Campus Stories

Me Lead a Bible Study?

“As a freshman, if you would have told me that I was ever going to lead a Bible study one day, I would have called you crazy.”

John, as a senior at Texas A&M University, said that at one of A&M’s Navigator gatherings. Interestingly, guess what John had also done that semester? He had just finished leading his first Bible study!

Four years ago, a romantic interest initially brought John around The Navigators. John described himself as a non-social-type freshman. What John heard and saw around Navs felt different, even strange to him at first. Yet it also drew him.

God was at work in John, and during his sophomore year, he attended a Bible study and trusted in Christ. In addition, throughout his years at A&M, a few men, including Navigator staff Cameron Norvell, invested in John to help him grow in Christ. Discipleship, as 2 Timothy 2:2 commands, is a central part of Navigator DNA. God uses it significantly in His transformative process.

As a junior, with a desire to grow more in Christ, John also went through A&M’s Joshua Team training [student leadership team training]. Part of it includes how to approach strangers and share one’s faith. John admitted, “I don’t talk to strangers, so this was hard. But I saw some amazing results, like the first person I shared the Gospel with came to Christ! It also instilled in me a love for people and a heart for the spiritually lost.”

John also told his fellow students, “I did a complete 180 [degree change]. God has done so much in me!”

1,200 Donuts and
Conversations About Faith

Navigator staff Craig Parker thought it would be fun to hand out Krispy Kreme donuts in the student union at Boston University (BU). This could prayerfully lead to some good conversations with students. And 1,200 donuts seemed like a good number. So early one morning, Craig bought 100 dozen donuts and then met Navigator staff Becca and Andrea on campus. They set up a table with orange juice, coffee and stacks of donuts.

Then chaos broke out.

For the next three hours, they handed out doughnuts as fast as possible. A few times groups of students gathered around. Craig, Becca and Andrea promoted their upcoming spring break trip and talked to anyone they could.

One student, "Carter," asked a question. "Why are you guys doing this?" After Craig gladly responded, Carter added, "I went to church last Sunday. It was the first time I have gone to church in three years at BU. I miss being able to talk about spiritual stuff like I used to in high school."

Craig emailed Carter later to ask if he would like to have lunch sometime and talk more. Carter replied yes. They continue to talk about many things, including spiritual stuff since Carter wants to explore faith.

On another day at BU, Craig was giving a different student a ride home. This student said, "I used to pretend I was a Christian . . . I finally gave up and put my Bible away for a year. It is because of my friend Sam that I came to Navs. I want to thank you, and the Navs for listening to me and for not expecting me to be a Christian. Over the last two weeks, largely because of being with all of you, I have decided that I really want to be a Christian. I think it is the most meaningful way to live my life."

Leaps of Faith

Growing in one’s relationship with Christ takes time and effort, much like raising children. It’s a process. During this process, there are also a few “leaps of faith,” like at the University of South Florida.

Some sophomore and junior students in Navigator staff Rachel’s Bible study decided they did not want to live a mediocre Christian life like they had previously! Instead, these women resolved to grow spiritually this year. They said:

“I’ve never studied the Bible, and I thought it would be great to try a [Bible] study.”

“As a transfer student, I fight for my faith everyday in my department and I need a place to come where I’m not the different one.”

“I know this sounds weird, but I am falling in love with Jesus.”

“I’ve not been living for God or like Jesus would want. I want to get back on track.”

“I was praying one day for Christian friends and God gave me you guys.”

God is at work here and on other campuses giving students like these the desire to “Crave pure spiritual milk [God’s Word], so that by it you may grow up in your salvation (I Peter 2:2).” May the Lord continue to give more “leaps of faith” for His glory.

1,000 T-shirts and the Gospel

It began as a dream. For years, Navigator staff Bryce Bouchard at the University of Arizona wanted to print up a huge amount of t-shirts with “Navs” on them to use as door openers for the Gospel. But how? Who would help finance it?

After a church agreed to partner with Bryce and Susan, the dream took shape. With the church generously footing the bill, 1,000 t-shirts were printed with “Navs” and “the university of arizona” on the front. The goal was to give these t-shirts out to primarily freshmen students. In exchange, these new students allowed Bryce, fellow Navigator staff and their student leaders to share the Gospel with them.

