1. A Word to You
As Christians, the Christmas season gives us a special time to share with others the good news of Salvation through knowing and serving Jesus Christ. Hopefully you have plans to make Christmas special for your Pathfinders, your family, and your community.
My family and I are especially grateful for the support that we have received from you, our Pathfinder family during this time of my wife Evelyn's surgery and sickness, as well as the passing of my mother. We appreciate your ongoing prayers as we continue in this journey. --Pastor John

PATHWAYS: Be sure to read this month’s issue! http://www.gccsda.com/departments/pathfinders/newsletterpage.html

QUOTE: “The higher people are in the favor of God, the more tender they are.” Martin Luther

2. Upcoming Events
TLT CONVENTION: Teen Leadership Convention will be held, December 3-5 at Cohutta Springs, for those who preregistered. All who attend should read and bring the TLT Manual. Class A uniforms will be worn. Registration will be 4:00-7:00 pm at the Camp Cafeteria. Clubs are responsible for their own supper on Friday. The first meeting begins at 6:30 pm Friday. Sunday dismissal will be at 10:30 am.

DIRECTORS' COUNCIL: Club directors will meet at Cohutta Springs on Sunday, January 16 for a time of information, inspiration, and networking with conference personnel and other club directors. Directors' Council is an essential meeting, therefore we are asking that every club director be present (or one well-informed representative from each club). Lunch will be provided. The meeting will run 9:00 am-3:00 pm
One agenda item for Directors' Council will be that of supporting our club directors. Directors will be asked, "How can our office staff and coordinators help and assist you as the club director?"
Another agenda item is attending the Joseph Story during Camporee. As a conference, we are wanting to build relationships in the Chattanooga area for the evangelistic meetings with Mark Finley in 2006. Our attendance as Conference Pathfinders at "The Fire Within" will show our support in helping this evangelistic endeavor to reach its fullest potential. In addition to our attendance, we are seeking to mobilize our Pathfinder families to invite neighbors and work associates to attend "The Fire Within." (While the program is a part of the Conference Youth Festival, the evening production will be multi-generational as at Oshkosh.) See p.27&29 of the Communique http://www.gccsda.com/news/communique/index.html
Andi Erwin will be taking your suggestions of Bible Bowl questions for this year's Bible Bowl on the book of Hebrews. You're welcome to email or fax questions before then, but the deadline is January 16, at the Director's Council. Andi Erwin (912) 283-0063 Fax.
The theme for 2005-2006 will be announced, so that Pathfinders can work on posters for the poster contest (Entries due in the office March 7; see Director's Packet Tab 5).

UPPER SUWANEE TEEN CANOE TRIP: Calling all experienced canoers! This is a challenging five day canoe trip, camping nights on the river in primitive camp areas. The trip will run December 29-January 2. For information contact Gary Johnson

CORRECTION - TEEN CREATIVE MINISTRIES & ARTS FESTIVAL: The correct date for this weekend is January 21-23, 2005. Also, applications & registration forms are due JANUARY 7, not December 7 as stated in the November e-Pathfinder. We're sorry for the mixup! (See attachment for application & workshop choices.) As this is a highly-attended event, workshop choices will be honored first come, first serve. There is a limit of 200 for the event.

TEEN WILDERNESS CHALLENGE: Enjoy a weekend of wilderness camping and backpacking skills training at Cohutta Springs January 21-23. (Yes, the date is correct--it runs the same weekend as the Creative Ministries & Arts Festival.) For information contact Lyle Petry

IMPACT ST. LOUIS: Impact St. Louis is a youth evangelism-training event running concurrently with the General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, June 29-July 9, 2005. 400 delegates from around the world will be trained and actively involved in street evangelism. For an application and more information go to: http://www.adventistyouthministries.org

QUOTE: “Level with your child by being honest. Nobody spots a phony quicker than a child.” Mary MacCracken

3. Other Important Items
CLUB PAPERWORK: Club directors will be individually contacted with a list of missing paperwork. **Volunteers are not to work with young people unless they have submitted a Part 2 form. **Georgia-Cumberland Conference policy states that Clubs must send in a monthly report. If a club misses three months, it will be suspended from conference events until missing monthly reports have been turned in. Thank you for your understanding and hard work!

INVESTITURE: Investiture is a time to show what the Pathfinders have accomplished through the year. John Swafford likes to be invited to each club investiture every 2-3 years. Fellowship coordinators are also happy to accept invitations to speak at club investitures. If your club is not requesting a conference speaker, please still send in your form. It will let us know when your service will be.

STAMP COLLECTING HONOR: Earl Brewer of the Calhoun, Ga. SDA Church is willing to work with clubs to get the Stamp Collecting Honor. (706) 625-9830

CLUB WEBSITE RECOGNIZED: The North American Division Pathfinder website has chosen the Collegedale, Tenn. Pathfinder club webite as it's "Conference/Pathfinder Website of the Month." Visit the website to see how your http://www.pathfindersonline.org/

NEW WEBSITE: The North American Division Pathfinder website has moved! The new website is http://www.pathfindersonline.org/

QUOTE: "Minds that rest in God cannot be frightened, but go on like a clock during a thunderstorm." Robert Louis Stevenson

4. Club News Notes
NEWS NOTES: November News Notes will be posted to the conference website soon after the December 7 due date. http://www.gccsda.com/departments/pathfinders/newsletterpage.html

MONTHLY REPORTS: Click Here for club percentages in 2004-2005

QUOTE: “It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” George Eliot

5. Send it in!
WHAT'S DUE JANUARY 7:
--Food Collection Report
--Investiture Request/Intention Form
--Teen Wilderness Challenge Registration
--Teen Creative Ministries & Art Festival
--December monthly report (report online using the link below)
http://www.gccsda.com/departments/pathfinders/monthly_report.html

QUOTE: “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” Edith Wharton

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The e-Pathfinder is provided by:
Georgia-Cumberland Conference Pathfinder department
View archives www.gccsda.org/departments/pathfinders
Contact us pathfinders@gccsda.org
Phone 1 800 567-1844, ext 344
John Swafford, Director, Cheryl Martin, Secretary
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North American Division Pathfinder website--NEW
http://www.pathfindersonline.org/

General Conference Pathfinder website & newsletter
http://youth.gc.adventist.org/
http://youth.gc.adventist.org/gbnews/home.htm