Around the Ministry
 Twitter is a unique social technology tool. Quite simply, it gives you up to 140 characters to write a mini-blog, also called a “tweet.” Go to twitter.com/thenavigators to “join the conversation.” In the world of Twitter, people find and follow your tweets, and you find and follow tweets of interest to you. Of course, among the many individuals and organizations you can follow is The Navigators. One reason to do so is that you will receive “insider” updates of what God is doing in and through the ministry, along with timely prayer requests as well. In addition, The Navigators offers “tweet devotions.” The text comes from the popular NavPress book Daily Discipleship, which features devotionals taken from radio broadcasts by long-time Navigator LeRoy Eims. Not ready for Twitter? Don’t worry, you still can get in on Navigator devotions. Go to www.navigators.org/us/resources and sign up for “Daily Discipleship” to be sent via e-mail six days a week. In addition, NavPress has just added Jerry Bridges’ Holiness Day by Day devotional, also available via e-mail six days a week. Whether through a tweet or e-mail, allow The Navigators to help you navigate spiritually.  |
 Seasoned Navigator missionary and statesman Bob Boardman went to be with the Lord September 19, 2009. He was 85.  Bob was just 17 when Japanese bombers attacked Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, and about a year later he enlisted with the Marines. In Melbourne, Australia, to replace casualties in the First Marine Division, a brawl landed Bob in the hospital, where he began to read the Bible and soon after became a Christian. Bob received two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star. While carrying a comrade from their burning tank in the Battle of Okinawa on June 17, 1945, his throat was pierced by a sniper’s bullet, causing Bob to speak in a husky whisper the rest of his life. Recovering in the Naval hospital, Bob first learned about and signed on with The Navigators. He and his wife, Jean, settled in Seattle and served locally. They also ministered internationally: Bob held a deep passion for spreading the Gospel among Japanese nationals. Read more about Bob at www.navigators.org. |
 Connecticut native Jim Kaminski got serious about following Jesus while stationed in the Army at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In response to the culture’s powerful pulls, Jim prayed: “Lord, I need to make a bunch of Christian friends and fast!” God led him to the base chapel, The Navigators, and fellow soldiers who helped him follow Christ, know the Word, and share his faith. He also learned what it means to “make disciples.” After the Army, Jim had a passion to make a discipling difference in others’ lives. He noticed the students at nearby Manchester Community College, began to walk around campus, and talked about Christ as opportunities allowed. No one seemed interested until one day he spotted students reading the Bible. When they started a Bible club, Jim joined in. Seeing that the leaders could use some basic ministry skills, Jim offered to share some of what he‘d learned. He met one-on-one with several of the leaders, helping them grow in Christ. Now Jim makes a discipling difference as a member of NavFusion, a volunteer-led campus initiative that allows student groups to come under the Navigator umbrella even though there’s no Navigator staff member onsite. And Jim has found his ministry niche. |
 Megan Allen learned about The Navigators at a Plebe Summer Seminar at the Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, Maryland, as a freshman four years ago. “I’ve been a Christian my whole life,” Megan says. “But when I first got involved with The Navigators’ ministry, I had no concept of the idea of making disciples. I hadn’t considered how investing in others is crucial to growing in Christ. My focus was on my own struggles and how I could grow in my personal faith walk.” As years passed Megan not only heard about discipleship but saw it in action as Navigators invested in others’ lives to help them grow spiritually. She gave it a try with about a dozen women who agreed to show up for free pizza Friday nights. Now a recent graduate, Megan says, “No one will remember the things that I did there. However, investments in people are long-term.” In fact, Leanne is one person she invested in—now as a junior, Leanne leads Friday pizza nights, passing along what Megan has taught her to the next spiritual generation. Learn more about the Navigators at the US Naval Academy. |
 Have you ever been to a place, a physical location, where the tension in your back releases and you sense God’s presence and peace? I know of just such a place—the Glen Eyrie Conference Center in Colorado Springs, international “home” of The Navigators. I still remember the first time Pam and I went to Glen Eyrie. We were coming off a couple difficult years and we felt like God was leading us to join a mission organization called The Navigators. We came to the Glen for a ministry orientation, and God met with us and spoke with us in a special way. Through the years and to this very day, Pam and I continue to meet God at the Glen through conferences or prayer walks. Whenever we bring friends there, we find that they experience God in similar ways.  Glen Eyrie is not just a beautiful place. God gave Glen Eyrie to The Navigators at a time when the organization needed a home base, an international administrative headquarters and conference center for Christian leaders and other Christ-followers to gather for training, fellowship, and prayer. Today Glen Eyrie is just what they purposed and more. Through Glen Eyrie, God also touches the hearts of those in the community by offering relevant, life-changing conferences, day-camps for kids, and historical tours and teas. They also offer personal spiritual retreats, a great way to get away and connect with God. Yes, the Glen is a gift from God and a special place, and we remember that the real transformation and comfort comes from the One people meet there. It is Jesus. |
