Congressoree 2015: A Powerful Generation

ST. THOMAS- Friday May 22, 2015 to Sunday May 24, 2015, the island of St. Thomas hosted over 250 Pathfinders, Adventures, and other uniformed bodies from St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and the British Virgin Islands for the 38th annual USVI/BVI Pathfinder Congressoree.

The Pathfinder organization is a spiritual youth-based ministry, organized and supported by the Seventh-day Adventist Church that caters for children from 3 through 16 years of age. This year’s congressoree was themed “A Powerful Generation: God Restores to Save and Serve”.

Friday evening during her vibrant opening statements the Honorable Senator Janette Millin-Young, declared to the assembled youth, “It is my pleasure to bring you greetings from the senators!” She commended their efforts on being positive influences in the community. “I am so impressed with your uniform,” Millin young said, “You are respectful and I thank you for that”.

Dr. Vincent A. David, Youth & Chaplaincy Ministries Director of the North Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, supervised the event. According to David, “Allowing our young people from across the islands who hold similar values, principles, and beliefs [to] come together under one ‘umbrella’” is one of the many benefits of congressoree attendance.

Sunday’s main feature was a March of Witness through the streets of Charlotte Amalie. The uniformed group was accompanied by several thundering drum corps to keep the cadence. The Pathfinders displayed their banners that incorporated the theme of the event and illustrations of anti-drug and anti-violence. The parade ended at the Lionel Roberts Stadium where the morning’s activities commenced with a brief address by Patrick Farrell.

Basic and Fancy Drills, Drum Corp, arts and craft exhibitions, and games kept the participants busy all day. Gerard M. Joseph, a 12-year-old member of the Agape’ Pathfinder Club, and a snare drummer for the St. Thomas Pathfinder Drum Corp said, “My favorite part of congressoree was the drum corp exhibition and being able to fellowship with the other pathfinders from other islands”.

Also participating in the weekend’s activities were four drum corps. The dynamic V.I. Pulse, under the direction of Jahdel Jules, represented the big island of St. Croix. Representing St. Thomas were the Adventist Youth Drum Corp, under the direction of Corrine Smith and St. Thomas Pathfinder Drum Corp under the direction of Shirley Fleming. Representing the island of Tortola, BVI was the ever present Advent Heartbeatz, with director Kyle Moses.