05/12/2026
You open Southern Tidings and suddenly your PBE Pathfinder teams made the news
Eleven Pathfinder teams from across the Gulf States Conference gathered at Montgomery, Ala., First Church on February 21, 2026, for this year’s Conference-level Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE).
This year’s focus on Isaiah 1-33 took participants through prophetic calls for justice, powerful portraits of God’s holiness, and vivid promises of a coming Messiah. From warnings to wayward nations to assurances of restoration, these young people wrestled seriously with themes that still feel urgent today.
Michel Rodriguez, Gulf States youth director, said the day meant far more than correct answers and rankings.
“When I watch our Pathfinders quote entire passages of Isaiah, I don’t just see memorization, I see transformation,” said Rodriguez. “These young people are hiding God’s Word in their hearts. Long after the scores are forgotten, the promises of Isaiah will still be with them. That’s the real victory.”
For many participants, the spiritual growth that came with preparation proved just as meaningful as the event itself.
Lucas De Moraes, a Pathfinder from the Ironwood Club in Brookhaven, Miss., reflected on what studying Isaiah meant to him.
“At first, Isaiah felt overwhelming,” said De Moraes. “But, as we studied together, I started to see how much hope is packed into those chapters. Isaiah shows that even when people turn away, God keeps calling them back. That changed how I think about my own walk with Him.”
Leaders noted that weeks of preparation often lead to something unexpected: they pull clubs closer together. Practices become moments of discipleship. Memorization turns into meditation. Competition becomes community.
At a time when most teenagers measure their days in screen time, these Pathfinders spent months inside prophetic poetry written thousands of years ago, and found a God who confronts injustice, calls for repentance, and promises redemption.
For Gulf States, February 21 wasn’t simply about advancing to the next round of PBE; it was about holding fast to something that matters.
