Twice each year, a group of rising young leaders gather for a special weekend of leadership development training, social bonding time, and deep reflective worship at the Oregon Conference TLT Convention in Rockaway Beach, Oregon. The Pathfinder TLT program is designed to challenge and empower teen Pathfinders with new and increased responsibilities, while allowing them the security of learning how to lead in a place they know and love. “What we’re developing is future leaders who can help lead in their churches, clubs, and communities,” explained Jackee Duvall, Oregon Conference Club Ministries executive coordinator. “This year we had a total of 78 people present. Forty-five TLTs, as well as mentors, coordinators, and presenters. Seventeen new TLTs were inducted and we had two that were invested as Master TLTs – Jeshua Jimenez of Ohana and Kayden Kirkwood from the Pleasant Valley Church.”
From January 16-18, the group busied themselves with learning, fun, and spiritual development. “Our TLTs give up a full weekend with their families and friends to come and learn at TLT Convention,” continued Jackee. “Coming in on Friday, we do something called ‘M&M’ - which stands for ‘Mentor & Mentee,’ where TLTs sit down with a coordinator to talk about what they did for the last semester and show their work. The coordinator signs off on it and they get a bag of M&Ms. On Sabbath morning they start with a prayer walk with a couple of coordinators and then get right into worship and workshops. And then on Sunday they have their final workshops and each go over a plan with their mentor of what they’re going to do over the next semester before heading home.”
Back home, TLTs are an important part of the Pathfinder ecosystem and local church life. “This year some of our TLTs are planning a ‘Giving Back Day’ of community service at the camp grounds (Gladstone Park Conference Center) with me. They plan the event, take charge and execute it, I’m just there to help oversee the process, put out communication, and make sure they don’t miss any details,” said Jackee.
In the midst of busy school years and family lives, TLTs choose to dedicate extra time to service. “They don’t have to do this,” said Jackee, “but they choose to do it because it really is a calling. And to me, that’s huge. That’s why I do this, too. Any pathfinder is a leader, but seeing our TLTs take this extra step to go above and beyond – that’s a big commitment, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
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