Christianity in CO | The Navigators

Hello, hello again! Ok, part 2 of my second mini series on Christianity in CO. The Navigators is a ministry organization that I am intimately familiar and many, many of my friends are involved with them. I find the Navigators so interesting because they serve and target such a wide variety of people, across many age groups across the world. Their mission is simple but succinct, “to know Christ, to make him known, and to help others do the same.” Not much to argue with there, huh?

The Navigators began in the 1930s by Dawson Trotman. Dawson was so impacted by the discipleship opportunities in his life that he wanted to help others have the same opportunities. He started small by teaching Sunday school classes and high school students, discipling them and teaching them how to disciple others. Another man, a Navy sailor named Les Spencer, was brought to Christ through Trotman’s efforts and the impact only spread from there. As the Navigator’s history section notes, “By the end of World War II, thousands of men on [Navy] ships and bases around the world were learning the principles of spiritual multiplication by the person-to-person teaching of God’s word.” The vision of one small man through an opportunity in his own personal life had spread like wildfire, impacting thousands. The high school ministry of Trotman had grown simultaneously, leading to another huge growth in disciples in diverse circumstances and backgrounds.

The Navigators has continued to grow over the almost 90 years it has been alive and thriving. Today, the Navigators minister to military members, high school students, and everyone else. There are Navigators missionaries across the globe, serving in over 100 different countries. “Field staff” or missionaries in the field across the globe, serve in “life on life ministry” with others, discipling them and teaching them how to disciple others, growing and learning in their walk with Christ.

As I was going through the Navigator’s website and learning more about the organization, I found several unique things about their organization. The very first thing that I noticed is that the Navigators are extremely open and honest with their financial information. They share their entire financial statements directly on their about me, including expenses and revenues for the year. Additionally, when talking about their “field staff,” missionaries who are serving the field and involved in “grassroots ministry,” they note that all missionaries raise their own funds and support themselves. As someone visiting their website and thoroughly looking over it, I appreciated the transparency and honestly they presented directly to those interested in their ministry. Not something that is really relevant to the organization in particular but definitely something I found noteworthy when researching this organization.

Anyways, I hope you found this ministry as interesting as I did! I appreciated the more business minded approach they took to their website while still sharing their interesting and unique history with its redemptive impact today. Until next time, happy almost Friday!