study itself.
- Do my honest part
- The Pathfinder will perform every task to the best of his or her ability. The Pathfinder will follow the spirit of the law rather than just the letter of the law. This is especially true as it applies to IA or Honor requirements.
- Care for my body
- Because the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19), the Pathfinder will always strive to take the best care of it. This means that the Pathfinder will get plenty of exercise, maintain a healthy diet, and avoid drugs, tobacco, and alcohol.
- Keep a level eye
- The Pathfinder will always tell the truth so that he may look others straight in the eye without a downcast face. If a Pathfinder makes a mistake, he admits it and seeks to correct it rather than trying to hide it from others.
- Be courteous
- The Pathfinder will treat others courteously. This includes people of all ages, young and old, as well as animals.
- Be obedient
- The Pathfinder will obey those who are placed in authority over him. This includes parents, Pathfinder leaders, and teachers. However, the Pathfinder must always obey God first.
- Walk softly in the sanctuary
- The Pathfinder will treat the church sanctuary as a holy place, because that is what it is. A Pathfinder knows that the sanctuary is not a place for horseplay, joking around, or running. It is a place where people come to worship the Lord.
- Keep a song in my heart
- The Pathfinder will remain cheerful even when circumstances dictate otherwise. A useful model of this behavior is that of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25-34. The result of their cheerfulness was the salvation of an entire household.
- Go on God's errands
- The Pathfinder will seek to do the Lord's will. If he is called to cut grass for an elderly person, he will rush to do this. If he is asked to read the scriptures during the worship service, he will answer "yes." The Pathfinder will remember the words of Isaiah when he said, "Here I am, send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)
Achievement Classes/Companion/General/requirement 4a
The Pathfinder Song should be sung during the opening ceremonies at the beginning of each regular Pathfinder Meeting. By the end of the year, every Pathfinder in regular attendance will know the song without any additional effort on their or on the instructor's part.
The words to the song are below, and a link to the sheet music can be found after that.
Oh, we are the Pathfinders Strong,
The servants of God are we
Faithful as we march along,
In kindness, truth, and purity
A Message to tell to the world
A truth that will set us free!
King Jesus the Savior's coming back
For you, and me!
Oh We Are the Pathfinders Strong Sheet Music with Guitar Chords
Achievement Classes/Companion/General/requirement 4b
Meaning
Before the meaning of the Pathfinder Song can be illustrated, it must be understood.
- Oh we are the Pathfinders Strong
- The Pathfinders are not the General Conference, Division, Union, or local Conference leadership. Yes, those people are Pathfinders, and they contribute greatly to the program, but without the children in the local clubs, there would be no Pathfinders. We are the Pathfinders. And we are strong. As Pathfinders, we make an impact in our church and community. Pathfinders is one of the more visible arms of our church, and without them, many people would not know that a Seventh-day Adventist Church met in their communities.
- The servants of God are we
- Pathfinders seek to do the will of the Creator. We look to Him for guidance and direction by reading His written word in the Bible. When we understand His will, we then seek to do it to the best of our ability.
- Faithful as we march along
- Pathfinders serve God and show growing faith.
- In kindness, truth, and purity
- The astute Pathfinder will immediately recognize that this phrase comes directly from the Pathfinder Pledge. Kindness, truth, and purity are central to the Pathfinder mission. Pathfinders look for opportunities to help others. They put the needs of others ahead of their own, and they do this in every aspect of their lives (not just at Pathfinder meetings)
- A message to tell to the world
- Once Pathfinders have the attention of their community, and once that attention is positive, the community will more readily receive from them the good news of the gospel. While the message goes out to the entire world, it does so one community at a time.
- A truth that will set us free
- When the community accepts the message, they will be set free from the bondage of sin.
- King Jesus the Savior's coming back for you and me
- The "good news" is that we can have eternal life in Jesus. When an end is made of sin, those who have placed their faith in Jesus will be freed not only from sin, but from death which is caused by sin. Eternal life!
Illustration
An illustration is something that clarifies or proves a point. Its literal meaning is "to cast light upon." Jesus illustrated many truths through His parables - stories which helped people to understand His message. The requirement to illustrate the meaning of the Pathfinder Song is an opportunity for the Pathfinders to use their imaginations. There are many approaches to illustration, including:
- Art projects
- Drawing
- Painting
- Diorama
- Sculpture
- Comic book
- Collage
- Poster
- Drama
- Skit
- Movie
- Puppet show
- Mime play (silent acting with narration or music)
- Other
- Photography slide show
- Sign Language
- PowerPoint or compatible multimedia presention
- Blog post with text and pictures
Trail Companion 
There are no additional requirements in this section for the Advanced Ribbon.
