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International Impact: Where Will It Go from Here?
By Mike Smith, Disciple! Editor
Nate Mirza understands what it means to be an international student. Back in the 1950s, Nate's father was bothered by the corruption and lack of freedom he saw around him in their home country in the Middle East, so he sent his sons to a British boarding school in Darjeeling, India.
Young Nate knew that there were certain things he didn't want to do: he didn't want to be a teacher or a preacher, and he didn't want to go to college. His sole ambition was to be a cricket star. So he was understandably dismayed when his father announced that Nate was to enroll at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo (where nobody played cricket).
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Chief Concerns
By David Kordorwu, Discipling for Development
Not long ago, Tadime Najoo, chief of the village of Kanimo, Ghana, was talking to Emmanuel*, chief of the nearby village of Kulguduli, about some of the changes he had seen taking place in Kanimo.
Having a source of clean water for his villagers was something that had concerned Tadime Najoo greatly.
But his community had worked together to build their own well—eliminating that concern. His people had also begun building pit latrines to prevent diseases.
Not all of the changes in Chief Najoo's village had to do with infrastructure or health.
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The Rock and the Aftershock
By Bryan and Erin Thigpen, New Zealand
Navigators Bryan and Erin Thigpen moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2011 shortly after a major earthquake destroyed numerous structures across the city center. The quake, which took the lives of 185 people, shook more than the foundations of buildings in the area.
"We came alongside students whose very lives had been shaken," said Bryan, "and found some whose hearts were open to the Gospel." That's a significant thing in a society where only eight percent of the population even attends church. "Many of the students who come to us don't know of many other believing peers," Bryan added.
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| Discipleship Tools & Resources |
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How to Get Results Through Prayer
by Jerry Bridges
This NavClassics booklet describes the necessary elements of effective prayer and how to take your prayer life from hoping to receiving.
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ONYEKACHI: Hope for the Hopeless
by Okorie Kalu
As a boy, Okorie Kalu faced destitution, civil war, and cultural practices that scarred his family emotionally and physically. His future appeared grim, but God had other plans. Through His grace, the intervention of caring people, and personal determination, Okorie rose above his circumstances to attend college and accept God's call to help the poor.
In Onyekachi: Hope for the Hopeless, Okorie chronicles his journey and explains how, with God's help, he met corruption and injustice with the Gospel.
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Responding Biblically to Poverty, Corruption and Injustice
By Okrorie Kalu, David Lyons, and John Ridgway
A team of international Navigator leaders developed a free, downloadable, six-part study guide (PDF) to help others gain a deeper understanding ofGod's heart for those impacted by injustice and oppression.
This Bible study would be a good resource for a Sundayschool class, small group, or one-to-one discipleship.
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SCROLL for additional content: Commentary ~ Resources~ Replies ~
By Doug Nuenke, U.S. President of The Navigators
As Jesus walked the dusty paths of first century Palestine, His purpose was clear. His words and life were a portrayal of good news—the Gospel. Mark, the Gospel writer, put it this way, "...Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God. 'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news" (Mark1:14,15 NIV). As followers of Jesus, we have heard, believed, submitted to, and experienced the Good News.
Our Navigator Calling statement describes what we do. It begins like this: "To advance the Gospel of Jesus and his Kingdom...." We long to see the Gospel advance and permeate every place and every heart!
By Chuck Broughton
When I began to follow Christ, I was told that I should read the Bible, pray, attend church, have a daily quiet time, memorize Scripture, give generously, and share my faith with others. I was eager to know Jesus and I was sure that these practices would help me. But my guilt and frustration rose as I struggled with doing all those things I "should" be doing.
When I read Jesus' teaching that the tree that "does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 7:19 NIV), I doubled my efforts, but my guilt and frustration only grew.
As I began to understand the Bible better and interact with other Christians, I discovered more and more about fruitfulness and how God brings it about in our lives. God's Kingdom is about fruitfulness.
by Mia Mauss, NavsMilitary Communications Director
In family photographs, Bev and La'Toya stand with their arms around one another, smiling for the camera. In one photo, they grin from beneath oversized hats during a garden party. In another, they look disheveled and happy while on a camping trip. In each picture, their love for one another is almost palpable. By all accounts, they are as tight knit as any mother-daughter duo.
But one thing sets them apart from most mothers and daughters: The Lord brought Bev and La'Toya together only two years ago.
Our men and women in uniform live in situations that are sometimes dramatically different from what we experience on a daily basis. So how can you pray for them?
Here are five prayer tips on how to pray.
The heart of the Florida State University (FSU) campus ministry is to help students to grow to know Christ in a deep and transforming way and to share the love of Christ with their friends.
Check out what the students in the ministry have to say—in their own words—about what it means to walk with God.
As Jesus walked the dusty paths of first century Palestine, his purpose was clear. His words and life were a portrayal of good news—the Gospel. READ MORE
Creating a missional culture of Gospel-centered students. READ MORE
Navigators John and Beth Starke have a winning strategy. It works almost every time. READ MORE
One of the most effective ways to reach friends with the truth of the Gospel is to read and talk about the Bible
with them. READ MORE
Like all Navigators, one of the things I like to do regularly is share the Gospel. But does Jesus really make a difference in someone’s life? READ MORE
Is fear messing with your finances?
