Around the Ministry
Strengthening Family Ties
Andy Farina leads a student ministry at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainsville. Last fall he started discipling a freshman named Ben, who is actually a relative-of sorts.
"He is my wife's brother's wife's brother's son," Andy explains.
"Besides our love for sports and zeal for UF, we have a very crucial thing in common: We both want to be continually growing closer to Jesus and to be a help to others," Andy says.
"Over breakfast one day, Ben said, 'Andy, I see you as my spiritual father.' I felt humbled, honored, and a deep sense of responsibility," Andy says.
"Ben and I have been meeting weekly throughout the semester, not only to play Frisbee, but also to help him grow in spiritual disciplines, to mature him and make him more influential for the Kingdom of God."
Building Bridges
How can I add this to my schedule? Even if I could, I don't have the experience. That's what Tom, the Navigator rep on campus, thought when he was asked to help facilitate a discussion between Christians and Muslims on a large college campus. Then again, perhaps if he had help...
And that's when he thought of Ali, a Muslim student he had befriended a year earlier. Ali was glad to take part. So Tom began reading relevant books, seeking advice from others, and recruiting a prayer team. And in October, he and Ali launched the first of what they call Meetings for Better Understanding.
"Our first topic was creation," says Tom. "The atmosphere was great. People sincerely wanted to learn and understand."
One of their first discussions was on the nature of sin. The students-both Christian and Muslim-agreed that they should keep meeting. Students from the Navigator ministry on campus were especially encouraged to find a way to go deeper in their friendships with their Muslim acquaintances.
"I believe it is through these relationships," says Tom, "that the message of the Gospel will ultimately be communicated."
Sweat and Friendship
Navigators have found that the easiest people to build relationships with are those in their natural networks. For Brendon Jenks, that means the people he meets in the water, on a bike, or on the running trail. Brendon - a triathlete - and his wife, Cate, get involved in the lives of other triathletes by training with them, having them over for pizza to study the Bible, and being friends they can rely on.
The owner of a Kansas City mortgage firm, Brendon trains for his spiritual adventures with Navigator Dave Gras. "I prayed for two years for a person like Dave to be in my life," Brendon says. "He's shown me the importance of having an intentional plan for my spiritual growth and being prepared to share Jesus in my relational networks."
Camp Breaks Down Barriers
Last August, Brooke Ballenger participated in a camp for disabled children in Russia. Anya, the Russian woman who organized the event, says, "There used to be a law to take away every disabled child by telling his parents that the child was born dead. As a result, many people here live without so much as seeing a special-needs child. Praise the Lord things have been changing. Now you can see more and more kids with disabilities on the streets. But still they arouse fear in people. Camp Babochka provides an opportunity to meet disabled children face to face, and after six days of close relating, the fears are changed into love."
Anya and a co-worker shared the Bridge Illustration with a boy named Oleg. When they had finished, they asked Oleg if he'd like to ask Jesus to come into his life. He blurted out, "Yes, yes! I repent!"
"We pray that God will bring us together next year," Anya says, "involving more children and servants in this ministry."
Football Field as Mission Field
Last Spring, Mike and Jan Rodgers had only a handful of contacts among students at the University of Campinas in Brazil. Then God sent Mike to an unlikely mission field - the statistics department. There he met four sophomores who were interested in discussing the Bible. They also invited Mike to join their weekly game of American football. "This was incredible," Mike explains, "because virtually no one plays football in a soccer country like Brazil."
Mike began meeting with the Brazilian students to read the Bible every Wednesday at lunchtime, followed by a game of flag football.
The original group has grown to 14 regular players, and many others who come and go. "Did we stumble on some new ministry technique?" asks Mike. "No, God was already working in the lives of all these students. What has changed is that God has inserted us into the lives of these students. The Lord of the Harvest led us into one of His harvest fields."
Navigators Respond to the Tsunami Disaster
"All of us are gripped by the anguish of so many who are suffering so much," says Navigators International President Mike Treneer of the December 26, 2004, tsunami that took an incredible toll in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. "It is beyond understanding."
Navigator workers throughout the area are doing what they can to help. For instance, one couple in Indonesia carried supplies to Banda Aceh, a place called "the front porch of Mecca."
"Our people had to leave this area years ago because it was so dangerous," says Treneer. "Now, they are back with compassion. Pray that hearts will be open."
The Navigators is sending relief funds through staff members who live and work in stricken areas. If you would like to help, go to www.navigators.org/giving or make your check payable to The Navigators, designate it to Tsunami Relief Fund, and send it to The Navigators, 3820 N. 30th Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904.
