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Around the Ministry
 In the 1970s, Navigator Ron Oertli began applying some of the discipleship methods he had used at Fort Benning to a new “community” ministry in Denver. He created a six-book discipleship training series called The 2:7 Series, drawing its name from Colossians 2:7. To be honest, the new work made Navigator leaders a little nervous.  Until then, our work had focused primarily on the military and college students.
Ron arranged a meeting with Navigator leaders and 58 people who had been going through The 2:7 Series. The obvious impact of 2:7 impressed the leadership, and soon others joined Ron in his church-focused ministry. When NavPress printed The 2:7 Series in 1974, it took off like wildfire. In 1985, the Church Discipleship Ministry (CDM) officially came into existence.
It was something of a new beginning for The Navigators in general. With the advent of CDM, we began to create other “entities”—now called Missions—such as b2g (better2gether) for young adults and an urban outreach called Metro. The Navigators was making new strides to raise up laborers “next door to everywhere.”
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“What do you think God is saying about our relationship with Him when He uses the analogy of a shepherd?”
That’s what Paul Isaacs—who, along with his wife, April, is on Navigator staff at the University of Dayton, Ohio—asked his friend “Bill.” The response surprised him: “I think God wants to be more distant.”
 That prompted Paul to ask about Bill’s relationship with his own father, whom he learned Bill had only spoken to once in the past two decades.
“How often do you think of him?” Paul asked.
“Probably every eight minutes,” Bill said without hesitation.
Believing Bill’s understanding of God’s character was shaped by his perception of his earthly father, Paul encouraged Bill to pray. When Bill said he didn’t know how, Paul responded, “God likes it when we just tell him how we feel.”
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 Have you noticed how children can help open a conversation? This was true for Navigators “Tom and Jane.” Tom, Jane, and their infant daughter “Katie” went for a bike ride in a city park one evening. “As we rode, I noticed a Muslim woman sitting, covered, on a bench watching her children play,” Jane says. “As we were about to leave the park, Tom suggested we take Katie to play on the swings.” Jane tried to make eye contact with the woman, but to no avail. Jane asked her how old her children were, but she didn’t seem to understand. Then Jane asked her again, in broken Arabic. “Her eyes instantly lit up!” Jane says. “ ‘You speak Arabic?’ the woman exclaimed excitedly. We talked for a while in broken English/Arabic and then exchanged phone numbers.” Jane and Katie visited the woman in her home the following week, and one of the woman’s friends was there to help translate. “It is a small beginning,” Jane says. “I am reminded of Zechariah 4:10: ‘Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.’ ”
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Get Swept Up in the Current, the b2g-sponsored conference held August 14–17 in Seattle, brought 165 Navigator staff members and friends together from across the country for encouragement and challenge. Short for “better together,” b2g is a Navigator movement aimed at helping young professionals join God’s work among their co-workers, neighbors, and friends.
One attendee, Poncho, from Virginia, has been part of a small “God-discovery” group in the home of his co-worker Mark. Poncho says one of his favorite parts of the conference was listening to keynote speaker Michael Frost. “I learned I have to look farther and deeper than my traditional eyes,” Poncho says. Navigators Bob Adgate and Kristie Monteiro also addressed large group sessions.
Poncho says the most powerful moment of the conference for him was attending Navigators’ National Prayer Director Vic Black’s workshop, “Rescued from Shame.” He says, “Vic helped me to discover some things that I have to work on, some ‘demons’ that I have inside.” Vic’s was one of six workshops offered on topics such as connecting the Gospel and pop culture and staying close to God in a busy world.
The conference also offered seven network meetings, including a group for urban- focused workers and a group for b2g newcomers.
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  I’m thrilled with the process and selection of Doug Nuenke to take the leadership baton of the U.S. Navigators. Doug will lead the work well, and the future is bright.
What a gifted and quality couple Doug and Pam are. God has identified a man and a woman who will serve as a couple and lead the work for some time.
We wanted a person who could step into the fullness of the job, and Doug’s certainly up to it. Yet not only is he a man who can do the breadth of the job, he has tremendous growth potential. We are in a position where things are in place that can be built upon, and Doug has an ideal set of gifts for that.
The Navigators is rich in leadership, and several qualified candidates rose to the surface. All of them could have done this job.
I watched the Holy Spirit work and move in their hearts, and I know that these leaders will come around Doug and will help him. He will welcome their help, because Doug is an outstanding collaborator.
Over my 11 years as U.S. president, The Navigators had some wonderful days, capped with the adoption of a compelling Calling. Yet I say with confidence, our best days are in front of us.
On a personal note, Becky and I are grateful for the many kindnesses the Navigator family has shown to us. What an honor it has been to serve. Know that we will continue to strive to live out the wonderful Calling God has given us as Navigators. May God’s good hand rest upon us all.
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