Around the Ministry
 If
you were to name a major U.S. metropolitan area with the most ethnic
diversity, what city would come to mind? New York? Chicago? Los
Angeles? Tidewater, Virginia?“The Tidewater area is the most diverse community in America,” says Wayne Haddock, on Navigator staff with his wife, Miriam, in the Tidewater area for nearly 15 years. “The 2000 census reports more diverse people groups there than any other major metropolitan area in the country.” With a population of 1.6 million, the Tidewater area is the fourth largest metro area in the southeastern United States.  The Haddocks have worked with The
Navigators for 30 years, serving with both the Collegiate and Military
ministries before joining the Metro Mission. “Our first year in Virginia, God opened doors for us to work among leaders in the African American community,” Wayne says. They have also started working among the Filipino community. Tidewater has the largest percentage of Filipinos among U.S. cities. “God is raising up leaders with the character, calling, and passion to sustain decades of development,” Wayne says. “We are trusting God to reach the world through Tidewater.” |
 One
of the reasons The Navigators is so involved with college students is
because it provides the opportunity to affect people at a crucial
turning point in their lives. Consider the variety of students on the ministry leadership team at Texas A&M. Cameron and Sonia Norvell work with students heading into teaching, the Peace Corps, marriage, seminary, and the military, to name just a few. “One of the true joys of the Christian life is investing in lives through discipleship,” Cameron says. “An even greater joy happens when they invest in the lives of others.” As another school year gets underway, the Norvells realize anew the great potential of their ministry—which is true of all those working among college students. Cameron says, “We’re often overwhelmed by the privilege of investing in the future leaders of our country.” |
 TCF is an outreach to African-American students at the United States Naval Academy. It grew out of a discipling relationship between Ron and a midshipman named Jake Owens. When Jake entered the Academy five years ago, there was no significant outreach to the African-American students there. Ron met one-to-one with Jake, helping him build his life and ministry upon the Word of God. 
Then in March 2005, Navigator Mike Slone invited Jake to join him at
The Navigators’ national African-American staff conference where Marvin
Campbell, the conference director, planted more seeds for an
intentional ethnic ministry. God used all of this to envision and equip Jake to launch TCF during his junior year at the Naval Academy. Today, God is affecting the lives of more than 40 midshipmen through TCF. “God has used The Navigators to increase my understanding of the value and dignity of one person and to see the potential impact of investing deeply in one person,” says Jake. “As it says in Isaiah 60:22, God can use my ministering one-to-one to become ‘a clan’ and in His time ‘a mighty nation’ that will impact many generations for God’s Kingdom.” Jake graduated from the Academy in 2006 and is now a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. He is also a newly appointed associate staff member with The Navigators. “During my years as a midshipman, I gained confidence in being a light in a dark land,” says Jake. “I know that I can, by the grace of God, minister the Gospel wherever I go.” |
 Paul
and Jane Slay, working with international students in Knoxville, lead
the Friendship Partner Program at the University of Tennessee. The program links international students with local families. The families invite internationals on family outings, to the zoo, shopping, or simply to come over for dinner. They also call or e-mail their international friends between get-togethers. “More than 125 Christian families in the community have been involved with the friendship partner program,” Paul says. “We usually match between 40 and 60 students each year. We see God using it in a mighty way.” The Slays started this program several years ago when they learned how few internationals ever connect with Americans outside of the university. Paul sees this as an opportunity for Americans to learn about the world and for internationals to learn about America. “We see cultural walls break down and opinions change as people of other cultures get to know each other,” Paul says.  The American families also find natural opportunities to talk about their faith. Some students commit their lives to Jesus, but even if they don’t embrace Christ while they’re in the States, they have a positive encounter with a Christian family. “Caring friendships with believers, time, and the Word of God are essential ingredients God uses to open hearts,” says Paul. “We see believers strengthened in their faith and having an impact on others. We believe we have the opportunity to change future world leaders one person at a time.” For more information on our International Student Ministries, go to www.navigators.org/ism. |
  When
you look at God’s promises to the men and women of the Bible, you find
that the fulfillment of the promise does not always occur during that
person’s lifetime. Consider Abraham, childless and old, hearing from God that his offspring will be as numerous as the stars. Abraham died with but one child of that promise, but he knew God would keep His word (see Hebrews 11:11–13). God made a promise to Dr. Larry Ebert, featured in this issue’s “Inside Story.” I knew Larry and was impressed with his heart for God. Larry’s was a life committed to serving the Lord Jesus in all things. The clinic mentioned in our story was a vision birthed in Larry. Because God keeps His promises, the idea of a clinic did not end when Larry was killed on the roads of Burkina Faso in 1996. God used people in government and in private life, those who follow the Lord Jesus and those who do not, to see that vision—to make His promise to Larry and that team—a reality. As you read Scripture and listen to God in prayer, remember that He is always faithful to His Word. While we may not see it ourselves, by faith we know that one day there will be a great multitude of every tongue, tribe, language, and nation worshiping God in spirit and truth. That work has already begun in Burkina Faso and in our own neighborhoods as we step out for the sake of the Gospel, trusting in God and His promises. |