Each Navigator staff and student leader got to share the Gospel 20-25 times!

And if you walk around the University of Arizona campus, you just might see someone wearing one of these t-shirts.

Praise the Lord that His Gospel is being shared and going forth—being planted, watered, and bearing fruit through the work of God’s Spirit. Please pray for more changed lives for Christ. Let us keep dreaming big to reach students and others with the good news of Jesus Christ and His kingdom.

Lisa Did Not Expect to be Alive Today

"If I become a Christian, does that mean I have to stop drinking?"

This question came from a freshman student we'll call Lisa. She asked it as Navigator staff Susan taught some students from the Bible. Afterwards, Susan invited Lisa to dinner.

During dinner, Lisa talked about how she grew up. She went to a mainline church and believed in a god of some sort. However in school, she was bullied. She lost all interest in God and anyone associated with Him. For years she struggled with depression and an eating disorder. Not long ago, she was hospitalized after trying to commit suicide.

Lisa came to a Navigator freshman outreach event at a university in the northeast. Kendra, a student with The Navigators, immediately befriended Lisa. Kendra also invited Lisa to a Navigator student fall conference. Hesitantly, Lisa went. She soon found herself immersed in the genuine love of others and attracted to the unconditional love of God.

Susan also told Lisa about Jesus Christ and His desire to love and heal her. Lisa acknowledged her desire for that love, her sinfulness and said she felt the need to confess this to God. And to ask Him for forgiveness for all that she's done, especially for trying to take her own life.

At the conference, during an open time of prayer, Lisa wanted to share what was going on with the whole group. Asked if she also wanted to become a follower of Christ that night, Lisa answered, "Yes." In the midst of this loving fellowship and group of new friends, Lisa prayed and confessed Christ's lordship over her life!

Praise God that He is mighty to save! Kendra and Susan are also helping Lisa take practical steps to grow in her newfound faith in the Lord. Lisa says, "I did not think I would even be alive today, but now I know that God has a plan for my life!"

Overwhelmed

Prior to his freshmen year in college, “Jared” thought he had it all. “Top dog” in high school, he had great friends, a wonderful girlfriend and caring and helpful teachers. His good friend had also agreed to be his college roommate. However, during his first semester at a college in the northeast, the bottom fell out. Lonely, confused, and overwhelmed by it all, Jared made an alarming decision.

Jared shares what happened: My transition to college was tough. I was not prepared. It started when my good friend backed out and was not going to be my roommate. Then, after school began, making new friends in a completely new environment was hard. Classes were more demanding. Feeling homesick and lonely, I could not wait to talk with my girlfriend too. However, she was busy with another commitment, so I had to wait to talk with her.

Also, I had come across a table for The Navigators the first week of school. It sounded interesting so I filled out a card and indicated interest in hearing more about spiritual things.

Finally, I got to talk with my girlfriend! That helped, until she decided to break up with me over the phone. I was devastated. After a week of struggling through classes, exhaustion and everything, I decided to commit suicide.

I thought no one at school knew me, and no one there would miss me. I felt overwhelmed and wanted out.

The police got a hold of me before I did it. My family had called them. Then I spent a couple of weeks getting some help.

After that, I got a call from Edward, a guy in The Navigators. He was my new Bible study leader. After we met a few times, Edward also invited me to a Navigator retreat. Although nervous, I thought it would be a good way to meet friends and relieve the constant stress of school.

The Navigator retreat changed my life!

They welcomed me with open arms. I made deep and meaningful connections with many people, and the speakers were inspirational. It also rekindled my connection with God.

During the retreat, parts of my past that I found difficult to confront were confronted. I was able to deal with my problems through the wisdom, love, and advice of others. On the last day of the weekend retreat, all first-time attendees were given the chance to say anything we felt we needed to say. Not wanting to, I knew that in order to get over my past, I would have to tell my story to the group.

Their love, support, and encouragement were amazing. That gave me new strength! The Bible study I’m in now has really helped too. God has helped me so much this year and I am thankful! He has given me a whole new life and outlook.

Agnostic Dad and Me

How did God reach an agnostic college freshman who was certainly not interested in Christianity? “Abby” tells part of her amazing story.

