Who was Laurence A. Skinner

Laurence Arthur Skinner was born on September 11, 1905, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the son of missionaries George Howe and Clarissa Pringey Skinner. He died on July 10, 2002. The Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists records his life dates as (1905-2002).

Before joining the General Conference, Skinner spent years leading youth work. He served as MV (Missionary Volunteer) leader in regional conferences across the United States: Southeastern California (starting in 1932), Hawaii (1934-1936), Southern California (1936-1939), Northern California (1940-1944), and North Pacific Union (1944-1946).

Starting in 1946, he became Associate Youth Director of the General Conference — the post from which his most influential idea would emerge.

Read alsoHow the Pathfinders Arrived in Brazil

The first World Director of Pathfinders

As Associate Youth Director of the General Conference, Skinner felt it was time to launch the Pathfinder ministry worldwide. His colleagues Eldine W. Dunbar and Theodore E. Lucas agreed with the proposal.

In 1950, the Pathfinder Club ministry was adopted during the General Conference Session in San Francisco, California, and Skinner became the first World Director of Pathfinders. The Encyclopedia's official table of leaders records his tenure as world director of youth/Pathfinders for the period 1946-1963.

It's worth noting that Skinner was not the creator of the Pathfinder Club concept — the first clubs, and the name "Pathfinder" itself, already existed before his tenure. His historical role was different: he was the first to lead the movement on a worldwide scale. Back in the North Pacific Union, he had used Henry T. Bergh's "Trailblazer" program, whose authorship belongs to Bergh, not Skinner.

1946
General Conference
Takes over as Associate Youth Director of the General Conference.
1950
World Director
At the Session in San Francisco, the ministry is adopted and Skinner becomes the first World Director of Pathfinders.
1963
Transition
He is succeeded by John Henry Hancock (1917-2001), called to the General Conference as World Director.

Silver Award, Gold Award, and Brazil

Skinner developed an excellence program that combined physical, cultural (reading and journalism), and spiritual growth. From this effort came the Silver Award, starting in 1958. The following year, in 1959, the General Conference introduced the Gold Award, also developed by Skinner, with advanced standards aimed at college-age youth.

As the first World Director, Skinner visited numerous countries encouraging the launch of Pathfinder programs. In 1952, he was a speaker at the First Brazilian Youth Congress, held at Brazil College, with 3,000 in attendance — a milestone in the history of the Adventist youth movement in Brazil.