Do you believe in God's leading? No doubt your answer is Y-E-S! Christians know that God leads His followers through history. These stories represent a demonstration of His providence in the process of their development. During the twenty years that elapsed from the idea for this series and it completion, various people responded to God's call to assist. A brief history of some people who assisted follows.

In 1978 Elder Anthony Castlebuono described the need for a Seventh-day Adventist history series for children to Dr. Mervin Maxwell. "Tony" was a longtime youth pastor at Pioneer Memorial Church at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Dr. Maxwell, Seminary chairman of the department of church history, strongly supported the idea and contributed an outline of topics, events and personalities.

Elder Castlebuono also counseled with his longtime friend Stanley Hill about the feasibility of presenting these stories in a dramatic format. Stanley strongly encouraged him to develop his dream in enacted stories, the best way to make a comprehensive series appealing to K-8 school children. Because of its experience and close proximity YOUR STORY HOUR was hired to record a pilot cassette tape on the life of William Miller for demonstration and fundraising purposes. From the records it would seem probable that Elder Castlebuono, an unnamed elementary teacher from Tennessee, and some friends, funded this first story. However, the lack of vital funding brought the project to a standstill for several years.

Then about 1986, Floridians, George and Ruth Vandenberg heard about the project and made a significant donation. Although more contacts were made then, no other significant monies were raised at that time. However, shortly thereafter Jon Wooodard, a professional writer from Ohio was hired to write the original scripts. In 1988 Ellen Bailey, Paul Gordon, and Jim Nix spent considerable time carefully reviewing, researching and editing the scripts for publication. Also in the mid 1980's, Elder Fred Stephan, who at the time was North American Division Director of Education, became aware of this project. The timing was perfect, since he was in the midst of developing education curriculum materials for an "Adventist Heritage" project for the K-12 school system. He began to spread the word about this project's need for funding to all education directors of the Division. In 1989, when he returned as Director of Education for the Lake Union, he continued to pursue financial support. Elder Stephan eventually led the other eight Union Offices of Education, the North American Division Office of Education and the Ellen G. White Estate to contribute monies to basically finish the project.

Over the years many small gifts were given by many people. II In the mid-90's several ASI members participated with some funding. These monies eventually resulted in the hiring of a cast of actors to portray the personalities and actual recording of the voice track in 1994. Then in 1997 Fred Meseraull was hired as producer to take the stories through the post-production process--editing, selecting and "laying in" the music and sound effects, etc.

Today, we offer you Pathways of the Pioneers, a series of 117 historical stories about the development and growth of the S trace the thread of God's leading through those exceptional years, and today, in the production of these stories. May they continue to bless your life today and until Christ's coming.

Gary Randolph
Director of Education
Lake Union Conference