Andy Farina leads a student ministry at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainsville. Last fall he started discipling a freshman named Ben, who is actually a relative-of sorts.
"He is my wife's brother's wife's brother's son," Andy explains.
"Besides our love for sports and zeal for UF, we have a very crucial thing in common: We both want to be continually growing closer to Jesus and to be a help to others," Andy says.
"Over breakfast one day, Ben said, 'Andy, I see you as my spiritual father.' I felt humbled, honored, and a deep sense of responsibility," Andy says.
"Ben and I have been meeting weekly throughout the semester, not only to play Frisbee, but also to help him grow in spiritual disciplines, to mature him and make him more influential for the Kingdom of God."
Building Bridges
How can I add this to my schedule? Even if I could, I don't have the experience. That's what Tom, the Navigator rep on campus, thought when he was asked to help facilitate a discussion between Christians and Muslims on a large college campus. Then again, perhaps if he had help...
And that's when he thought of Ali, a Muslim student he had befriended a year earlier. Ali was glad to take part. So Tom began reading relevant books, seeking advice from others, and recruiting a prayer team. And in October, he and Ali launched the first of what they call Meetings for Better Understanding.
"Our first topic was creation," says Tom. "The atmosphere was great. People sincerely wanted to learn and understand."
One of their first discussions was on the nature of sin. The students-both Christian and Muslim-agreed that they should keep meeting. Students from the Navigator ministry on campus were especially encouraged to find a way to go deeper in their friendships with their Muslim acquaintances.
"I believe it is through these relationships," says Tom, "that the message of the Gospel will ultimately be communicated."
Sweat and Friendship
Navigators have found that the easiest people to build relationships with are those in their natural networks. For Brendon Jenks, that means the people he meets in the water, on a bike, or on the running trail. Brendon - a triathlete - and his wife, Cate, get involved in the lives of other triathletes by training with them, having them over for pizza to study the Bible, and being friends they can rely on.
The owner of a Kansas City mortgage firm, Brendon trains for his spiritual adventures with Navigator Dave Gras. "I prayed for two years for a person like Dave to be in my life," Brendon says. "He's shown me the importance of having an intentional plan for my spiritual growth and being prepared to share Jesus in my relational networks."
Camp Breaks Down Barriers
Last August, Brooke Ballenger participated in a camp for disabled children in Russia. Anya, the Russian woman who organized the event, says, "There used to be a law to take away every disabled child by telling his parents that the child was born dead. As a result, many people here live without so much as seeing a special-needs child. Praise the Lord things have been changing. Now you can see more and more kids with disabilities on the streets. But still they arouse fear in people. Camp Babochka provides an opportunity to meet disabled children face to face, and after six days of close relating, the fears are changed into love."
Anya and a co-worker shared the Bridge Illustration with a boy named Oleg. When they had finished, they asked Oleg if he'd like to ask Jesus to come into his life. He blurted out, "Yes, yes! I repent!"
"We pray that God will bring us together next year," Anya says, "involving more children and servants in this ministry."
Football Field as Mission Field
Last Spring, Mike and Jan Rodgers had only a handful of contacts among students at the University of Campinas in Brazil. Then God sent Mike to an unlikely mission field - the statistics department. There he met four sophomores who were interested in discussing the Bible. They also invited Mike to join their weekly game of American football. "This was incredible," Mike explains, "because virtually no one plays football in a soccer country like Brazil."
Mike began meeting with the Brazilian students to read the Bible every Wednesday at lunchtime, followed by a game of flag football.
The original group has grown to 14 regular players, and many others who come and go. "Did we stumble on some new ministry technique?" asks Mike. "No, God was already working in the lives of all these students. What has changed is that God has inserted us into the lives of these students. The Lord of the Harvest led us into one of His harvest fields."
Navigators Respond to the Tsunami Disaster
"All of us are gripped by the anguish of so many who are suffering so much," says Navigators International President Mike Treneer of the December 26, 2004, tsunami that took an incredible toll in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. "It is beyond understanding."
Navigator workers throughout the area are doing what they can to help. For instance, one couple in Indonesia carried supplies to Banda Aceh, a place called "the front porch of Mecca."
"Our people had to leave this area years ago because it was so dangerous," says Treneer. "Now, they are back with compassion. Pray that hearts will be open."
The Navigators is sending relief funds through staff members who live and work in stricken areas. If you would like to help, go to www.navigators.org/giving or make your check payable to The Navigators, designate it to Tsunami Relief Fund, and send it to The Navigators, 3820 N. 30th Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904.