Christianity was about the last thing on my mind as a freshman at my school in California. I had questions about our purpose on earth and about spirituality. However, I had been trained to believe that Christianity was, at its core, both stupid and a fantasy.

I grew up in an atheist/agnostic home. My parents divorced when I was seven. And during a few of my teen years, my dad disappeared from my life and became involved with debt and drugs. My school was notoriously liberal-minded. My friends were mostly intellectuals, drug users, and political activists.

When I was 17, dad returned from his hiatus. And he knew Christ. He was an entirely different human being – loving, joyful, excited and understanding. Several times he tried to spark any sort of conversation concerning God. I dismissed them all. As far as I was concerned, he had gone from a drug addiction to another addiction.

Then, once I got to college, I was absolutely surrounded by God. Within the first few weeks, through a series of things, I found myself involved in Christian events five days a week—several of them with The Navigators. I was surrounded everywhere by intelligent, fulfilled, joyous human beings whom I spoke with for hours every single day.

After church one night, I realized that I had asked about all the questions I had, and the answer became explicitly clear. I wanted the joy and love that these college Christians had. I wanted to know what they knew and to pursue who they were pursuing. I decided to follow Christ.

For the first time, I really began to understand what it meant to love others by loving God. My behavior, my character, and my wants and needs all changed. I was fully happy, and the only thing I was ever dissatisfied with was the distance I had from God. Yet I had daily reminders of His love from interactions with others, from the Bible, and from other things.

I am grateful for so much. The Navigators have proved absolutely miraculous in the way that they have brought me to Christ and continued to add to my growth with Him.

Love Broke Through

As a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Joe thought he was a Christian. As The Navigators helped him see what the Bible says it means to be a Christian, Joe had more questions. He had already “tried God,” sort of, but it had not worked for him.

Joe tells his story: Growing up, I was the youngest child in my family, and my family had several challenging realities. Feeling like the more responsible person in this difficult environment, I also tried to hold everything and everyone together. But as hard as I tried, I could not. Everything fell apart. I felt like a failure.

Feeling lost and broken inside, I thought God did not love me. Because if God loved me, why did I have such a difficult family growing up?

While a freshman at UNL, I started to go to a Navigator Bible study and to NavNites. God began working in my life more. My Bible study leader Ben, who was with The Navigators, also invited me to go to our fall conference called the Main Event. But the Nebraska-Texas football game was the same weekend, and no way was I going to miss the biggest football game of the year!

At our last NavNite before the conference, Ben came up to me. He said, “Joe, you are going to Main Event because of (this and that). So go and register for it.” Ben’s straightforwardness was what I needed to hear.

I wondered if the conference would be just another “spiritual high” like I experienced in high school on summer trips. What struck me right away was the genuine love shown to me by Ben and others. Ben was with me the entire weekend. Before Ben, I had not had a positive male role model in my life.

The speaker said something like, “When you give your life to Christ, that implies that you actually give your life to Christ!” That hit me like a ton of bricks. Although I had “prayed the prayer,” I had never actually given Jesus control and lordship over my life. Could I trust God? Does He love me? How can I give my life to Him when I have so many questions about Him? How can I give up control?

But I knew I needed something.

I was being invited into a real, life-giving relationship with the God of the universe who loved me. I truly gave my life to Christ that night. I felt love, acceptance and a peace that I had never felt before!

Going to The Navigators’ conference was probably the most significant weekend of my life! Accepting Christ personally, I began to let Him have Lordship in my life. I started to see change happen in my life for the first time.

I’m still growing but it has not been easy. I’m grateful that He is showing me who I am in Christ. All the glory goes to Him! This fall, I’m also excited to serve with The Navigators’ EDGE Corps.

Change a Habit

The Navigators intentionally reach out to others for Christ. Often, for many of us, that does not happen naturally at first. Sometimes God uses a person to prod or encourage us to step out in faith. Or He convicts us to change a habit and take a risk. That was true for Vivian, a freshman pre-med student involved with Charly and Christina Sommers’ Navigator ministry at the University of Cincinnati (UC).

