Twenty-five energized kids, awesome teen leaders and God's prompting describe the kick-off event for the new Adventurer Club at Pasco (Wash.) Riverview Church on Sabbath, April 17.
After Pathfinder leaders Larry and Suzanne Swisher approached Teddy Shupe, pastor, about their desire to begin an Adventurer program, the church board gave the club its full support and some seed money to buy curriculum materials and supplies. After a month of advertising, 10 families with Adventurer-age children showed up at the church. Five parents and two church members signed up to help organize the new club, which they hope to begin sometime in the fall.
Valarie Young, newly designated Riverview Adventurer director, worked with Suzanne Swisher and Darla Shupe to incorporate 10 teen Pathfinders into the planning, organization and presentation of a traditional Adventurer meeting for all the children who attended the informational meeting with their parents. Pathfinder teen leaders Amanda Birney, Erik Brunken, Ben and Jessica Gow-Lee, Caleb Lenz, Kirsten Rasmussen, Chanel Scotson, Talea and Shayla Shupe, and Solana Young led songs, taught Bible lessons, played games and worked on Little Lamb, Eager Beaver and Adventurer awards during the two-hour meeting. The teens also set up and cleaned up after the potluck supper and the children's meeting.
The new Adventurer Club will be named Takoda, the Sioux word that means "friend to everyone." Jesus was a friend to everyone, and that is what the new Adventurer club hopes to instill in its young members: Jesus' way of doing business.
Pasco teen leaders and some of the children attend the kick-off meeting for the Riverview Adventurer Club.
Amanda Birney, teen Pathfinder leader, colors a nature puzzle with a future Little Lamb.
Solana Young and Paige Roy are all smiles after a Bible game with the Eager Beaver class.
Talea Shupe watches as three future Little Lambs color their nature puzzle craft.
From left: Claudia Engeberg, Paige Roy and Jared Williams, along with teen leader supervisor Solana Young, model field t-shirts and class scarves for parents.
