Navigators

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Navigators listed by MinistryWatch.com as a 2008 Shining Light ‘Top 30’ Exemplary Ministry.

MinistryWatch.com desires to see overall giving to Biblical Christian values increase and as such we developed this format to highlight those ministries which are exemplary. This ministry is one of the “best ministries” and outstanding examples when we consider Philippians 4:8 and weigh and take account of those ministries that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Identifying a diversity of the best ministries is challenging given the selfless work that so many do for the cause of Christ. No one is able to give to every ministry that one values as we are not possessed of unlimited resources. It is best to make an assessment of our options and make discerning decisions. MinistryWatch.com’s assessment looked at the following seven areas when considering those to make the list:

1. Transparency
2. Truth Claims
3. Values/ Worldview
4. Sectors/Functions
5. Resourcefulness
6. Red Flag Issues
7. Consultation

A fuller explanation of our evaluation criteria is on the front page of MinistryWatch.com. A foundational premise was to shine a figurative light on those ministries that were "Christian" more than in name only. Ministries were chosen that were not just marketing to Christians as a market segment for "Christian donor money", but ministries that had theological underpinnings and Biblical values that determined their actions. Organizations that relied more on a secular motivation and means were excluded as well as those “ministries” that seem to view the organization as their own vehicle as a business to make money rather than a love to maximize ministry to others and to let their light shine for the glory of God.

Inclusion on this Shining Light list does not mean this ministry or other listed ministries are perfect. No ministry is perfect and any that look long and hard enough may find areas for improvement; as no doubt most legitimate ministries are aware of areas to improve and have their own to-do list. Only you can decide for yourself with confidence if a ministry shares your values and with your giving plan. As far as MinistryWatch.com’s assessment, given the criteria that we followed, this ministry rose to the top.

This is just another step in our mission of encouraging Christians to give more of their talents and resources to Kingdom-building efforts. In short, we wish to help spread the Gospel of Christ by helping Christians give more and more effectively to the works of the Lord. If the Lord uses our list as part of that process, we will have been a blessing to both those ministries who have been ‘good and faithful servants’ with the Lord’s resources and to Christian donors who are seeking to be good stewards of their giving.
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MinistryWatch.com’s Take

Safely to Arrive at Home
In the turbulent waters of life, it is essential to possess some means of navigation. Of course, not just any old means will do. Countless people have suffered spiritual shipwreck due to poor guidance. According to the Bible, there is only one way to successfully navigate the sea of life. That way is Jesus, who said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6). In theological language, the end for which man was created is to love God and enjoy him forever. The realm in which this end is perfectly realized is commonly called “heaven.” The only way to get there is through Jesus Christ; only by looking to him can we be sure “safely to arrive at home.”

The great task of the Christian Church is to take the message of salvation in Jesus Christ to the entire world, and to make disciples of all the nations by teaching them to obey his commands (Mt. 24:14, 28:19). Now, what is the best method of doing this? While there are certainly a variety of valid strategies of evangelism and discipleship, it is undeniably the case that, in ministry, the rubber meets the road at the point of personal relationships. It is for the purpose of helping believers develop these relationships into successful evangelistic and disciple-making situations that The Navigators was formed.

One Person at a Time
The Navigators (NAV) is an interdenominational, Christian ministry which exists in order to help people know Jesus Christ and become his disciples. NAV carries out its mission primarily by means of one-to-one disciple-making relationships. Much of NAV’s work is, therefore, of the “behind the scenes” variety. Small Bible studies, informal outings, prayer groups, and just getting together for coffee are common ways for NAV staff to implement their mission. The ultimate goal is to produce committed disciples of Jesus Christ who are in turn equipped to go out and make disciples- one person at a time.

With Respect for Diversity
Of course, people are different. Gender, race, culture, age, and career are among the things that distinguish one person from another. A strategic plan of evangelism will take the differences, as well as the universal features, of human beings into account. NAV has done this by way of developing several different ministry programs. Each of these programs is designed to minister to a particular people groups in the context of their unique life setting and situations. In what follows, we will categorize, list, and briefly describe each ministry program of NAV. Due to space limitations, we cannot present more than a sketch of the activities of these programs. The information presented should suffice, however, to give the reader some idea of the ways in which NAV goes about its mission of helping people know Jesus Christ and become his disciples.

