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A new era for Pioneers for Christ Boys’ Ministry began on September 7, 2001, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The Smoky Mountain Home for Children in Sevierville, TN became the location for the first National Rendezvous ever to be conducted for this growing ministry. For the first time since its acceptance by the Youth and CE Department, the International Church of God ministry to boys came together as one. P.F.C. Outposts from thirteen states gathered to share this once in a lifetime experience. Over seven hundred Centurions, Pioneers and friends responded to the rallying call to spend nights under the stars. With God’s blessing and perfect weather, the Rendezvous began.

Long before registration officially started, Outposts began to assemble camps. With tents set at a near perfect “dress-right-dress,” decorative boundaries to provide unity, and front gates erected to display Pioneer pride, States and Outposts alike strutted their stuff. As the sun sank into the mountainous horizon surrounding the campsites, the distinctive aroma of camp-style outdoor cooking announced the preparation of the evening meal. True to form, nothing compares to the fine cuisine prepared over a campfire! Likewise, nothing brings men and boys together like the camaraderie discovered and exchanged between campsites and campfires.

The stillness of the night was shattered by Saturday morning’s “reveille.” While there was no official trumpet call, the smell of breakfast was enough to bring Pioneers out of sleeping bags. The first formation of the day was opened with the Florida P.F.C. Color Guard and Drum and Bugle Corps. Pioneers pledged allegiances to the U.S. flag and the Christian flag, renewed the Pioneers for Christ Covenant and presented Outpost guidons for inspection. Gifts from Outposts and State P.F.C. Ministries were presented to the Home for Children. Immediately following the formation, men and boys participated in an array of competitions. Pioneers and Centurions contended in archery, hatchet throwing, swimming, paintball targets, and Greco-Roman style Olympics, just to name a few of the competitions. National finals for the Pinewood Derby, the gravity driven wooden cars, were completed Friday and Saturday. A team from the Home for Children guided Pioneers in scaling the three-story confidence tower. Competitions winners were honored in pomp and circumstance at the evening Awards Ceremony.

No Rendezvous is complete without quality leadership training sessions. Parkway Church of God was the site for the new Level I Training conducted by Rev. Bill Harper. The Assistant General Youth and Christian Education Director, Mark Abbott introduced for the first time Level II Training to Master Centurions and Centurions. Both of these training sessions are prerequisites to another developing ministry a Fraternity to Centurions and Jr. Centurions called “The Brotherhood.” To support these training sessions, the on-site YCE store made books, pins, uniforms and other Pioneers for Christ recourses available. A newly published Pioneers for Christ Devotional Guide was also introduced and made available to P.F.C. leaders. This vital resource book is available through the General Offices of Youth and Christian Education.

Church services were conducted at the “speed of boys” at Parkway Church of God and the Home for Children’s Jim Madison Auditorium. Paul Dietzel, a Children’s Evangelist from Durand Church of God in Michigan and Keith McManus, children’s pastor for North Cleveland Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee were guest speakers for the services. Messages of salvation, Christian values and trusting God gave men and boys the opportunity to respond to the Gospel. The ultimate goal of Pioneers for Christ was realized as boys answered the call of Christ and whose lives were changed for eternity. Mark Abbott, Assistant General Youth and Christian Education Director declared this event a “huge success for the first ever Pioneers for Christ National Rendezvous and thankful to each state that sponsored events and supported the Rendezvous with financial gifts.” We are ecstatically grateful for the opportunity to minister to boys and men of the Church of God.