REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites

1. Be a baptized member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

2. Have a written recommendation from your local church board, stating that the candidate is in regular standing.

3. Be at least 16 years of age to start the Master Guide Leadership course and at least 18 years of age at completion.

Spiritual Development

1. Read or Listen to the book Steps to Christ and submit a one page response focusing on the benefits of reading.

2. Complete the devotional guide “Encounter Series I, Christ the Way”, or complete another year long Bible reading plan that covers the four Gospels. In addition read the Desire of the Ages or Humble Hero.

3. Do one of the following:
a. Keep a devotional journal for at least four weeks, summarizing what you learned in your devotional time and outlining how you are growing in your faith.
b. Complete the Steps to Discipleship Personal Spirituality Curriculum that you can find and download in the General Conference website.

4. Earn the Pathfinder Evangelism Award.

5. Prepare a two paragraph summary on each one of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs

6. Develop and present four of the following beliefs, making use of creative media if possible.
   a. Creation
   b. The Experience of Salvation
   c. Growing in Christ
   d. The Remnant and Its Mission
   e. Baptism
   f. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries
   g. The Gift of Prophecy
   h. The Sabbath
   i. Christ’s Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary
   j. The Second Coming of Christ
   k. Death and Resurrection

7. Enhance knowledge of Church Heritage by completing the following:
   a. Earn the Adventist Heritage Honor.
   b. Read a book about SDA youth ministry such as:
      1. The Pathfinder Story by Robert Holbrook.
      2. We are the Pathfinders Strong: The First Fifty Years by Willie Oliver with Patricia Humphrey
      3. Another book that is approved by your conference/Mission, Youth, Pathfinder or Adventurer Director, or their designated Master Guide representative.
   c. Reading a book about church heritage such as:
      1. Anticipating the Advent by George Knight.
      2. Tell It to the World by Mervyn Maxwell
      3. Light Bearers to the Remnant by Richard W Schwarz and Floyd Greenleaf
      4. The Church Heritage Manual produced by the General Conference Youth Department.
      5. Another book that is approved by your supervising Master Guide Conference/ Mission Youth Ministries Director.

8. Attend a Seminar, or complete a 2 page (minimum) research paper about a standard temperament analysis pro- gram and complete the affiliated temperament inventory.

Skills Development

1. Attend and complete a seminar in each of the following ten (10) subjects: (Each seminar must be at least 90 minutes long)
    a. Leadership
      1. How to be a Christian Leader
      2. Vision, Mission and Motivation
    b. Communication
      3. Communication Theory and Listening Skills
      4. Practical Communication Practices
      5. Understanding teaching and learning styles
c. Creativity and Resources
      6. How to prepare effective creative worships
      7. Creativity and Resource Development
d. Child Evangelism
      8. Principles of youth and children’s evangelism
      9. How to lead a child to Christ
      10. Understanding your Spiritual Gifts

2. Attend a seminar on Risk Management in the context of Adventurer and Pathfinder Activities.

3. Attend a Seminar on Child Abuse.

4. Have or earn the following honors:
   a. Christian Storytelling
   b. Camping Skills I-IV
   c. Basic Drilling and Marching
   d. Knots

5. Earn two additional honors not previously earned: one from the list below and a skill level 2 or higher honor from a list provided by your local conference.
   a. Crisis Intervention
   b. Nutrition
   c. Customs and Flag Etiquette
   d. Family Life

6. Hold a current First Aid & CPR certificate or its equivalent. (Instructor Required)

7. Supervise participants through either the Adventurer Curriculum or Pathfinder Investiture Achievement, or teach a Sabbath School class for children ages 6-15, or its equivalent for at least one year. (Candidates under 18 must have a supervising adult).

Child Development

1. Read or listen to the book Education and submit a one page response focusing on the benefits of your reading.

2. Read or listen to either Child Guidance or Messages to Young People and submit a one page response focusing on the benefits of your reading.

3. Attend one seminar dealing with child development relating to the age of your primary ministry group.

4. Observe for a period of two (2) hours a group of Adventurers or Pathfinders and write a reflection on their interaction.

5. Attend a seminar on discipline.

Leadership Development

1. Read a current book of your choice of a topic under the general category of “Leadership Skill Development”. These are some suggestions:
   a. Positive Church in a Negative World, John Arrias
   b. Take the Risk, Ben Carson
   c. Ellen White on Leadership by Cindy Tutsh
   d. Help! I’m being Followed by Clinton Valleyn
   e. Another book that is approved by your Conference/ Mission, Youth, Pathfinder or Adventurer Director, or their designated Master Guide representative.

2. Demonstrate your leadership skills by doing the following:
   a. Develop and conduct three creative worships for children and/or teenagers.
   b. Participate in a leadership role with your local church children’s/youth group in a Conference sponsored event.
   c. Teach three Adventurer Awards or two Pathfinder Honors.
   d. Assist in planning and leading a field trip for a group of Adventurers, Pathfinders or Sabbath School class.
   e. Be an active Adventurer, Pathfinders, or Sabbath School staff member for at least one year and attend at least 75% of all staff meetings.

3. Write personal goals that you would like to accomplish in your ministry.

4. Identify three current goals in your life, at least one of which is spiritually oriented, and list three goals or objects for each.

5. Must have a completed Basic Staff Training Course and been involved for a minimum of one year in one of the following ministries:
a. Adventurer Ministries
b. Pathfinder Ministries

Fitness Lifestyle Development

1. Participate in a personal Physical fitness plan by completing one of the following:
   a. A personal physical fitness program of your choice and according to your abilities, for at least three months.
   b. A school physical fitness program.
   c. The physical components of the AY Silver Award. If you already have the AY Silver award then move on the AY Gold Award.

Confirmation of Completion

Download Upper School Application >

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1. The Master Guide curriculum must be completed in a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years.
2. All Master Guide Candidates must document all work in a portfolio.
3. Curriculum completion is under the supervision of the Conference/ Mission, Youth, Pathfinder or Adventurer Director, or their designated Master Guide representative.

Download MASTER GUIDE OVLE Application >