Sent August 7, 2008

Dear Navigator Collegiate Alumni,

"One of the biggest obstacles for me after college was how to develop friendships and ministries with people in vastly different stages of life than where I was, writes Lyndsi Parker." She continues:

After graduating from the University of Texas in 2005, I began working as an engineer at IBM. In my new department, there were twenty men and only one other woman. On top of that, over half of my co-workers were twenty or more years older than me! All but three were married, and most of these couples also had children.

Thinking back to college, nearly everyone you meet is close to your age and at the same life stage. This promotes deep friendships and opens doors for witnessing. However, in the workplace I found it difficult to connect with my co-workers—most of whom had kids my age—let alone share my faith! I felt alone and out of place. At work, it takes considerable time to earn the respect of people who have been there many years before me.

Yet, over many months, God gave that respect and blessed these relationships through my availability and willingness to participate. I also enjoyed getting to know other women who worked on my floor. By getting involved with them and what others were doing, such as going out to lunch, coffee breaks, and playing cards, I got to know them on a heart level. God even had me complete a half mile swim for a co-worker, Yvonne, who wanted to compete in a triathlon, and I had no previous formal swim training!

It took months for doors to open up, but deeper friendships formed at the office, and I began sharing my faith more openly and vulnerably. Also being married now, it has been nice to have my husband join me in activities with co-workers too.

Can you relate to Lyndsi’s story? I appreciate her desire to share her life and faith in Christ, and how she eventually stepped beyond feeling alone. She adapted to a different workplace environment and new realities. How are you doing with that? Are you willing to be available to co-workers and willing to participate in things with them? God often uses these to build friendships and create bridges that allow you and I to communicate with others about knowing Jesus and what that means.

For our Lord and Savior,

Mark Lewis
Navigator Director of Ministry to Graduates

Sent February 28, 2008

Dear Navigator Collegiate Alumni,

"After graduating from Dartmouth College in 2001, I was excited to land a job as a high school English teacher. I was also excited by Psalm 84:11, 'The LORD withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly,' because it seemed to guarantee that my life would be like a romantic comedy. I would get married, settle into a fulfilling vocation for God's kingdom, and find an encouraging community. Instead, I found myself sobbing on the floor of my new apartment in North Carolina."

That is what Danielle Davey wrote last week, after we asked her to tell us something she has learned since her years of involvement with The Navigators while at Dartmouth. Danielle continues:

"My apartment had no furniture. I had believed I would marry my boyfriend, but we had just broken up. I didn't know anyone else in the whole state. In my classroom, I faced a wall of wry teenagers while attempting to enforce the 'no bare midriff' dress code. I began to wonder, just what does this 'withholds no good thing' mean?"

"Over the next five years, I endured two more discouraging break-ups, extreme challenges in my teaching job, and seasons of significant emotional darkness. I was surprised and disappointed. But why?"

"You see, I was living in the wrong story. I had assumed that as God's daughter, I could write my own life story. But there is a different story — a better one. Jesus didn't have a lucrative career, write a book, get married, live in the suburbs, or retire to spend weekends at the lake house. He worked as a carpenter and itinerant preacher, spent his time with sick, strange, and poor people, and constantly clashed with religious leaders. While only 33-years old, he was deserted by his friends, unjustly accused, and died a gruesome death on a cross."

"The key to this story is the cross. Seeing my life through the lens of the cross turned everything upside down. Just as Jesus Christ's death brings true life, my own tragedies and trials were really triumphs, because through them, God set me free from the prison of living my small story. In God's story, I can joyfully pursue the happiest ending of all, 'His kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.' He does indeed, withhold no good thing."

As you reflect on your life, how is it going? Like Danielle, will you and I bring our disappointments, tragedies and trials to the cross so God can set us free?

The Navigators continue to care for you through the challenges and changes you face. If you would like to connect with someone who can help and encourage you wherever you live, simply reply and give us your contact information. Wherever possible, we'll forward this to a Navigator staff or another person in your area and have them contact you.

Let's continue to come to the cross and to His wonderful grace,

Mike Jordahl
The Navigators Collegiate Ministry Director

Sent November 27, 2007

Dear Navigator Collegiate Alumni,

"Earlier this year I was being candid with my management team and said, 'So let me make sure I understand what you're asking me to do: you want me to move my family across the country to run a project implementing our flagship software product - that I've never used - for our largest client - whose business practices I know nothing about?'  My boss smiled and replied, 'I'm glad you understand what you're saying yes to, Brian.'"

That is what Brian Ulrich wrote recently, after I asked him to tell us about something he has learned since his recent involvement with The Navigators during college. Brian continues:

"Looking back I thought my years at Texas Tech University kept me plenty busy with school work, involvement with The Navigators, friends, spiritually growing, and more, but that was nothing compared to the past few years since I graduated in 2003! Over the past four years I've lived in three states in three different time zones and I've had three different jobs in three different career fields. I've lived in four apartments, two houses, and I have a new marriage and new friends as well."

"Working in everything from sales to college ministry to IT project management, God has seen fit to keep me on my toes in terms of my career and my life.  He continually works for my good despite my well-intentioned efforts to plan my own future.  He has been faithful to shift the questions of my heart, albeit slowly, from "What am I supposed to be doing again, Lord?" to 'Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.  Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground (Psalm 143)'".

"While tomorrow is as much up in air as it was on the day I got my diploma, God has taught me to take risks and trust Him – in my career, my finances, my marriage, and my relationships.  Even when it doesn't make sense to me, He always has my best interests in mind."

Can you relate to parts of Brian's life? To change? To letting the Lord who loves you work new and deeper things in your heart?

The Navigators continue to care for you through the challenges and changes you face. We also want to help empower you as a life-long follower of Jesus Christ. If you would like to connect with someone who can help you wherever you live, let us know your contact information. Wherever possible, we'll forward this to a Navigator staff or recent alumni in your area and have them contact you. Email us at: NavConnect@navigators.org.

Also, next year we plan to launch a new website by the same name:  NavConnect.org. The idea is to help empower you as you follow Christ. You can give feedback, find resources, find old and new friends, find opportunities for life and mission, and keep connecting. We'll let you know when it launches.

Let's keep lifting our eyes up to our Savior, the Faithful One.

Mike Jordahl
The Navigators Collegiate Ministry