Pathfinder Club emblem PATHFINDERCLUB
HISTORY · WORLD DIRECTORS

Those who led the route

Since 1950, 9 leaders have directed Pathfinders worldwide from the General Conference. Their stories are also the club's story.

  1. 1Laurence A. Skinner1950–1963
  2. 2John H. Hancock1963–1970
  3. 3Leo Ranzolin1970–1980
  4. 4Michael Stevenson1980–1985
  5. 5Malcolm J. Allen1986–1996
  6. 6Robert Holbrook1997–2005
  7. 7Jonatán Tejel Subirada2005–2017
  8. 8Andrés J. Peralta2018–2024
  9. 9Alfred Kwasi Asiem2025–present

The position is that of an associate director of the General Conference Youth Department who, by vote of its committee, holds the title of World Pathfinder Director and is responsible for the entire junior youth ministry. Since 2018 it has been called associate director for Junior Youth.

Laurence A. Skinner
Laurence A. Skinner. Photo: The Pathfinder Story.
1.º

Laurence A. Skinner

1950–1963Canada (served in the USA)

He was the first World Pathfinder Director and the bridge between the old junior programs and the club we know today. He was born on September 11, 1905, in Montreal (Canada); his father worked for the General Conference.

See biography
Education
He graduated in 1926 from Pacific Union College (California), where he was president of his class.
Family
He married Nola Wallack in 1929; they had two daughters, Donna Rae and Jolene Lenore.
Career
Youth Director in Southeastern California, Hawaii, Southern and Northern California, and the North Pacific Union. In 1946 he became world Junior director.
Pathfinders
He promoted the program in the Pacific Union (1947–1949) and asked for a complete one to be prepared «that would work everywhere». When the General Conference voted it in 1950, he became the first World Director.
The man
He liked to pray with and for young people. On his travels he collected coins and watched birds.
Died
On July 10, 2002, in Southern California, at age 96.
Skinner speaks to Pathfinders at a parade in Hong Kong. Photo: The Pathfinder Story.

Sources: The Pathfinder Story (2005), «World Pathfinder Leaders»

John H. Hancock
John Hancock with his accordion. Photo: The Pathfinder Story.
2.º

John H. Hancock

1963–1970USA

He designed the Pathfinder emblem and most of the honor patches. He was born in California on August 8, 1917; as a child he drew and played the accordion, and he paid for his studies by designing.

See biography
The emblem
As Youth Director of Southeastern California, he designed the Pathfinder Club emblem in 1946.
First manuals
He helped write the first Staff Manual and prepared the worldwide booklet «How to Start a Pathfinder Club».
Honors
He designed most of the honor emblems between 1951 and 1981, and in 1980 the Adventist Youth emblem.
World posts
World Pathfinder Director (1963–1970) and world Youth director (1970–1980).
The accordion man
He always traveled with his accordion: they called him «the million-mile accordionist». He composed «Safe in His Hands», the theme song of the 1962 Youth Congress.
Died
On February 22, 2001, in Yucaipa (California), at age 83. La Sierra University's youth center bears his name.
«The future of any church lies in the opinions of young people under 30.»— John Hancock, 1991

Sources: The Pathfinder Story (2005), «World Pathfinder Leaders» · Renowned Adventist Youth Leader Dies — ANN, 2001

Leo Ranzolin
Ranzolin presents the Silver Award at a 1975 camporee. Photo: The Pathfinder Story.
3.º

Leo Ranzolin

1970–1980Brazil

He was the first World Director who was not North American: a Brazilian who took the post at only 36. He became an Adventist in 1948 and studied at Brazil Adventist College.

See biography
Beginnings
In 1954 he led his college's MV Society and organized a prayer group that met every dawn in the woods. His motto: «prepare young people for life».
Family
Married since 1956 to Lucila B. Rabello; they have three sons: Leo Jr., Luis Robert and Larry.
Career
Pastor since 1955; he studied in the USA and was Youth director in Paraná–Santa Catarina and the South Brazil Union.
General Conference
World Pathfinder Director (1970–1980), world Youth director (1980–1985), associate secretary and, from 1990, vice president: 33 years of service.
Legacy
A club at the Curitiba Central Church (Brazil) and «Camp Ranzolin», in Papua New Guinea, bear his name.

Sources: The Pathfinder Story (2005), «World Pathfinder Leaders» · Leo and Lucila Ranzolin celebrate 65 years of marriage — Southern Tidings, 2021

Michael Stevenson
Stevenson presents the new Pathfinder cap to the General Conference president. Photo: The Pathfinder Story.
4.º

Michael Stevenson

1980–1985South Africa

He was the first World Director born in Africa. He was born on August 22, 1939, in Stellenbosch (South Africa) and studied at Helderberg College, where he met his wife, Jennie May Webster.

