Around the Ministry
  People are often surprised at the wide variety of ministry and initiatives that take place under The Navigators’ umbrella. Chances are, there’s a ministry initiative that you’d be interested in exploring. There are a number of ways you can come “face-to-face” with The Navigators—and the people with whom they minister. A great way to see what’s going on in the Navigator world is by checking in on them on Facebook—whenever you feel like it. And one of the nice things about checking out the various ministries via Facebook is that you can interact with the people involved in that ministry—as much or as little as you’d like.
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 Lee (shown with his wife, Paula) is one of three men who committed to meeting with Navigator Rick Yorgey for 12 months of discipleship training. 
Navigator staff member Rick Yorgey had been discipling a group of three men in his church in the Washington, D.C. area for almost a year. Each of the men had made a commitment to meet with Rick for 12 months for rigorous training. When Rick asked one of the men if he wanted to continue this commitment after the initial year was up, his response was, “Are you kidding? This is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me!” Things weren’t always so encouraging for Rick and his wife, Debbie. They had looked forward to having a significant impact on the neighborhood they live in. And they were eager to see God use them in their local church. Instead, they ran into obstacles, resistance, and an unwillingness to change that left them feeling “out of our depth.” That made the young man’s response—“This is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me!”—that much more rewarding. But it’s not just the men that are growing. The wives of these three men have been meeting with Debbie as well and are growing in their commitment to Christ—and one another—as well. Like other Navigators, the Yorgeys are committed to the “long haul” in ministering to others. “We want people to see how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is!,” Rick says. |
  The women's ministry at the University of Cincinnati is "exploding"!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. |
 Even a small, plastic disc can be a tool for campus evangelism. You never know what God is going to use to bring people to faith. Just ask Trevor and Jennifer Holder, Navigators working with college students at Miami University. For the past year, Trevor has been playing “Ultimate Frisbee®” every Tuesday evening as a way to connect with students. Not long ago, a young man named Dan showed up. After one of their spirited matches, Trevor asked Dan if he’d like to grab a cup of coffee and chat sometime. A few days later over coffee, Dan opened up about his life and the questions he was facing. He asked Trevor his thoughts about the Bible and about Jesus. Dan was surprised to hear about a God who loved him so much that He would pursue an individual—and sacrifice so much in order to have a relationship with that person. Dan asked if they could meet weekly while he sorted through this new information about who God really is. One week later, he had read the entire Gospel of John and written out numerous questions and observations. He is seriously seeking God. Who would have thought all that started with a plastic disc and the flip of a wrist? |
How can we impact those around us with God’s redeeming truth? Live out of brokenness. Recognizing our brokenness is humbling. But it enables us to minister to other broken people from a position of gratitude. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst (1 Timothy 1:15). Have a longing for God. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God . . . (Psalm 42: 1–2). We want people to spend time with God—not because they should, but because they want to, because they recognize God’s love for them.  Dr. Doug Nuenke President of the U.S. Navigators Live in community. Following Jesus is not something we do in isolation. We live in community. It’s a powerful testimony to those around us who don’t know Christ, as Jesus said: By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35). Expect and pursue transformation. Following Jesus is about transformation. We need to expect God to change us. We need to actively seek God-induced change in our lives and in the lives of those to whom we minister. Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Live out the mission of Christ. Our commitment to the mission of Christ must be more than a great idea—we need to live it: Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). We live as instruments of God in a broken world, bringing the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere we go. |
You can see what’s happening up-to-the-minute in the general Navigator ministry by checking them out at:
