Around the Ministry - The Navigators

June 18, 1956. Dawson Trotman, the 50-year-old founder of The Navigators, was boating with friends at Schroon Lake, New York, during a regional Navigator conference. A sharp turn and a sudden wave threw Daws and a young woman into the water. Knowing she couldn’t swim, Daws held her up until the boat circled around for her. The next moment, he disappeared under the water. And he was gone.

Dawson’s sudden death shocked believers around the world. In their grief, Navigators turned to 35-year-old Lorne Sanny for leadership, the man Daws had already asked to take his place should God call him home.

June 27, the day of Dawson’s funeral, a second service was held to dedicate Sanny as the second president of The Navigators.

Lorne Sanny, whose quiet nature contrasted Daws’ gregarious personality, led The Navigators for the next 30 years. He continued in ministry until his death in 2005. His successor, Jerry White, once commented, “Though Dawson Trotman was the founder of The Navigators, Lorne Sanny was the builder of The Navigators.”

Navigator staff working at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Southern California have just 13 weeks to influence new recruits as they complete basic training.

But those weeks have changed the lives of thousands of young men.

“In the nine years we’ve been doing this,” Navigator Gene Smith says. “I’d estimate we’ve had close to 300,000 recruits attend our weekly classes, Steps in Christ. We have around 12 churches involved, including about 12 instructors and two church prayer coordinators. Each week, two to four churches send prayer partners to pray with these precious Marines, assisting many of them in making the most important decision of their lives—trusting Jesus as their Savior. We see between 40 and 70 men pray to receive Christ weekly.”

“Steps in Christ helped me overcome doubtfulness and discouragement through the various phases of boot camp,” says Russell, a recruit from Texas, “and allowed me not to give up.”

“After I came to the classes,” David from California says, “it strengthened me so much that now I know God will help me to be not only a good Marine, but also a godly Marine.”

“When I came here I knew Jesus but I was somewhat distant,” adds another man, Gregory. “A prayer guide named John started praying with me and got me motivated and gave me hope, mostly by letting me know that someone was there and cared for me. I’ve never missed a Sunday meeting and I’ve led people in small prayer groups. I feel stronger and more mature in Jesus since I’ve been meeting with my prayer guide.”

Volunteer Ed Hobbs says, “Praise God for what He is doing in these recruits’ lives. He is an awesome God, and He is blessing this ministry tremendously.”

Visit the MCRD website: http://californiamilitary.org/SIC/index.htm.
The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the view of the Department of Defense.

This spring, 319 people from across the country converged on the historic Soul Saving Station Church in Harlem to attend the New York Congress on Discipleship. Sponsored by The Navigators’ African American Network, staff from across the ministry participated, as did people from outside The Navigators.

“The attendees were pastors, church leaders, laypeople, educators, professionals, students, military personnel, and urban youth and adults,” says Navigator Richard Berry, congress coordinator. “The common ground was a commitment to reaching into the urban communities of America to evangelize and disciple people for Christ.” More than 60 Navigator college students were on hand to serve.

“The concentration of energy, prayer, critical mass, and the work of the Holy Spirit has a way of bringing many people to a point of life-changing decisions,” Richard says. “We believe God met us in Harlem. The effect cannot be explained in human terms. We are humbled, excited, and thankful. The fruit will be experienced for years to come.”

Back in my early years of ministry I read two books that changed my life. Knowing God by J. I. Packer and The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges changed my perspective. For the first time I saw that it was possible to know God in a living way and that a minister can live a life of integrity.

I met Dr. Packer on a few occasions and was impressed with what I saw. I never met Charles Bridges, since he lived long before me. Yet both men had a marked affect on my life by what they wrote.

In the Navigator ministry we have a powerful author in Jerry Bridges. I know Jerry well and his life has profoundly influenced me. But it is Jerry’s books that have helped me understand what is so deeply rooted in his godly life.

NavPress leaders like Executive Publisher Mike Miller intend to publish materials that will help us be better followers of Jesus. Without a doubt the Bible is our primary authority. We all need to get alone with God and His Word and discover the vital life we can have in following Jesus. But we also need to hear about the power of lives that have been transformed as they have followed Jesus. NavPress exists to help us do both.

NavPress is not just Christians publishing; it’s a ministry that attempts to publish in a way that motivates people to put their hand in Jesus’ and follow Him. We’re grateful for the marvelous job Mike and his team do to make this a reality.

To teenagers, friendships “rule.” So Navigators Ian and Erin Polatka and Dick and Marti Stum understood the risk “Theresa” took by inviting six non-Christian friends to their NavYouth Bible study in Columbia, Maryland. However, Theresa wasn’t as clear as she might have been. Her friends showed up but had no idea what they had been invited to.

Two left right away. The remaining four stuck around for a discussion about the difference between God and mankind. Afterward, Theresa’s friends teased her, calling the meeting “lame” and “a real joke,” saying, “I can’t believe you invited us here.”

A day or two later, one of the boys, “Peter,” called to apologize. To Theresa’s surprise, he asked, “Would it be okay if I came back again?” Six months later, Peter was still coming and even meeting one-to-one with Ian.

How does Theresa feel about her humiliating encounter? Because of Peter’s response, she says, “It was worth it.”