July 4, 2006, was a day of freedom for Lester Spencer, one of the first Navigators, who went home to be with His Lord on Independence Day.
Les was one of Navigator founder Dawson Trotmanās first disciples. He was serving on the USS West Virginia, stationed in southern California, when he met Dawson in the early 1930s. Les and men like him motivated Dawson to devote himself full-time to reaching and teaching sailors.
In the book Daws, long-time Navigator Betty Lee Skinner spells out Lesās early days in the faith and his contribution to the formation of The Navigators. Betty spoke of one particular evening when Dawson and Les were studying together in Dawsonās car.
[They] were parked by a schoolhouse, poring over the Scriptures when a security guard approached and asked what they were doing. āReading the Bible,ā Dawson answered, and seized the opportunity to witness. The three went inside, where Dawson turned from one passage to another to explain the Gospel and answer all the defenses of the hapless guard, who now wished they would move on. Spencer watched, impressed by Dawsonās skill in using the Bible.
On the way back to the landing he said, āBoy, Iād give my right arm to know how to use the Word like that.ā
āNo you wouldnāt,ā Daws baited him. After a brief exchange the sailor insisted, āI would. I mean it.ā
It was the response Dawson wanted. āAll right, you can. And it wonāt cost your arm, but youāll have to be willing to dig in and study and apply yourself. Iāll give you all the time youāll take.ā
From then on, Spencer was at the Trotman home whenever he had liberty. . . . Spencer was getting his spiritual sea legs as he spent hours with Dawson . . . learning to memorize and study the Word and use it in witness, and learning to pray with purpose. A Christian since age eleven but with little opportunity to grow, he now showed a Scots-Irish steadiness in applying himself to everything Daws taught him. He shared enthusiastically with shipmate Gurney Harris and encouraged him to visit the Trotman home.
āDaws, Iād sure like to get Gurney over here to learn what youāre teaching me,ā he once remarked.
āSure, he can come,ā was the answer. āBut why donāt you get him started? Just pass on to him what Iām givinā you.ā
āI havenāt had the training,ā Les objected.
āDoesnāt matter.ā Dawson looked him in the eye. āIf you canāt teach him what Iāve taught you, Iāve failed.ā
The conversation proved a turning point for Dawsonās ministry. It established in his mind that the goal of his teaching needed to be training others to pass on what they had learned. Les became a shining example of that effort as he saw other sailorsāincluding his friend Gurneyāgive their lives to Christ.
Lauren Libby, U.S. Navigators Senior Vice President, said, āDawson and Les embodied the truth of 2 Timothy 2:2: And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.Ā Godās commitment to us is this: The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.ā (Isaiah 60:22). God did this through Les Spencer. He became the leader of the American Sunday School Union, developed the Christian Service Department at Multnomah School of the Bible, and worked with a Christian camp in Oregon.ā
Les, who was 94, is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Martha, and their children; a son, Don; daughters Carolyn Hopkins, Barbara Martin, and Mary Jo Henry. Les proved an active minister throughout his life, and an avid lover of Godās Wordāthe truth that set him free.
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