Around the Ministry
 The April 16 massacre at Virginia Tech stunned the nation—but none more so than those who live and work at the university. Navigators Pete and Nancy Dorrell and Kent and Jane Dodge serve at Virginia Tech and immediately banded together to support the community. “Our team did what we could,” Pete says. “There was a lot of listening, hugging, and just being together.” Navigators also manned phones for the Virginia Tech hotline and volunteered at counseling centers.  Kent and Pete spent much of the day walking the campus, calling and meeting students. Jane spent time with women in the dormitory where the first shooting took place. At home, Pete and Nancy received hundreds of phone calls from people wanting information or prayer. Meanwhile, Navigator students across the country held prayer meetings in support of the Virginia Tech community. “The real ministry will be student-to-student,” Nancy says. “The students are the ones who are going to be helping their friends, having opportunity to talk and listen and cry together.” Pete adds, “We have an enemy who is always seeking to destroy. That day, the enemy did his work. As a result, lots of students and others are thinking about life and death and what really matters. Many are thinking about God.” Find out more about our Collegiate Ministry. |  Almost every summer for more than 19 years, Navigator Bob Eschmann has brought groups of high school students from the urban surroundings of Chicago to the mountains of Colorado to participate in a life-changing outdoor experience at The Navigators’ Eagle Lake Camp. “Several years ago I realized I could share my love of the outdoors with the guys I minister to,” Bob says. He is part of The Navigators’ ethnic ministry, recently renamed Spectrum. “What better way to get them away from the everyday pressures of life and focus their attention on Jesus than by being in the midst of God’s creation?” Earlier this year, God put it on Bob’s heart to bring a group of young men skiing. They spent four days in March learning to ski and learning more about God. “My time in Colorado opened my eyes even more toward Jesus,” said one young man. “During the ski lessons I was horrible, but I stuck with it. I gained confidence in myself, and I can relate that to everyday life.” Another young man commented, “I learned a lot of things about life from the Bible studies and from the people who spoke to me. Life is short on earth and I found there is only one way to eternal life and that is through Jesus.”  Want to know more about our camp ministry, and how you can get involved or have your child attend camp? Go to Eagle Lake Camp. |
 If there were such a thing as a classic Navigator story, it would be that of Dave Nickerson and Ryan Kocak. Dave and his wife, Bev, serve with The Navigators at Eglin Air Force Base, Valparaiso, Florida. Ryan was stationed there in late 2004 and stayed for about 10 months. During those months he met with Dave weekly. “Eglin was certainly the place where my spiritual foundations were laid,” Ryan says. Then, he relocated to Wright–Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio. “Before I left,” Ryan recalls, “Dave asked me if I’d been praying about where I was going to serve when I got to Wright–Patt. All I could say was, ‘No, but I’ll start.’ And I did.” Within 24 hours of his arrival, Ryan was involved in a new singles ministry. “I was asked to head the outreach team, organizing events and trips in order to get others involved,” he says. “The personal discipleship and love that Dave and Bev gave me helped prepare me to serve. I’m continuing that training by meeting weekly with Navigator Larry Matthews.” “We are praying that Ryan will continue growing in the Word and prayer,” says Dave, “and that God would use him mightily.”  Dave Nickerson (right) lived out
the instruction of 2 Timothy 2:2
by teaching those who will teach others, like Ryan Kocak (left). Find out more about our Military Ministry.
|
 by Alan Andrews, U.S. Navigator President A quick look through the Scriptures assures us that God has a heart for those who are captives, regardless of their guilt. Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1-3 to launch His public ministry (see Luke 4:16-20). God promises “freedom” to the captives. 
Likewise in Matthew 25:36, Jesus tells His followers to visit those in
prison, not to go along with those who say, “Lock them up and throw
away the key.” Jesus wants His followers to declare a freedom that
transcends bars and cells and goes into the very heart of the human
being.When Chuck Colson and the people behind Operation Starting Line came to us a few years back and asked us to partner with them in reaching this growing population, we were challenged. Was Jesus calling us to provide laborers, materials, and prayer support to a population that so few want to be “next door” to? The answer was and remains yes. We cannot really say that we are called to go to the nations, to advance the Gospel, and not be involved in reaching the millions of men and women who are incarcerated. These are people we knew needed to hear the Good News of Jesus’ freedom. Doing ministry among prisoners is not easy, as our Prison Discipleship Ministries team will tell you. Helping to make laborers in the prison system, even among men and women who may be looking at many years or even a lifetime of incarceration, is about bringing a deep and inner freedom to this people living in darkness. Find out more about our Prison Ministry. |
 This
summer, one-to-one discipleship will become side-by-side partnership
for Navigator Lisa Olson and students from the University of Nebraska.
Lisa will lead of team of four college women to Asia for six weeks
of ministry.“Our team will live on a college campus, study the local language, and teach conversational English,” says Lisa. “Two students I meet with one-to-one, Jenna and Clarissa, will be going with me.” Lisa has seen Jenna and Clarissa grow in their faith over the last two years. “I am amazed at their hearts for people everywhere to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,” Lisa says. “I am excited to serve with them this summer.” Pictured above: Stacy, Clarissa, Lisa, and Jenna will work together on a college campus in East Asia. Read more articles from our flagship publication One-to-One Ministry Review. |