The Bible talks a lot about the Gospel and the Kingdom of God. In fact, a quick search on biblegateway.com turns up 90 occasions where the Gospel is mentioned and 96 where the Scriptures talk about the Kingdom of God. What’s the connection...
God continues to present new opportunities to us today—new doors through which His followers can step through in order to advance the Gospel and God’s Kingdom.
You’ve probably never heard of “The Fairly Large Commission,” and there’s a good reason for that.
Lalo met Christ and was discipled by Navigator missionaries. He and his family continue to be part of a vital movement of the Gospel in Mexico. READ MORE
When I began to follow Christ, I was told that I should read the Bible, pray, attend church, have a daily quiet time, memorize Scripture, give generously, and share my faith with others. I was eager to know Jesus and I was sure that these... READ MORE
When it comes to living out our faith, we all need a little extra help at times.
Here are some resources to help you pursue a deeper walk with God. READ MORE
By Disciple!
The Bible talks a lot about the Gospel and the Kingdom of God. In fact, a quick search onbiblegateway.com turns up 90 occasions where the Gospel is mentioned and 96 where the Scriptures talk about the Kingdom of God. What's the connection? And why does it matter?
We generally think about the Gospel in terms of the "Good News" proclaimed by Jesus and His followers. It is the message about God's redemptive work accomplished through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It is the means by which we come into the Kingdom of God.
As followers of Jesus, however, we don't just proclaim the message of the Gospel. We don't just point people to the door to the Kingdom. We're supposed to go through that door and live as citizens of the Kingdom of God.
By Henry Clay, Director of Staff Care for NavMissions
Like all Navigators, one of the things I like to do regularly is share the Gospel. But does Jesus really make a difference in someone's life? Does sharing the Gospel result in transformation? When my wife, Wendy, and I worked with The Navigators in Argentina, we started a home Bible study that included a 20-year-old named Adolfo. Here's his story, in his own words, about the difference Jesus made in his life.
By Disciple!
The apostle Paul got excited when God opened up new avenues of ministry. He shared with the Corinthian believers that, "a huge door of opportunity for good work has opened up here" (1 Corinthians 16:9 MSG). God continues to present new opportunities to us today—new doors through which His followers can step through in order to advance the Gospel and God's Kingdom.
That's critical because sometimes the "conventional doors" of ministry are closed—places where "traditional" missionary endeavors aren't allowed. But just because traditional Christian missionaries aren't allowed in an area doesn't mean that the Gospel isn't spreading.
One of the most effective ways to reach friends with the truth of the Gospel is to read and talk about the Bible with them. Doing so allows them to discover truth for themselves. And after all, "the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12 NIV).
Here are six tips he offers to get things started.
By Steve Moore
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus challenges us to think and act differently. Author Steve Moore helps equip us to use our passions in fulfilling the Great Commission in an interconnected culture. Take the MyPassionProfile.com assessment for free with the purchase of this book to explore your issue-based passions and learn how to go to the next level of passionate engagement.
Bible scholar Eugene Peterson's modern paraphrase The Message: The Gospel of Johnbrings the apostle John's message of transforming hope and life alive in a new way using American English—the language we speak in our homes and workplaces. With the included chapter from Max Lucado about salvation, it's a great evangelistic tool.
June 3, 2014
7 Keys for Investing in the Next Generation
By Skip Gray, Navigators Marketplace Ministry
We generally do one of two things with our money: We spend it or we invest it. Money we spend, we never see again. Money we invest wisely multiplies and comes back to us.
We do the same thing with our lives. We spend them or we invest them. A life that is spent selfishly is gone. But a life invested in others will bear fruit for eternity.
Read more
When You Step Off the Campus You're Nobody!
By Nav20s Ministry
Jay Neuharth works with Nav20s in the Chicago area helping young adults make the transition to a life that's quite different from what they've known before. Many of the individuals with whom he works come from a collegiate lifestyle.
"The college experience," says Jay, "is unique. It's a world where everything revolves around the student. Campuses do a lot to make the college experience easy for students. It's a controlled environment. But that changes when students leave the campus."
Read more
Making the Connection
By Becky Grosenbach, The Navigators Communications Manager
Betsy Coyle's Navigator story is a fairly common one. She met The Navigators as a college student. She joined a Bible study, developed deep friendships, and was discipled by one of the women on staff. "Those four years at Penn State were a huge part of my growth and my walk with the Lord," she says.
But what about life after college? What if she didn't find people willing to invest in her as she moved into the business world?
Read more
Discipleship Tools and Resources
The Wheel® Illustration
By The Navigators
Navigators have used this simple, effective discipleship tool ever since its creation by Navigator founder Dawson Trotman. It helps Christians understand how to live as disciples of Christ. This helpful tool illustrates how five key aspects of an active disciple's life work together to keep a disciple moving forward and growing spiritually.
Download now
NavConnect
Have you ever wondered if there are other Navigators in your area? Wonder no more!
Visit the NavConnect web site to get connected to Navigators and churches in your area.
Get Connected Now
Seven Traits of a Successful Leader
By Jeffrey Arnold
Using seven interactive sessions, this guide helps you create small groups in which you analyze, support, and pray for each other's leadership abilities. You'll examine the significance of faith, relationships, integrity, service, self-discipline, wisdom, and flexibility.
It also includes practical recommendations such as room set-up, potential participants, worship facilitation, and more.
Buy now
Visit The Navigators website for more resources.
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