Master Guides 

Requirements

I. 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.

4. Have a completed Basic Staff Training Certification and been involved for a minimum of one year in one of the following ministries.

   a. Adventurers Ministries
   b. Pathfinders Ministries
   c. Youth Ministries
* It will be helpful for a Master Guide in training to have exposure to both ministries, Adventurers and Pathfinders.

II. Spiritual Development:

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

4. Earn the Adventurer or 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. Use of creative media is encouraged.

   • 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 Pioneer Heritage Honor.

   • b) Read a book about SDA youth ministry such as:

     • i) The Pathfinder Story by Robert Holbrook.

     • ii) Another book that is approved by your conference Youth, Pathfinder or Adventurer Director, or their designated Master Guide representative.

8. Read a book about church heritage such as:

   • a) Anticipating the Advent by George Knight.

   • b) Tell It to the World by Mervyn Maxwell

   • c) Light Bearers to the Remnant by Richard W Schwarz and Floyd Greenleaf

   • d) The Church Heritage Manual produced by the General Conference Youth Department.

   • e) Another book that is approved by your conference Youth, Pathfinder or Adventurer Director, or their designated Master Guide representative.

     • Memorable Dates from Our Adventist Past by James Nix

     • The Message Behind the Movement by George Knowles

     • They Had a World to Win by Adriel Chilson

     • A Search for Identity by George Knight

     • Heartwarming Stories of Adventist Pioneers by Norma Collins

     • Pathways of the Pioneers (Audio)

     • The Midnight Cry! William Miller and the End of the World(video)

9. Attend a Seminar, or complete a 2 page (minimum) research paper about a standard temperament analysis program and complete the affiliated temperament inventory.

III. Skills Development:

1.      Attend and complete a seminar in each of the
         following ten subjects: (Each seminar must be at
         least 75 minutes long):

         a.       MGSK 001 How to be a Christian Leader &
                   Leadership Skills

         b.      MGSK 002 Vision, Mission and Motivation

         c.       MGSK 003 Communication Theory and
                   Listening Skills

         d.      MGSK 004 Practical Communication Practices

         e.       MGSK 005 Understanding Teaching and
                   Learning Styles

          f.       MGSK 006 Creativity and Resources
                   Development

         g.      MGSK 007 How to Prepare Effective Creative
                  Worships

         h.      MGSK 008 Principles of Youth and Children’s
                  Evangelism

         i.        MGSK 009 How to Lead a Child to Christ

         j.        MGSK 010 Understanding your Spiritual Gifts

2.      Attend a seminar on Risk Management that focus’
          on Adventurer, Pathfinder, and Youth activities.

3.      Attend a Seminar on Child Abuse Prevention.

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 3 honor
         from a list provided by your local conference.

         a.       Crisis Intervention

         b.      Nutrition

         c.       Flags

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).

NEW - Requirement in a binder format 

Download the requirements that can be printed and added to your own binder.

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IV. 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, Pathfinders or Youth and write a reflection on their interaction.

5. Attend a seminar on discipline.

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V. Leadership Development:

1. Read a current book about “Leadership Skill Development” such as:

   • Positive Church in a Negative World by John Arrias

   • Take the Risk by Ben Carson

   • Ellen White on Leadership by Cindy Tutsh

   • Help! I’m being Followed by Clinton Valleyn

   • Another book that is approved by your conference Youth, Pathfinder or Adventurer Director, or their designated Master Guide representative.

     • Lead like Jesus by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges and Phyllis Hendry

     • 5 levels of Leadership by John Maxwell

     • Leadership 101 by John Maxwell

     • Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell

     • Positive Church in a Negative World by John Arrias

     • Take the Risk by Ben Carson

     • Ellen White on Leadership by Cindy Tutsh

     • Help! I’m being Followed by Clinton Valley

2. Demonstrate your leadership skills by doing the following:

   • Develop and conduct three creative worships for children and/or teenagers.

   • Participate in a leadership role with your local church children’s/youth group in a Conference sponsored event.

   • Teach three Adventurer Awards or two Pathfinder Honors.

   • Assist in planning and leading a field trip for a group of Adventurers, Pathfinders or Sabbath School class.

   • 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.

VI. Fitness Lifestyle Development

1. Participate in a personal Physical fitness plan by completing one of the following:

   • A personal physical fitness program of your choice and according to your abilities, for at least three months.

   • A school physical fitness program.

   • The physical components of the AY Silver Award. If you already have the AY Silver award then complete the physical fitness components of the AY Gold Award.

VII. Documentation

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 Youth, Pathfinder or Adventurer Director, or their designated Master Guide representative.