By: Kenisha Simms, SBC Communication
Would it really be a Camporee if there wasn’t a community service outreach, I think not! The Camporee’s outreach reminded some and taught others from the South Bahamas Conference (SBC) of Seventh-day Adventist that ministry is not just about a location but most importantly it’s about having a willing heart to serve others.
Ministry Beyond Camporee Grounds
As part of the 2nd Atlantic Caribbean Union’s Pathfinder Camporee themed “Strong Finish,” held from July 4-11, 2026 in the Cayman Islands, SBC campers Noah Black, Shani Butler, Bianca Smith and Henry Pierre along with other Camporee campers from the other conferences, on Wednesday July 8, left the Stacy Watler Agriculture Pavilion with one thing in their hearts and on their minds, and that was to be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever they went and to whomever they came in contact with.
Pathfinder clubs from the four conferences of the Union were assigned homes throughout the Bodden Town community to visit, pray with residents, sing songs of encouragement, and share small gifts of kindness.
When God Changes the Plan
When our group arrived at the home we had been assigned, we discovered that the homeowner was on vacation and out of the country. At first, the campers expressed silent disappointment because it seemed as though they would not get to minister in service but instead of leaving, a phone call was made and thankfully the lady answered.
Although miles away, she gladly accepted the visit through the phone; which is a perfect example of what digital ministry in action looks like. The Pathfinders gathered together and did exactly what they had come to do, which was to minister. They sang, prayed, and shared words of encouragement with her. This moment was a simple reminder that God’s love is not limited by distance. Before the call ended, she expressed her appreciation for the unexpected act of kindness from the campers.
Not wanting to miss the opportunity to bless someone in person, the Pathfinders then found another home within the community to share the gift of love with and discovered in the process that the resident wasn’t feeling well, so the campers joined together once more in prayer, asking God to heal the lady and to keep her other family members away from sickness.
Ministry Along the Way
On the way back to camp, the Pathfinders noticed the Bodden Town Police station nearby and was excited to stop because they had another opportunity to minister. The request was made for the campers to share with the officers on duty and they welcomed them with smiles. The campers once again without hesitation got right into ministering, where they gathered to pray for the officers’ protection, their families and ended the visit with a song of praise. Although this stop was not on the schedule it definitely became one of the greatest lessons for our campers in that ministry doesn’t always happen according to plan.
The experience was one that left an indelible impact not only on the community service, but also on the pathfinders. Noah said the lesson he learned from today was “God has a plan for us, even though it might not be what we want but it’s always going to work out for the good”. Another reminder from the day is that God sometimes opens unexpected doors, and if young people are willing to walk through them, they can change lives in ways that no schedule could ever predict.