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Around the Ministry
Navigators teach believers how to deepen their walk with Christ. But sometimes the lessons are “caught” more than “taught.” Navigators call it the “with him” principle—referring to how Jesus “ . . . appointed twelve . . . that they might be with him . . .” (Matthew 3:14). Mike Cain, Navigator staff member at the University of Hawaii shared a recent “caught and taught” moment.
“I’ve been meeting with Shane one-on-one,” says Mike, “and he wanted to learn how to clearly share the Gospel.“ The next week they met a student and asked if they could talk to him about spiritual things. After a few minutes, Mike asked the student if he knew why Jesus came to earth. “He told me he didn’t—even though he’d read some of the Bible.”
Mike shared the Bridge Illustration (below) with him, then he and Shane answered some questions. “Then,” Mike continued, “he asked if he could keep the illustration I had drawn for him!” Later, Shane exclaimed, “That was awesome! I wanted to take notes, but thought that might be weird. Could you teach me that illustration?” |
 Reflecting Christ in downtown Kansas City. 
CEOs, accountants, lawyers, doctors, vice presidents, and small business owners gather for lunch. Nobody is discussing stock reports or profits and losses. They’re learning how to reflect Christ in the business world. They encourage one another, and hear a fellow business professional share how God has impacted his business and personal life.
This is Real Life Downtown in Kansas City, Missouri—a collaborative effort between The Navigators and New Life Ministries, an urban church. Co-founder, Navigator David Wooddell says, “We exist to attract business people in Kansas City to Jesus Christ. We help them grow spiritually to be like Him, and then reproduce spiritual generations of laborers in the marketplace.” Wooddell, who spent 40 years in the corporate world, adds, “God called me to help business leaders integrate their faith into their personal and professional lives.”
Real Life Downtown has spun off five Bible studies in the area, including one at one of Kansas City’s oldest companies—promoted by an administrative assistant inside the company. “That’s what we want to see,” explains Wooddell, “business ‘insiders’ carrying the Gospel back to their workplaces. The Gospel is advancing among the lost, and lives, communities, and workplaces are being transformed.”
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For Navigator Jeff Graf, right, moving refrigerators is just part of living out the Gospel.
Navigator Jeff Graf, at South Dakota State University asked himself this question while trudging up the dorm stairs. He was helping students move in and it seemed like everyone on the fourth floor had a refrigerator!
For three years Jeff has helped students move into the dorms—building friendships with incoming freshmen that enable him to share the Gospel. Sometimes that news needs time to sink in and do its work.
Rachel, a freshman who moved in last fall, is a classic example. Melissa, one of the Navigators helping her move in, got to know her and invited her to a Bible study. Rachel wasn’t interested—she’d been turned off by past experiences with Christians.
Rachel was befriended by another Navigator, Karissa, who was in the marching band with her. Karissa asked Rachel if she was interested in learning more about Jesus. When she declined, Karissa told her she’d be available when Rachel was ready.
A few months later Rachel was ready and remembered Karissa’s offer. Karissa suggested she join a Bible study where she lived. Although skeptical, Rachel visited the study where she saw Melissa and several other girls she knew. Rachel gave her life to Christ shortly after. “I grew up knowing about God,” she said, “but now I know Him and have a personal relationship with Him.”
Stories like that are worth several trips up the stairs—with refrigerators!
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 Jim and Marge Petersen. Jim’s challenge to “serve in weakness” remains one of the greatest lessons Chuck Swidoll has learned.
One of the joyful privileges of my early ministry was to know a man named Jim Petersen. Through his capable leadership and sterling character, the ministry of The Navigators expanded greatly in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I first met Jim at The Navigators’ headquarters in Colorado Springs. I was new to ministry at the time—and far too naïve—so I was looking for a formula for success in God’s service. “How do you do it, Jim?” I asked. “Tell me the secret of ministering to people.” I expected him to say, “Always set the pace” or “Be strong no matter what” or “Model the truth and stand against the gale as it attacks you.”
Jim just smiled in his inimitable way and answered, “Chuck, let people see the cracks in your life, and you’ll be able to minister to them.” That’s it. That’s the distilled essence of all he told me.
As I left him that day, I felt like the deflated rich young ruler who had just asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life (see Mark 10:17–22). Like Jesus’ surprising answer to the ruler, Jim’s reply was not what I expected. It convicted me. Jim challenged me to serve in weakness. He made that statement to me over 50 years ago, and it remains one of the greatest lessons I have learned in ministry. I have never forgotten it. I never will.
©2009 Insight for Living, used by permission.
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 A common thread runs through the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ interactions with individuals. People expected something from Jesus. Some expected healing. Some were looking for wisdom or knowledge. Some, like the woman at the well, simply expected a drink of water. All of them expected their interaction with Jesus to result in change.
 Dr. Doug Nuenke President of the U.S. Navigators
As followers of Christ and as Navigators, we expect and pursue transformation in our encounters with Jesus. We read, study, or memorize the Bible, not simply to increase knowledge. We have an expectation that Jesus will use these things to change our lives. We share the Gospel with those around us with an expectation that Jesus will bring about transformation. We share biblical truths with young believers—not so that they will become more like us, but so that they will be transformed and be more like Jesus.
Navigators talk about “making disciples.” Here’s what Jesus said about being a disciple: “A student [disciple] is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). Jesus wants His disciples to be like Him.
Transformation doesn’t just happen. As followers of Christ, we need to actively pursue it. As children of God, we can eagerly expect it. Regardless of what we do for a living, we want to expect God to make us more like Christ, so we pursue transformation with all our heart. It is changed lives that will draw our friends to Jesus, and transform our communities.
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