NavStories

In the fall of 1945 after the end of hostilities,  I was at Shoemaker, CA awaiting discharge from the Navy.  Being a Chief Petty Officer, I was quartered with other CPO’s.  One in particular I couldn’t help but notice was a guy who always carried a big bible when he went “ashore” (Navy lingo for leaving the base).

One day he was seated at his desk with about a dozen chiefs standing about as he talked about the Lord.  I thought here’s my chance to see what this wierdo is all about.  In a short time all the others were gone except Don and me and he wasted no time in making sure as to where I stood with the Lord.

I had gone to church from the time I was carried in and sang in choirs from age about 14 but didn’t really know about being born again.  In a matter of minutes my life was changed and I began witnessing to others.  This fellow Don Rosenberger was quite a guy. He was a CPA and had memorized about a thousand verses.  He had come to the Lord through the NAV ministry in Honolulu. I forget the man who headed up the Navigator home their but 40 years later I had the pleasure of meeting him when he spoke at the First Baptist Church at La Crescenta, CA.

I immediately began the Bible memorization program and memorized verses at the rate of about one a day until Dec. 16, 1945 when I was discharged from the Navy.  The remaining 36 cards I memorized at a slower rate but did complete the whole program.  Meanwhile, I was doing the bible study program.A A

Posted by The Navigators @ 11:58 am

I am thankful for Everett (Bud) Vanest and Joyce, his wife. They were at the Univ. of KY-Lexington from 1969-72.

Bud discipled Rick Wernz, who discipled me during 1972-73 school year at Univ. of KY.  Rick
taught me to memorize Scripture and to share Jesus Christ (John 14:6) with others.  I learned to
pray out loud for a longer period than ever  before, with  Jeff Van at a Nav. meeting.  God worked through Navs to impact me for the cause of Jesus Christ and his world wide Kingdom (Matthew 24:14)!

- Robert

Posted by The Navigators @ 12:20 pm

I am living in the Netherlands and came in touch with the navigators during my student years. At the moment I am working for a global company, but I will never forget the moments I spent with people from the Navigators. It changed my life and view to the world. I was lost, but now I am saved. They helped me on my way to salvation. They taught me what forgiveness is. I am thankful for these years. It helps me every day to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

Be blessed!

Posted by The Navigators @ 5:30 pm

While I was ill in an AF Hospital, the man in the bed next to me was a navigator, he told me that, along with indicating he would pray for me. He had a friend visit him, and I saw something they had. I never knew his name (I was sick and he was discharged before I could find out more.) Later on at Craig AFB – Alabama, Another AF Guy, Harry Steck, was sharing his faith and he indicted that he was with the navigators. I told him of my hospital experience. In short, I accepted Christ! From my understanding, the year I was born was the year Trotman passed away. 19 years after his death, I was born again as a result of his ministry.
– submission from Carlos Rivera

Posted by The Navigators @ 4:16 pm

We had just lost our child to Leukemia in 1966 and I met a few women who were in a Bible Study. I was so sad and discouraged and asked them if I could join them.  I began to memorize Scripture through their encouragement and learned how precious God’s promises were and that they were for me!

These ladies invited my husband and me to a Navigator conference in northern Michigan. It would cost $35 to attend for the week-end. My husband said we couldn’t afford it and that our car would never make it.

I started praying about it and the very day of the conference, my neighbor knocked on my door and handed me a check for $35; she said she owed me for babysitting for her! We asked another couple if they wanted to go with us, and they offered to drive. So we went and my husband’s life was changed at that conference!

God has been doing miraculous things in our lives ever since.

I am eternally grateful for the Navigator ministry in our lives, especially for Bob and Carolyn Sparks who discipled us shortly after that time.

~Mary

Navigator connection: Bob and Carolyn Sparks

Posted by The Navigators @ 1:53 pm

After my divorce twenty years ago, I attended my church’s (Tab Presbyterian) annual 1992 ‘Tabfest’ retreat, featuring Jerry White as our guest speaker. Jerry told a story of accompanying his wife on a shopping errand on which he would have ample time waiting for her–time in which he could use his Bible-memorization to have a joyous prayer/worship experience with the Lord.

That was very convicting, as I was put off by many Christians who I felt used scripture to flout their ability to know The Word but not relate caringly to the individual.

So I began to see the Word of God, and desire to know it, in a more humble way. I developed a deeper relationship with not only Christ, but also with my wife, Nancy, whom I met at that same Tabfest.

My prayer following my divorce was: “God show me very clearly if I am to REMARRY, who that should be.” Guess who came to me, in an answer to my prayer, and asked a question. (You guessed it!) My wife to be, Nancy.

