Who was Claudio Belz
Claudio Belz was born on October 18, 1929, in the city of Sao Paulo, and died on May 30, 2022, at age 92, on the morning of that day, from health complications.
He represented the fourth generation of Seventh-day Adventists in Brazil and the third generation of pastors in his family — a legacy of faith that shaped his entire journey. He married Neusa, his companion in life and ministry.
As a pastor, he devoted himself especially to young people: he served as Youth and Pathfinder director for the South Brazil Union and later led those same areas at the continental level, in the South American Division.
The first dress uniform
Claudio Belz went down in history as the first Adventist in Brazil to wear the dress uniform — the official uniform — of the Pathfinder Club. This symbolic gesture marked the maturing of the movement in the country and helped establish the visual identity and sense of belonging that Pathfinders carry to this day.
More than just clothing, the uniform represented discipline, honor, and commitment to Christian values — pillars that Belz embodied and passed on to new generations.
Read alsoHow the Pathfinders Arrived in BrazilThe first South American Division Camporee
Under Claudio Belz's leadership, the South American Division held its first Pathfinder camporee, in Foz do Iguacu (Parana state), from December 28, 1983 to January 4, 1984.
The event drew thousands of participants and is remembered as a milestone in the maturing of the Pathfinder program across South America. The Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists (ESDA) and official Church sources record this camporee as a decisive moment for the growth of the movement on the continent.
Continental leadership and legacy
Belz led the Youth and Pathfinder Ministry across the South American territory, covering Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay — eight countries united by a shared mission with young people.
His legacy was officially recognized in 2012, when the South Brazil Union established the Claudio Belz Medal (vote 046/2012), awarded annually to honor outstanding Pathfinder leaders in Santa Catarina, Parana, and Rio Grande do Sul. He himself was the first recipient, on May 28, 2012, at the Central Adventist Church of Curitiba.