Vivian comments, “I came to know Christ my freshman year of high school. This past school year at UC, God has molded me continually. I met a group of Christian girl friends at the beginning of this school year. We love one another and enjoy our fellowship together.”

“However, we were a clique. Eating meals with these Christian friends almost every day was a fun and comfortable habit. But I realized that we had lost sight of God’s vision for us, which is to go and make disciples of all nations. The Spirit convicted me. Change was needed.”

“Meredith, Shelbye and I agreed to reduce the number of meals we ate together by about half. Our goal was to initiate and eat some meals with new people. Once we started, it was difficult! But the Lord helped me. When I would intentionally reach out and eat a meal [in the dorm cafeteria] with a new student, it was a great experience! I’ve developed some new friends and want to also help them find Christ.”

“Changing this habit truly changed my path. Some of my Navigator friends observed our choices and made similar ones as well! The Navigator family at UC has been a big blessing to me, and God is using us for His glory and His kingdom.”

Helping One Help Another

The Navigators long to help students not only know Christ, but also to help them help others find and follow Him. Students like Melissa.

Melissa is a student leader with the Navigator ministry at California State University-Long Beach. Navigator EDGE Corps staff Alicia Garcia has enjoyed personally discipling Melissa each week for the past 18 months. God has used this as a catalyst to spur Melissa on in her spiritual growth and transformation.

Alicia also encourages and trains Melissa to reach out to her peers with the Gospel. In a big step of faith, Melissa has studied the Scriptures with Linda and other student friends this semester. During their Bible study recently, sitting in the middle of their dorm common room , Melissa and Linda read from John 6. “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life.”When asked what she thought of the passage, Linda answered, “Oh, I think it is true.”

So, Melissa explained to Linda what accepting Jesus as Savior means. Linda desired to do this, so they prayed and Linda put her trust in the Savior!

“The whole rest of the day,” Melissa said, “I was ecstatic about Linda. I could not sit still in class!”

Melissa adds, “I am so grateful for Alicia too. She has personally helped and invested in me spiritually and it’s had a huge influence on my walk with Christ. God has taught me that He wants to be my everything, just like we are His. And to also have the opportunity to help Linda in the same way Alicia has helped me, that is incredible!”

“I cannot think of anything else I want to do with my life than serve God in all that I do and give Him the glory He deserves.”

Reaching the Next Generation

Discipleship takes time—a lot of it. It is also how to reach the next generation for Christ. This is exactly what Ryan and Amanda Kappel have focused on at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC).

Each week, Ryan met with a student named Ben for nearly three years. There was plenty of life-on-life, learning from the Bible, going deeper with the Lord, gradual transformation, and learning skills and tools for spiritual growth. Eventually, God used all of this and more to bring Ben to that place of desiring to help and minister to others too—where one begins to “give” to others for Christ instead of just “getting.”

Ben comments on his college experience, “God has surrounded me with incredible men and women who push, sharpen, and encourage me. But most of all, He has let me know that I can do absolutely nothing by my own power, but that He gives me absolutely everything I have and everything I am.”

In addition, Ben has also decided to serve with The Navigators EDGE Corps for the next couple of years. Eager to “push, sharpen, and encourage” other men in the same patient and loving way he was helped, Ben says, “I see how hungry and desperate students are for Truth, for Him who will satisfy them.” Ben, Ryan and Amanda keep praying and working to reach the next generation for the Savior like Psalm 145:4 says, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” This has shaped the Kappel’s vision for their campus of generations reaching and teaching the next generation.

Recently Ben graduated from UWEC, and while waiting for his EDGE Corps training to begin, he also launched a new Navigator ministry at the University of Wisconsin-Stout! Helping him is Ben’s brother Brian, a Navigator student leader at Stout. Praise God for Brian, Ben, Ryan, Amanda and many others who lovingly and fervently pray and labor to reach and disciple the next generation for the praise and glory of our Savior Jesus Christ.

The Gospel Changes Everything

Students at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC) Navigator ministry continue to experience how the Gospel changes everything. It was also the theme for their semester and recent fall conference dubbed The Weekender.