Also, as a side note, Nancy has been and continues to be a faithful supporter of Bob & Nancy Sheffield for over twenty years. Yes, God is trustworthy and faithful. We have been joyfully married now for 13 years. For the past five plus years after being asked to start a Bible study for our church’s middle-aged singles group, we continue to learn to trust, and to rely on Christ and the Word of God in fresh and deeper ways.

To God be the Glory!!!

~William

Navigator connection:  Jerry White

Posted by The Navigators @ 11:08 am

In July of 1949 I atended an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship leadership conference at Campus in the Woods, Ontario, Canada.  This was between by junior and senior years at Northwestern University. Glenn Zumwalt, an InterVarsity staff member was also a key Navigator contact.  He invited me to meet with him early each morning for two weeks to go over the basic disciplines of the Christian life.

Though it was a cram course—like “drinking from a fire hydrant”—it started a process that transformed my life, helping me establish disciplines that have set the tone for my life for the past 60 years.  Forty-four of those years were spent in Christian Radio.

Scripture memory has been an especially powerful force in shaping my life, and helping me to influence the lives  of others for Christ.

Over the years, Ed Reis and many other Navigator staff have had significant impact upon my life.

~Paul

Navigator connection:  Glenn Zumwalt and Ed Reis

Posted by The Navigators @ 11:21 am

In the summer of 1982, I left Michigan to go to college on the East Coast at the U.S. Naval Academy.  I stepped out of my comfort zone.  I left all of my support systems (parents, family, a tight circle of close friends, church, etc).

Prior to starting the academic year, I went thru 6-7 weeks of plebe summer training.  The physical stuff was hard, but tolerable.  The mental games are what ripped me apart emotionally.

Shortly after school started that Fall, a young man named John Edwards invited me to a Bible study.  He personally invited over 30 guys, and I was the only one who showed up.  I could tell he was a little discouraged– all of his hard work and only one person came to the Bible study.

He asked me, “David, before we get started with the study, do you have any questions?”  I said, “Uh, um, I’ve heard a lot people talk about heaven … but, how can I really be sure that I’m going to go to heaven?”  He about fell out of his chair.

He had just come from a week-long Christian training seminar with The Navigators where the topic was “Learning How to Share your Faith.”  He had been trained how to share his testimony and present a simple gospel message called the “Bridge Illustration.”  He had been praying for an opportunity to share the gospel … and there I was … sitting across from him asking “how can I be sure that I’m going to go to heaven?”  (Be careful what you pray for – God answers prayer!)

He spent about 20-30 minutes going over his testimony and sharing the “bridge.”  At the end he asked me, “So, David, do you want to be sure that you’re going to go to heaven?”  I said, “Yes.”  He said, “Pray this prayer with me.”

After we got done praying, he read 1 John 5:11-12 and John 5:24.  He told me that I had just “passed from death to life.”  John spent the school year meeting with me several times a week to teach me how to have a quiet time, how to pray, how to study the Bible.

Thank you, John, that you were obedient.  Praise the Lord!

~ David

Navigator connection: Rusty Stephens, Mike Kozlarek, Jim Gassaway, Bruce Scott, Dave Blank

Posted by The Navigators @ 11:27 am

As a college freshman attending Colorado State University in 1969 who was already a Christian, I was searching for fellowship and a mentor.  God brought a fellow student who was working with the Navigators into my life.  Through him I was taught the disciplines of Quiet Time, Bible study, prayer, scripture memorization and witnessing – disciplines that have stayed with me until today.  Disciplines that I have shared with others to help them grow as well. I was able to follow this training with 2 summer sessions (one at Georgia Tech and one at Washington State University) as well as numerous session at Glen Eyrie.  I reconnected with the Navigators about 10 years ago when God laid a burden on my heart to support the ministry once again.

~ Bob

Navigator connection:  Jay and Barb Wheeler

Posted by The Navigators @ 4:03 pm

As a sailor at Treasure Island Navy Base in Calif., I was invited to attend the Wingding in 1965. I was inspired by this conference and the beauty of Glen Eyrie. I will never forget the I Corinthians 15:58 message by Lorne Sanny. I went back to my base charged up to make a difference for Christ.

A year later, at the invitation of the Navs, I came back to Glen Eyrie to head up the data processing team that was privileged to put the Navs on their first computer, a Univac 9300 owned by Young life. I met my future wife, Laurie, there and we eventually went on campus ministry staff and then on to other ministry organizations.

It is now over 40 years since the Wingding and I am presently ministering to international students at the University of Texas at Dallas.  God is faithful. P.T.L.

~Ray

Navigator connection: Harv Cox & John Crawford

Posted by The Navigators @ 9:31 am