20 April 2022 | Belfast, Ireland [Vanesa Pizzuto]
The first in-person Trans-European Division (TED) Adventurer and Pathfinder Bible Experience took place last weekend, from 15 to 16 April, in Belfast, Ireland, where nearly 700 excitable Adventurers and Pathfinders gathered to test their Bible knowledge and enjoy the camaraderie.
26 teams of Adventurers and 34 teams of Pathfinders from across the division, including a guest team from Belgium, met to test their knowledge on the book of Ruth and 1 Kings 1-6. The quiz rounds included between 70 and 80 questions each and lasted up to two hours.
With clubs having spent months preparing for the event, the judges were impressed. “The event was superb, so inspiring and uplifting!”, said Raafat Kamal, TED president. “We need to catch this contagious spirit our children have – about studying the Word of God and lead the way. As Jesus said, we have a lot to learn from children!”
Bible Experiences are aimed at developing a love for reading and studying Scripture. These events are designed to develop and challenge the potential of all participants. All clubs that answered correctly 90% of the questions took home a First-Place Certificate. “Everybody is a winner,” said Dejan Stojkovic, TED Youth Ministry director. “This was the greatest Pathfinder and Adventurer reunion since COVID19 – a beautiful sight! But for me, the most amazing part was witnessing their incredible enthusiasm for studying the Bible. Their knowledge rivals that of pastors!”
The Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) is an official Bible study programme of the North American Division (NAD). Using this programme as a template, the British Union Conference (BUC) launched the Adventurer Bible Experience (ABE) in 2018. The programme was an immediate success, showing that younger children are eager to study the Bible too. “We have amazing reports from moms and dads,” Stojkovic remarked. “Since their children started taking part in PBE and ABE they are improving at school. The programme is having not only a spiritual impact, but also a cognitive one.”
The event also provided attendees with an opportunity to build relationships as members of a global Church, “The social aspect of this event should not be underestimated. Children get to build friendships and discover the larger community they belong to,” Kamal highlighted.
“Thank you to all who attended the TED Adventurer and Pathfinder Bible Experience,” organisers said. “Huge thanks to the Irish Mission, Belfast Church, and all the union, conference, and mission directors as well as volunteers who worked so hard to make this happen.” The support of parents and partners from the NAD was also noticed, “without which this event wouldn’t have been possible.”
Next year’s ABE and PBE will focus on the Gospel of John. Young and old are invited to begin studying and to take part!
