When the "faithful four" from Albany Pathfinder Club reached the North American Division level of the Pathfinder Bible Experience this year, they carried more than just the word in their hearts: They brought a new way to study it.
PBE is the official NAD Bible study program where teams of six members immerse themselves in a specific book of the Bible, memorizing portions of scripture and progressing from their local district up to the national level. For the 2025–2026 season, Pathfinders from all over North America and beyond focused their studies on the first 33 chapters of Isaiah.
The Albany team faced a tough challenge. Since they only had four members instead of the usual six, each Pathfinder had to memorize 170 verses. Thankfully, Enoch Arakawa, team leader, had recently tapped into a skill he had been learning over the past few years: coding.
Inspiration struck last year while Arakawa prepared for his first PBE and realized how hard it was to use the currently available PBE study tools on his phone. Having already developed a medical calculator for his father and a budget tracker for his club’s trip to International Pathfinder Camporee, Arakawa saw an opportunity to support his fellow Pathfinders.
"At first, I was having trouble because studying shouldn't be that hard to do on a phone,” Arakawa shared. “Then I realized, 'I can help with this.'”
Arakawa spent his summer developing PBE Master, a free app available on both Android and iOS. It contains no ads and can work offline, a bonus for parents concerned about data access. The app includes the relevant passages from the New King James Version, is officially licensed and is already updated for the 2027 PBE season covering Mark and the epistles of Peter and John.
Pathfinders like Arakawa are inspiring their friends to see that their skills and interests are more than just hobbies; they are powerful tools for ministry. Whether music, technology or even an encouraging word, everyone has a God-given gift that can be used to help others. Even as Albany Pathfinder Club celebrates their first-place finish at the NAD finals, Arakawa is already looking for the next way to code a path for ministry.
To learn more or download the app, visit pbemaster.com.
PBE Master is an app that allows Pathfinders to quiz themselves on their scripture memory.
The "faithful four" wear their PBE hoodies based on Isaiah 28:10.
The Albany team prepares for NPUC PBE.
Albany Pathfinder Club joins 260 other teams at NAD PBE.