1. Ethnic Ministries

• African American Ministry: With staff working in five major U. S. cities, this NAV program is sending well-trained disciples of Christ into the African American community. NAV operates a training center in Washington D. C. that is designed to equip single, African-American men and women for the work of discipleship. This one to two year course requires a full-time commitment. Students must raise their own funds during this time. Housing is provided by the program.
• Asian American Ministry: This ministry is designed to reach the “10-40 window” here in the U. S. Immigration has brought this vital mission field home. Four regional directors work with this program, which seeks to make disciples among the Asian-American community. Opportunities are provided to take this work overseas, by means of summer missions trips to China and the Philippines.
• Hispanic Ministry: This program seeks to utilize evangelism and discipleship strategies which recognize and are tailored to the unique culture of U. S. Hispanics. NAV is developing a ministry network, among, led by, and for Hispanics, in order to help meet their physical and spiritual needs. NAV currently has ongoing Hispanic ministries in eight cities across the U. S. Ministry activities include language and marriage classes, Bible studies, and other typical, one-to-one, NAV outreaches.
• Native American Ministry: NAV currently has five staff members working with Native Americans on reservations and elsewhere in order to help produce disciples of Jesus Christ who are capable of evangelizing and training other Native Americans.

2.Ministries to Other Specific Groups

• Collegiate Ministry: NAV currently has over 400 staff working on some 70 college and university campuses across the U. S. These staff organize a variety of ministries, including the Campus Leadership Network, small group Bible studies, and a summer training program.
• International Student Ministry: This is a branch of the Collegiate Ministry. NAV staff work with international students to disciple them and train them to disciple others, especially when they return to their home countries. By means of a variety of follow-up efforts, NAV continues this relationship with international students who have returned to their native countries. Thus, the International Student Ministry actually functions as an informal missionary training organization.
• Young Adult Ministry: NAV’s young adult program, called b2g (“better2gether”), is designed to help recent college graduates devise new methods of reaching their world for Christ. This program, like all NAV ministries, focuses on personal relationships, and encourages young adult Christians to network with one another to develop those relationships, for purposes of mutual edification and strategic ministry. NAV provides a discussion forum and other ministry resources to help this group of Christians deal with the challenges they face in their new lives and careers.
• Business and Professional Ministries: This program features NAV staff or contacts working in 24 cities. The purpose of the program is to help business persons to integrate Christian principles into their work and family lives. NAV provides a network for contacts among like-minded peers, who can gather for training, prayer, and mutual encouragement in their efforts to be upright in business dealings and strong witnesses for Christ.
• Community Ministries: NAV is working in 12 U. S. cities to set up “mission outposts” for the purpose of establishing a Christian presence among unbelievers in the community. Each of these mission outposts is comprised of a group (3-8 persons) of informal missionaries who are trained to reach out to the unchurched in a caring and relevant manner. Career persons are encouraged to become associates in the Community Ministries program, and intern positions are available for those who desire to enter vocational ministry. Training in the intern program consists of an intense, three-year course of study.
• Military Ministry: NAV was born in the context of one-to-one discipleship in the military. This tradition continues through the Military Ministry program. NAV staff are engaged in discipleship work with military families across the globe, who are in a unique position to conduct informal missionary work as they extend the gospel to those communities where they are stationed.
• Prison Ministry: NAV’s prison ministry, called “Operation Starting Line,” gives local church members an opportunity to deal with crime at its roots- by introducing imprisoned criminals to the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. NAV works in conjunction with prison chaplains to establish discipleship ministries for inmates.
• Church Discipleship Ministry: With staff in 26 major U. S. cities, the Church Discipleship Ministry is a major program of NAV. Its purpose is to build “intentional disciple making churches.” NAV works to this effect by conducting seminars in local churches, publishing materials used in disciple-making ministries, and helping churches to develop definite discipleship goals, strategies, and tools.
• Women’s Ministry: NAV’s women’s ministry is designed to enable women to become disciple-making disciples, particularly among other women. NAV has developed a variety of study materials and tools to accomplish this goal, including its “traveling teams” of trained woman who conduct one-day seminars in local churches designed to help the women in those churches develop disciple-making relationships.

