Twenty-Somethings Find Unity in Diversity

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What do an accountant, a prison correctional officer, a college student, a bouncer, an aspiring pastor, a chef, a male nurse, a teacher, and a dentistry student have in common? In New Jersey, these diverse young men have formed a surprising camaraderie around their need for spiritual growth.

The group was brought together two years ago by their friend J.J. González, who is leading them through the Navigator Design for Discipleship Bible studies. The eleven twenty-somethings are in varying stages of Christian development, but all are deepening their passion for Christ through weekly Bible study and interaction. Some of the men are married, but most are single. They work and study in New York City or closer to home in New Jersey.

The men meet once a month with a group of young women discipled by J.J.'s girlfriend, Jennifer Cárdenas. This group of seven young women, married and single, have met together regularly for Bible study and fellowship over the last three years. Their professions include being a young mom and receptionist, two social workers, a secretary, a production designer for GQ, and a cosmetologist.

Despite such diversity in their backgrounds and professions, this group of twenty-something believers has developed strong bonds in their two years together. They feel that their differences have taught them a great deal about God's grace and love. They have learned to work through differences and come out on the other side of conflicts with deeper and stronger relationships. This dynamic has been a living demonstration for them of God's power to reconcile relationships and wipe out prejudices. Staying in touch and setting up meeting times for this group is a bit of a challenge. They rely on text messaging!

J.J. was raised by parents of Cuban descent who became Christians when he was a child. Raúl and Olga Padrón work as a carpet layer and a hair stylist while leading a thriving Hispanic ministry with adults and teens in New Jersey as associate staff with The Navigators. Their open-door life style and readiness to love and help others were powerful examples to J.J. and Jennifer on how to share Christ through friendship.

Generational ministry can be passed on through spiritual children or through physical children, and is an integral part of our Navigator ministry. The leaders in our Hispanic ministries have been studying the concept of generational ministry in the Bible and talking about how we can form ministries that reproduce spiritual generations. The Padróns' ministry is a living example of exchanging our lives for the lives of others. The Navigator ministry in New Jersey is carried out by several dedicated couples and young single adults, all of whom share Raúl and Olga's vision of spreading the Gospel through families and friends.