See biography
Career
Pastor, singing evangelist and Youth director in South Africa from 1961; pastor in Texas; director of General Conference Campus Ministries (1970) and Youth director in Northern Europe–West Africa (1975).
World Director
During his term the sixth class was added (today Guide, 1982) and the first camporees of the North American Division (1985) and the South American Division, at Iguaçu Falls (1983), were held.
Afterwards
He directed the Student Missionaries program (1985–1990) and was Senior Youth director (1990–1993).
Family
Four sons: Michael Jr., Miles, James and Jason.
Died
On February 7, 1993, in Silver Spring (Maryland), at age 53.
«Do not fear; take courage.»— su frase favorita

Sources: The Pathfinder Story (2005), «World Pathfinder Leaders»

Malcolm J. Allen
Malcolm Allen at a leadership training course. Photo: The Pathfinder Story.
5.º

Malcolm J. Allen

1986–1996Australia

Under him, Pathfinders grew from about 465,000 to nearly a million worldwide. An Australian, he studied at Avondale College (1955–1958) and married Valda May Keith in 1960; they have four children.

See biography
Career
Youth director in Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, North New Zealand and the Trans-Tasman Union, always in charge of Pathfinders.
World Director
He devoted his travels to training leaders: 15 to 18 courses a year. He accompanied the first steps of Pathfinders in Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Central Europe.
Afterwards
He returned to Australia: secretary of South Queensland and president of the Greater Sydney Conference until 2001. He served 36 years in youth ministry.

Sources: The Pathfinder Story (2005), «World Pathfinder Leaders»

Robert Holbrook
Bob Holbrook signing autographs. Photo: The Pathfinder Story.
6.º

Robert Holbrook

1997–2005USA

A man of the outdoors and of missions, he lived 19 years in South America, including Peru. From a family with four generations of missionaries, when asked where he was from, he answered: «wherever I hang my hat».

See biography
His first club
He was a member of the College View Trailblazers (Nebraska) and started as a junior counselor at the Glacier View camporee (Colorado) in 1962.
Career
He directed four clubs and was conference Youth director in Peru, Ecuador, Gulf States and Illinois. In the Central Brazil Union he prepared 2,500 pages of Pathfinder materials.
World Director
Division Master Guide camporees began (Pucón, Chile, 1998), as did the first Pan-African Camporee (Kenya). Pathfinders reached about 2 million.
His passions
He has identified more than a third of the world's birds and has explored caves on four continents. He speaks Spanish, Portuguese and English.
Holbrook explores a cave with a Pathfinder club. Photo: The Pathfinder Story.

Sources: The Pathfinder Story (2005), «World Pathfinder Leaders»

Jonatán Tejel Subirada
Jonatán Tejel. Photo: The Pathfinder Story.
7.º

Jonatán Tejel Subirada

2005–2017Spain

He was the first Spanish-speaking World Director and held the post for 12 years. He was born on April 9, 1966, in Alcoy (Alicante), into an Adventist home, and spent his teenage years in Madrid.

See biography
Education
His father baptized him in 1981. He studied at the Sagunto Adventist College and completed Theology at Collonges (France) in 1995.
Family
Married to Daniela Sciarabba; they have two daughters, Astrid and Edera.
Career
Pastor in Barcelona and Valencia; associate director (1998) and Youth director of the Spanish Union (2002).
World Director
Elected at the 2005 General Conference Session.
Afterwards
In 2017 the Inter-European Division elected him as its Youth director.
«I feel humble and happy to come back home and serve again with my people in Europe.»— Jonatán Tejel, 2017

Sources: The Pathfinder Story (2005), «World Pathfinder Leaders» · Welcome back, Jonatan — EUD News, 2017

8.º

Andrés J. Peralta

2018–2024Dominican Republic

A Dominican, born in Santo Domingo, he led the world's Pathfinders for six years as General Conference associate Youth director for Juniors (Adventurers, Pathfinders and Master Guides).

See biography
Education
Theology at the Antillean Adventist University (Puerto Rico); Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry at Andrews University.
Career
Youth pastor in Michigan, Youth director of the Greater New York Conference for about ten years and then of the Atlantic Union (USA).
Chaplain
Lieutenant chaplain in the US Navy Reserve.
Family
Married to Martha; they have a daughter, Melany Abigail.
Departure
He left the post in 2024 to serve full-time as a Navy chaplain, as he himself shared.

Sources: Adventist Church Appoints Director for Junior Youth, Pathfinders — Adventist Review, 2018 · La verdad sobre la salida del cargo de Andrés Peralta — Adventist Today, 2024

9.º

Alfred Kwasi Asiem

2025–presentGhana

A Ghanaian, born in Asanta (Western Region of Ghana), he is the current world leader of Pathfinders: General Conference associate Youth director for Juniors, elected at the 2025 General Conference Session.

See biography
Education
Religion at Valley View University (Ghana), a master's at AIIAS (Philippines) and a Doctor of Ministry at the Adventist University of Africa.
Career
Pastor since 2001; Youth director of the South-West Ghana Conference (2011–2016), the Southern Ghana Union (2016–2022) and the West-Central Africa Division (2022–2025).
Family
Married to Esther; they have two daughters, Ellen and Lois.

Sources: Alfred Kwasi Asiem — GC Youth Ministries · General Conference Elects Associate Directors — Columbia Union Visitor, 2025

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