Jeff and Jess Clochesy lead The Navigators ministry team at UWEC. As Jeff and Jess pray and work, God is drawing students to Himself and is changing lives as many hear the Gospel—“the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

One of the Clochesy’s goals this year is helping students see from Scripture that not only is the Gospel how we enter God’s kingdom, but it’s also how we make progress in His kingdom. It changes everything in our lives including our relationships, spiritual growth, personal identity, view of finances, and the way we do justice.

Two students, Sarah and Kendra, are living proof. During their first semester as freshmen, they lived apart from Christ. They responded to some Navigator friends who loved them and eventually shared the Gospel with them, and now Sarah and Kendra are following the Lord!

Sarah comments, “How amazing that I don’t need to DO anything to earn God’s favor – Christ has already done it!” And Kendra adds, “Now I believe in Jesus and desire to follow Him! Before I head back to Germany, I want to learn all I can!”

Praise God for His gracious work at UWEC and on many other campuses.

A Huge Answer to Prayer

When fall semester began, Navigator staff Justin and Jonna Hester knew zero students at the University of Georgia (UGA). The Hesters prayed, “God would You lead us to a few students to help us launch a ministry here.”

God answered with Phillip. He is a sophomore Resident Advisor in Russell Hall, one of the largest dorms on campus. Justin asked, “Phillip, would you be interested in helping me lead a Bible study in your dorm?” His “yes” was a huge answer to prayer that also provided the Hesters access to Russell Hall.

Six to seven men come to this Bible study each week. Most of these guys have never been in a Bible discussion group before. One had never opened a Bible. They are learning much about Christ and what the Bible teaches.

In addition, Frisbees fly on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Around 20-30 guys compete in ultimate Frisbee in a grassy area on campus. New friendships are growing. Some of these students were also invited to investigate the claims of Christ from the Bible, and a few are doing just that. God has helped the UGA staff team start four Bible studies.

It has been hard and discouraging at times, but the Hesters and their team continue to believe God for more huge answers to prayer. May the Lord continue to draw these student friends to Himself.

Love Transformed My Heart

Allie says, "God used a spiritually deep and zestful young Navigator, Susan, to radically change my life. I went from drug and alcohol-saturated death into vibrant freedom and abundant life. Susan’s tireless pursuit of Christ and her tireless pursuit of me when I was a college student ultimately led me toward confronting my long-concealed fears of being known by God and others. Susan’s unyielding love helped transform my heart!"

Susan demonstrates what The Navigators are all about—helping students like Allie discover the good news of Jesus Christ. But it doesn’t stop there. Susan also personally discipled Allie to grow deeper in her relationship with Christ, just as 2 Timothy 2:2 teaches, "And the things which you have heard from me . . . these entrust to faithful men [and women] who will be able to teach others also."

Eventually, Allie desired to help other women in a similar way. God led her to serve with The Navigators’ EDGE Corps (Evangelism, Discipleship, Growth, Experience) at New York University. Allie adds, "I lead a Bible study that started as five freshmen and is now sixteen juniors. They want to tackle the issue of biblical sexuality and relationships because of the struggles and challenges of living in an over-sexualized and relationally-broken world. Also, more than half of them have begun leading freshmen Bible studies and spiritual interest groups!"

Praise God for His gracious work in these lives as more students are being taught about Christ who will teach others [about Him] also.

Emily’s Faith Decision

When Emily described her decision to follow Jesus last year, she said it was like being “ready to jump.”

Emily, a student at Arizona State University, told her Navigator leader, Sarah Short, “Faith is like being a little kid at the edge of a pool. You know that when you jump in, someone will catch you, but you still have to jump.”

This “jump” came after two years of meeting with Sarah and attending Navigator campus meetings. “She has wrestled with questions about the Bible and faith,” Sarah says. “When I asked her what has kept her from ‘jumping in,’ she explained it was fear of the unknown and unanswered questions.”

Then one day, during a trip to the beach at Oceanside, California, with Sarah and some other Navigator friends, Emily told God she didn’t need all the answers. “This showed me how much God has been working on her fears and her heart,” Sarah says. “He has been pursuing her and waiting for her to respond. There is no greater joy than knowing this dear woman has given her heart and life over to Christ, the lover of her soul.”