3. Vision and Organization

• Home Office: The international office and U. S. headquarters of NAV are located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Executive officers, directors, and various staff comprise the central leadership core of NAV.
• U. S. International Ministries Group: This is the missions branch of the U. S. NAV. The purpose of this ministry program is to serve NAV staff working overseas.
• Cultural Affairs: NAV’s Cultural Affairs program helps to shape NAV’s vision by creating strategies for effective ministry among diverse cultures and ethnic groups. One of the key components of the Cultural Affairs strategy is the push to get men and women of color involved in all kinds, and at all levels, of NAV ministries.

4. Camps and Conferences

• Eagle Lake: Located in Colorado, Eagle Lake serves as host to a variety of summer youth camps. Eagle Lake also sponsors camps in other parts of the U. S.
• Glen Eyrie Group: This beautiful retreat facility, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serves as the location of a variety of NAV retreats, conferences, camps, and special events.

5. Ministry Tools and Publications

• Dawson Group: This ministry arm of NAV works to create and experiment with new tools for evangelism and discipleship.
• NavPress: This is the major publishing branch of NAV. NavPress publishes books for Christians, mostly dealing with discipleship issues (this includes books and study guides for dealing a wide variety of relationship issues and life situations). In addition to books, NavPress publishes the following magazines: Discipleship Journal, Current Thoughts and Trends (a kind of Reader’s Digest for pastors and other ministry leaders), Pray! (designed to promote the values and ideas of the recent “prayer movement” in the U. S.), and Pray Kids! NavPress is a major resource for the various field ministries of NAV. This is a mutually beneficial relationship, because NavPress can produce books specifically tailored for the kinds of work done by NAV staff, who, in turn, help to support NavPress by purchasing and recommending for purchase its publications. The best-known and best-selling publication of NavPress is The Message, a loose paraphrase (in contemporary and highly idiomatic English) of the entire Bible.
• Pinon Press: Pinon Press is the smaller publishing branch of NAV, whose purpose is to produce books that speak to the needs of unbelievers. Examples of Pinon publications are: Parenting with Love and Logic, The On-Purpose Person, and The On-Purpose Business. The purpose of such works is to “engage the unreached in the process of knowing Christ by publishing kingdom principles and perspectives on a broad range of life-related topics and in a style that is both credible and compelling.”

Most of these ministry programs are full-fledged ministries in and of themselves. They have distinct points of emphasis, their own structures (determined largely by where and to whom they minister), and their own staff. There are, however, two common denominators that unite all of these projects: (1) commitment to NAV’s principle of biblical discipleship via personal, one-to-one relationships, and (2) a general reliance upon the methods and tools for evangelism and discipleship provided by NAV’s publishing ministries (Dawson Group, NavPress, and Pinon Press). These are strongly unifying features in so diverse a ministry as The Navigators. It should be noted that in all of these ministries, NAV utilizes the principle of spiritual multiplication. NAV trains not only disciples, but disciple-makers. In this way, NAV has managed to maintain its emphasis on individual relationships while at the same time expanding its sphere of ministry around the globe (NAV currently has over 3,800 staff of 63 nationalities serving in more than 100 countries).

Concluding Notes
On the whole, NAV appears to exemplify a positive mixture of diversity (its multi-faceted, contextualized, ministry programs) and unity (a common commitment to the message of Jesus Christ, and a common emphasis on one-to-one discipleship) in the ways it implements its mission of helping people know Christ and become his disciples.

Currently, there is a trend among evangelical Christian organizations towards “holistic,” group-oriented ministry. Such ministries focus upon doing social good works on a large scale, as a good thing in itself and as a kind of witness to the Gospel. While such efforts are valuable and sorely needed, it remains true that the principle goal of the church is to make disciples of all the nations; that is, to equip and encourage them to “navigate spiritually.” The Navigators, through intentional disciple making and with respect for diversity, is a prime example of a major evangelical ministry that is attempting to fulfill the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20) in a direct manner- one person at a time.