THE IMPACT OF ONE LIFE
by Gladys Neigel
“Without the blessing of God and the dedication of our Pathfinder lay leaders, this could not have happened,” are words Cheeko Cotta often repeated when constituents approached him with accolades about the Florida Conference Pathfinder program.
Cheeko burst onto the Florida Pathfinder scene in December 1983. At that time, there were approximately 2,000 Pathfinders. When he retired in May 2011, there were more than 5,000.
“No one can measure the impact Cheeko has made in Florida,” says Micky Santiago, a fellow staff member. “His service was always consistent and unselfish.”
Cheeko knows no strangers. Everyone he encounters is rewarded with his friendly smile and words of cheer. “He is a man of God, a leader, and a friend to everyone,” says Stu Davis, Brazilian Chapel Pathfinder director in Deerfield Beach.
“When Cheeko accepted the challenge to direct the Pathfinder program in Florida Conference, his vision was for growth,” say Calvin and Myrlin Brooks, south area Pathfinder administrators.
“His philosophy was to allow lay leaders to build the program under his direction, and it worked. He left a defined mark on the Pathfinder program in Florida Conference and on our lives.”
Lisa and Brad Gary, Conference lay Adventurer directors, add, “We have always considered Cheeko as our close friend and confidant. In the years we worked together, he not only taught us so much about Adventurer ministry, but he taught us to have confidence in ourselves and in our ability to help others.”
When Cheeko received a Ministry Award from the North American Division, he was cited for “his commitment to a caring Pathfinder ministry, his steadfastness in teaching Pathfinder values, leading young people to meaningful spiritual experiences that blessed the lives of thousands of young Adventists, and being an example to other Pathfinder leaders.”
How can you measure the results of 28 years of Pathfinder ministry in Florida Conference and more than 14 years in Potomac Conference? Any report would include: thousands of young people baptized, mission trips, Reveilles, Red Zones, camporees, drill and drum corps competitions, and Bible Bowls.
Every winning team has an encourager, guide, trainer, planner, and leader. Cheeko was that person. Through it all, he would say, “With the Savior’s blessing and thousands of dedicated volunteers, these things were accomplished.”