How “Spiritual Siberia” Changed

They described it like a “spiritual Siberia.” It is an area of three residence halls north of Indiana University’s main campus called the North Neighborhood. It houses 3,850 students, many of whom are freshmen. For a couple of years, Navigator staff Bryan and Kandice Redman struggled to start a Bible study at North. They received cold responses and difficult rejections.

Kandice, and a student, Shannon, were burdened for North. For a second year in a row, they had tried to start a Bible Study in the North, but they also felt burdened that no freshmen had joined. A new course of action was needed. Gathering the few Navigator students who lived in the North, they walked around the three dormitories and prayed. They claimed Isaiah 58:10, 12 and asked God to “rebuild the ruins” and draw freshmen at North to Himself.

That spring semester of 2008, their Bible study doubled in size with the addition of four freshmen women! Shannon was so motivated by God’s response that she committed to return in the fall of 2009 to labor in the North. So did another student, Nathan. After more praying, recruiting, and inviting, there are now two thriving Bible studies in the North. Each is full of freshmen who are not only eager to grow spiritually, but they are inviting more of their friends to come!

The Redmans, Shannon, Nathan, and others rejoice and continue to pray that these Bible studies would also multiply as God opens the fields for harvest at Indiana University.

Inside the “Public Ivy”

Many students at the University of Florida seem to have it all. Wealth. National sports championships. An average freshmen GPA of 3.98. The university has also been recognized as a “Public Ivy,” linking it to schools like Harvard and Princeton. However, Navigator campus director Ben Nugent sees beneath the gilded exterior. Underneath, students are broken and lonely. They desperately need the Lord.

Because the students often have scholarships and money, they do not see themselves as in want for anything. However, over two-thirds of the students have divorced parents.

Ben and his wife Melissa explain to students that God is their Father. Initially, this can be hard to accept for those who have had a difficult relationship with their earthly father. However, learning that God is their Father helps them begin to understand the Gospel.

As Ben and Melissa minister on campus, they have a group of deeply committed students. They teach these students how to minister to others wherever they are, like to initiate and to read the Bible with their non-Christian friends. Through this, 11 students had trusted in Christ by early 2009! In addition, Ben and Melissa know that this method of relational evangelism can carry over after students graduate as well.

On campus, the Nugents are also reaching out within the Greek system and to ethnic minorities. One fraternity Bible study has nine men attending. Another has up to 15 regular attendees with two students leading it! Three students also attended an African-American conference in Maryland. God is at work!

Would You Teach Me?

Passing on the Gospel and faith in Christ has always been a priority for The Navigators. However, knowing how to do this is not always natural for many students. That’s why Navigator staff personally train students. It can make a huge difference, like it did with Shane.

Shane is a freshman at the University of Hawaii. He meets one-on-one with Navigator staff Mike Cain. One day Shane asked, “Mike, would you teach me how to share the Gospel with someone?” Shane felt he lacked graciousness and clarity.

At the campus center cafeteria, Mike approached a student who was passing time between classes. “Could we talk to you about what you believe about spiritual things?” The student agreed. After a few minutes of talking, Mike asked, “What is your understanding of why Jesus came to earth?” The student did not know. So Mike shared the Bridge illustration, a common Navigator tool that explains the Gospel. The student asked a few questions and wanted to take the illustration home with him. He was also open to talking again.

“That was awesome!” Shane said. “I wanted to take notes the whole time you were talking to him, but I thought that might be weird. Could you teach me that illustration?”

Shane is just one example of how Navigator students are learning to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with friends and students on campus.

Just a Few Hours

Currently coached by 76-year-old NavStaff Noel Nelson, the NavFusion group at Austin Peay State University has raised up many laborers and numerous NavStaff over the years. Noel, who still has a big heart for students, is the glue that holds the ministry together. He and his wife, Cary, illustrate how NavStaff can literally make a ministry possible by investing just a few hours a month. Austin Peay illustrates how NavFusion works. Ordinary people from many walks of life can do a fine job of leading a Nav campus. Principals, teachers, grad students and students, when well coached, can have what it takes to lead a successful Nav ministry. In years past, APSU has been led by a welder, a chemistry teacher, a fire fighter and military personnel from nearby Fort Campbell. Part of a movement of volunteer-led campuses, Austin Peay shows how people from all walks of life can lead campuses all over America.