Jason and Rachel Johnston became the first full-time Navigator staff members working with ROTC at a senior military college, Texas A&M, where their single focus is the Corps of Cadets.
Q: How did you get involved with The Navigators?
Jason: While deployed to Iraq, I led two of my closest military friends, Jeff and Amaka, to Christ in a supply warehouse. After returning to the states, Jeff was discipled by a Navigator. When Jeff visited me, I realized that I, too, needed to be personally discipled.
After being re-assigned to Texas, our family became intimately involved with The Navigators ministry at Fort Hood. It wasn’t long before God clarified His calling and we decided to leave active duty service to serve full-time with The Navigators. We completed staff-in-training time with the crew at Fort Hood and moved to Texas A&M in April 2014.
Q: How has God uniquely prepared you for ministry to ROTC students?
Jason: I was a four-year Army ROTC scholarship recipient and know the additional pressure that comes with a military contract while in college. Because of my leadership experience as an Army officer, I understand the leadership qualities required in the military and what life is like following Jesus while in our armed services.
Q: Share about one student who is making a difference.
Jason: I met Peter, a freshman from Illinois, after he filled out an interest survey. He was unaware of the implications of true belief in Christ, but had a great foundation having been raised in church. When we met for the first time, I invited Peter to read the Gospel of John with me, and God stirred Peter’s heart for growth. After just a few meetings, he was certain of his belief in Christ and how that would affect his life. The Scriptures have continued to come alive for Peter. Now, he is a key leader for our freshman study, taking the things he learns at our weekly meetings and leading a group on Saturdays!
Q: How do you see God using your family in ministry?
Rachel: I think God uses the cadets to minister to our family as much as He uses us to minister to cadets. It is fun to see our kids interact with the cadets. Our kids love them and are loved by them. We prayed that our home would be used for ministry and God has certainly answered that prayer. We are very transparent people and enjoy having cadets over for meals and fun together, openly talking about our marriage and parenting.
Q: How can people be praying for your ministry?
Jason: The best prayer for our ministry is one praying for more laborers. The harvest truly is plentiful among the Millennial generation at Texas A&M, but the laborers remain few. Our entire group of CorpsNavs is praying for two intentional laborers for Christ in each of the 12 Corps dorms and we’d love to have hundreds, even thousands more, praying with us!
To learn more about the Johnstons’ ministry, visit their staff page.
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