Master Guide
Master Guide Portfolio 2024
​Master Guide Card 2024
​Master Guide Portfolio 2015 Fillable PDF Requirements 
Master Guide Portfolio 2015
(from AdventSource)
​Master Guide 2015 & 2024 Comparison
​(this is a draft and no guarantee that is 100% accurate)
Lake Region Conference Club Ministries
Master Guide Training Program

Master Guide Curriculum 2015

I. Prerequisites

         1. Be a baptized member, in regular standing, 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.   Adventurer Ministries NAD Adventurer Club Basic Staff Training
               b.  Pathfinder Ministries NAD Pathfinder Basic Staff Training
               c.   Youth Ministries          

II.  Spiritual Discovery
      *Spiritual Development Overview YouTube Video - Cape Conference Western Region Youth Department

  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.  
    ​Link to free audio Steps to Christ
  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 or listen to the book Desire of Ages or the 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 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 Heritage Honor.  See Adventist Pioneer Heritage for details on this honor. 
                   Adventist Pioneer Heritage Honor - Hemet SDA Church
         b.  Read a book about SDA youth ministry such as: 
                i)   The Pathfinder Story by Robert Holbrook 
               ii)    We are the Pathfinders Strong: The First Fifty Years by Willie Oliver with Patricia Humphrey   (Amazon.com)      
              iii)  Another book on some aspect of church heritage that is approved by your conference Youth, Pathfinder or Adventurer Director, or their
                     Master Guide representative, such as:
                     a.   Anticipating the Advent, by George R. Knight (a brief history of Seventh-day Adventists)
                     b.  Tell It to the World, by Mervyn Maxwell (the story of the Seventh-day Adventists)
                     c.   Light Bearers to the Remnant (denominational history college textbook)
                           Books are available from the ABC or AdventSource     8.  Read a book about church heritage such as: 
                    a.   Anticipating the Advent, by George R. Knight (a brief history of Seventh-day Adventists)
                     b.  Tell It to the World, by Mervyn Maxwell (the story of the Seventh-day Adventists)
                             * Tell the World: Full Movie (YouTube)                             
                     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 on some aspect of church heritage that is approved by your conference Youth, Pathfinder or Adventurer Director, or their 
                           Master Guide representative. 
                      (Books are available from the ABC or AdventSource)
     9.  Attend a Seminar, or complete a 2-page (minimum) research paper about a standard temperament analysis program and complete the affiliated
          temperament inventory. 
                    Understanding Temperaments - Hemet SD Church

3.  Skills Development
     *Skills Development Overview YouTube Video - Cape Conference Western Region Youth Department

.            1.   Attend and complete a seminar in each of the following ten areas: (Each seminar must be at least 75 minutes long). 
                  a.  How to be a Christian Leader & Leadership skills                              
                              How to be a Christian Leader and Leadership Skills - Rahel Wells (Center for Youth Evangelism) 2022
                              Christian Leadership YouTube Video-NCSA Junior Youth
                              Christian Leadership YouTube Video-Dr. Greg Gerard at GCA​                                  
                  b.  Vision, Mission and Motivation
                               Vision, Mission and Motivation YouTube Video-NCSA Junior Youth
​                               Vision, Mission and Motivation YouTube Video-Elder Don Keele at GCA
                                 (At the end Elder Keele mentions a YouTube video, here is the link: When Wolves Change Rivers)
                                Alignment of Vision, Mission and Motivation - Duane Covrig (Center for Youth Evangelism)
                  c.  Communication Theory and Listening Skills
                               Communication Theory and Listening Skills - Dr. Nancy Gerard at GCA
                               Communication 1 & 2 - Marsha Beal (Center for Youth Evangelism)
                  d.  Practical Communication Practices
                                Practical Communication Practices YouTube Video-NCSA Junior Youth
                  e.  Understanding Teaching and Learning Styles
                                Education: Theory and Practice - Dr. Barbara James at GCA
                                Learning Styles - Hemet SDA Church                                
                  f.   Creativity and Resources Development
                                Creativity and Resources Development - Karen Reed at GCA
                                 Creativity and Resources - Jean-Baptiste (Center for Youth Evangelism)
                  g.  How to Prepare Effective Creative Worships
                                Creating Effective Creative Worships - David James at GCA
                                How to Prepare Effective Creative Worships - Chad Bernard (Center for Youth Evangelism)
                  h.  Principles of Youth and Children's Evangelism
                              Child and Youth Evangelism YouTube Video - David Smith at GCA                              
                              Principles of Youth and Children's Evangelism - Center for Youth Evangelism 2022
​                              Principles of Children's Evangelism - Hemet SDA Church (part of the Master Guide Lectures)   
                              Principles of Youth and Children's Evangelism - NAD Youth Ministries                          
                   i.  How to Lead a Child to Christ
                             How to Lead a Child to Christ YouTube Video - Master Guide Academy
                             How to Lead a Child to Christ - Hemet SDA Church (part of a longer YouTube video)
                             How to Lead a Child to Christ - Jonathan Burt (Center for Youth Evangelism)
                   j.  Understanding your Spiritual Gifts
                             How to use your Spiritual Gifts - Hemet SDA Church (part of a longer YouTube video)
                             Understanding your Spiritual Gifts - Zack Payne (Center for Youth Evangelism)
            2.   Attend a workshop on Risk Management that focuses on Adventurer, Pathfinder and Youth Activities. 
                              Adventist Risk Managment - Club Ministries
                              Safety and the Pathfinder Counselor - Pathfinder Counselor (Adventist Risk Management Inc.)
                              Master Guide Leadership - Risk Management (Hemet SDA Church)
            3.   Attend a workshop on Child Abuse Prevention. 
                              Child Protection & Supervision   
                              Child Abuse Prevention - Hemet SDA Church    
            4.    Have or earn the following honors:
                     a)   Christian Storytelling 
                               Christian Storytelling Honor - Hemet SDA Church
                     b)   Camping Skills I, Camping Skills II, Camping Skills III, Camping Skills IV
                     c.   Drilling and Marching
                     d.   Knot Tying                  
            5.   Earn two additional honors of your choice 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 Red Cross First Aid and Safety certificate or its equivalent (American Heart Association)
            7.   Supervise participants through either an 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). 

4.  Child Development
​       *Child Development Overview YouTube Video - Cape Conference Western Region Youth Department

            1.  Read the book Education and submit a one-page response focusing on the benefits of your reading. 
                  * Link to free online book Education 
                  * Link to free audio book Education            
            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 or Pathfinders and write a reflection on their interaction. 
            5.  Attend a seminar on discipline.
                 Master Guide Seminar Discipline NCSA Junior Youth​
                 Discipline and Discipleship - Rebekah Helbley at GCA

5.  Leadership Development

          1.   Read a current book about "Leadership Skill Development" such as:
                a.   Positive Church in a Negative World by John Arrias 
                b.  Take the Risk by Ben Carson
                c.  Ellen White on Leadership by Cindy Tutsh
                d.  Help! I'm being Followed by Clinton Valleyn
                e.  Another book that is approved by your conference Youth, Pathfinder or Adventurer Director, or their designated Master Guide representative. 
         2.   Demonstrate your leadership skills by doing the following: 
                 a.   Develop and conduct three worships
                 b.   Participate in a leadership role with your local church children's/youth group in a conference sponsored event.
                 c.   Teach three Adventurer Awards or two Pathfinder Honors
                 d.   Assist in planning and leading a field trip for a group of Adventurers, Pathfinders or Sabbath School class.
                 e.   Be an active Adventurer, Pathfinder, Youth Club, Sabbath School or AY Society 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 orientated,        
                    and list three goals or objectives for each.

6.  Fitness Life-style Development

         1.   Participate in a personal physical fitness plan by completing one of the following. 
               a.  A personal physical fitness program of your choice and according to your abilities, for at least three months. 
                b.  A school physical fitness program
                c.  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. 

7.  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.