During the year 2004 a young man from the Gethsemane Seventh-Day Adventist church was impressed by the performance of a few Pathfinders and their Drum Corps in the Caribbean. As the months went by, many other performances caught his attention from the Atlantic Union of Seventh-Day Adventist, North Caribbean Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist, the Guyana Defense Force Band and the Guyana Police Force Band. Through these experiences He was motivated to encourage his fellow youths to take up the challenge of starting a Drum Corp of their own which would provide service for all the other churches and youth groups in their area.
He first brought the idea to a good friend and colleague who was also impressed by the idea and had the same passion as well. The two came together and with much enthusiasm took the idea to an overseas-based church elder that was playing an integral part in the church’s youth club at the moment. The elder was very much interested in youth work and making this a reality for the youths. Through consulting his fellow brethren in the United States of America, He was able to receive a generous donation of seven marching drums.
This created a starting point for these youths, thus, these two young men were able to gather a group of over Thirteen young people who were interested in being apart of this newly formed Drum Corp. Their first training session took place on Sunday 11th July 2004 in the back of the church’s vestry on wooden tables; this was due to the drums not being shipped to them as yet. Several years after this area and the Alpine Academy’s auditorium are presently their regular meeting places for practice every Sunday.
The first event they played at was Pastor Sherwin White’s launching of His “Power In The Blood” crusade on Sunday 27th March 2005 in Kuru Kururu, a village on the Linden Soesdyke Highway. Since then they have played at more than thirty events across Guyana. These include: Crusade Launchings, Health Fairs, Induction Ceremonies, School Sports and Funerals. They are presently among six other Drum Corps in the Guyana’s Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist.
During the pass six years they have recruited many youths who are ready and willing to provide service to their communities. Taking such a step has helped these youths to make positive decisions in life and put a purpose to their lives a well. Many can profess that being a part of this dynamic group has kept them away from juvenile delinquency and even gave them better results at their academics. Various activities keep their minds and time occupied and away from the negativity of society. These activities range from voluntary community clean up to social gatherings with wholesome games and group discussions.
Their section leaders have dedicated their time and effort into making their sections more effective and efficient for service. During their years of service they have received intense training from the old Shiloh Pathfinder Band, the Guyana Police Force Band and the Guyana Defense Force Band. Many of these members and section leaders have migrated and moved on to other Bands and Drums Corps across the Caribbean. Their founder and past leader left in 2007 where He now plays in the Port-of-Spain Pathfinder Band. The past wind section leader also left and is soon to be inducted in the same band. The new bandleader took over in 2007 and in 2009 He also migrated and now plays in the Advent Heart-Beats Drum Corp. Since then the new leader has taken up the challenge to lead the band forward as they continue to strive for excellence and endeavor to lead other youths to a positive lifestyle and to Christ through their ministry. As a result this has motivated much of the new members when in 2010 they won the first ever Drum Corp competition held by the Youth Ministry of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist. This was a victorious moment for them and one that will forever remain in their minds and in history.
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