01 June 2025| Budapest, Hungary [Kevin Johns]
Excitement and anticipation filled the Europa Congress Center as more than 1,200 Adventurers and Pathfinders from across the Trans-European Division (TED), including participants from Romania and Kenya, gathered in Budapest April 10-12 for the highly anticipated Division-level testing of the Adventurer and Pathfinder Bible Experience (ABE/PBE).
Throughout the week, visiting clubs immersed themselves in Hungarian culture while also engaging in outreach. Members of the London Filipino International Church (FIC) took the opportunity to distribute over 100 copies of Steps to Christ on the streets of Budapest, as well en-route in Salzburg and Worms—Germany’s historic Reformation city.
The weekend officially began with a Friday evening vesper service led by the FIC-Osprey Adventurers. Their heartfelt presentations, delivered with clarity and confidence by children as young as five, moved many parents and visitors. “The Filipino International Church is blessed to have our FIC-Osprey Pathfinder and Adventurer Club,” said May Vidal, FIC Adventurer Director. “This is what their curriculum is all about—nurturing faith through service, study, and witness.”
On Sabbath morning, 43 of the 46 qualifying Adventurer teams participated in the Bible testing, with two teams earning perfect scores. In the afternoon, 80 Pathfinder teams displayed exceptional biblical knowledge during their testing session. A brief sermon, followed by an appeal from Pastor Jefferson Melki led to a powerful response—13 young people requested baptism, bringing the total number of baptisms resulting from PBE this year to 180.
Notably, seven of these requests came from Romanian Pathfinders, many of whom are not Adventists but were invited through community outreach. A Romanian director noted, “PBE is having a profound effect in Romania—so much so that our Union is considering launching our own program.”
The FIC-Osprey Adventurers, who studied Romans and 1 Corinthians this year, also led the vesper service at Budapest Central Church and explored Salzburg’s Salt Mine as part of their educational tour. “These journeys help the children reflect on God’s creation and build cross-cultural understanding,” said Vidal.
Kenyan leaders echoed the lasting impact of PBE. One director described the experience as “simply amazing,” adding, “It’s transforming the lives of not only Pathfinders but also parents, local communities, and churches. It’s a true inreach and outreach programme.”
The Adventurer and Pathfinder Bible Experience remains a powerful spiritual element of Pathfinder Ministries. As one leader passionately concluded: “I want to urge every Union, every Conference, every Mission within the Trans-European Division—get your clubs involved in ABE/PBE. Their lives will be transformed!”
Featured image: A London, UK, Pathfinder team captured experiencing the joy of being together in Budapest.
Photos: Kevin Johns
