NavStories

Today , August 25, is my 35th spiritual birthday.  Soon after my conversion God brought a fellow student named Brad Perks across my path.  Since I can’t seem to locate him to thank him today, this is my way of honoring him and his ministry in my life.

Brad was exceptional in getting me grounded in the Word and in daily prayer. He stayed with me even after graduating from college to make sure I completed the Design for Discipleship course.

On this day I always take time to remember the people God used to win me to Himself and to help me get off on the right foot.

THANKS brother Brad, wherever you are!  You can reach me on FACEBOOK.

John Petrilli  (Full name, location, and e-mail posted by request.)
jonah13039@yahoo.com
Syracuse, NY

Navigator Connection:  Wayne Polzin
College Ministry, 1976

Posted by The Navigators @ 10:26 am

I was led to Christ by a Navigators Staff in Malawi in 1998, while in secondary school. I attended Bible studies and had one-on-one times with my mentor Sam Banda (now Country Leader – Malawi Navs).

Since then I sensed God’s call on my life to work with students, I went to a Bible college in 2006 and graduated June 2010;  now I have been offered a one year training prog. with Urban Promise International.  I will be trained in NGO development and management. I intend to join the Navigators Malawi after I come back from the U.S.

~ Chester

Navigator Connection:  Sam Chimphoyo-Banda

Posted by The Navigators @ 9:56 am

The Navigator Bible study at Fort Bragg introduced me to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Prior to going to that Bible study I had never realized and never had the desire to encounter Christ other than on Sundays at church.  The other people in the Bible study showed me there was more that Jesus desired for me.  I went to that study regularly during my three years at Fort Bragg and my outlook on life changed.  Now I have more love, joy, hope, faith, and strength. Praise God!

~ Tim

Navigator Connection:  Tom

Posted by The Navigators @ 3:37 pm

In the summer of 2000, I went to study abroad in Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Upon arrival, my host family informed me they would not be able to let me stay with them. After studying for a semester and finding myself in a difficult situation financially, I decided I would return to the U.S.  But before I did, I wanted to visit Taipei.

I found my way there, but had less than about $5 dollars to my name. When I arrived I didn’t have anyplace to stay.  I found a Baptist seminary on the map and took a bus there hoping they could help me out; they were unable to accommodate me as it was only for men, but did know who could–the local Navigators office.

They took me in as if I were their own family. They provided housing for several days, showed me local sites, took me out to eat, and provided all-around great fellowship. Now, 10 years later, I still think about the wonderful time they showed me after I’d had a terrible experience in the country until that point. I went home a few days after that visit to the Navigators, but still truely feel the love they shared!

~ Brandi

Navigator Connection:  Unknown

Posted by The Navigators @ 10:48 am

In 1977, as a private in the 82nd Airborne Division, a young man met me in the chapel and befriended me. He was associated with Dave Coffield and the Ft Bragg Navigator ministry. Although I heard the gospel in the Bible studies and ministry activities for several months, I continued to resist surrendering my life to Christ.

I moved to Ft Lewis and found myself in a lot of trouble professionally, morally, and spiritually. I started reading a little New Testament and reflected on the things I’d learned about Jesus. I finally received Christ on Dec 23, 1979.

In 1980 I moved to Ft Campbell, and God in His sovereignty placed another Navigator in my path, but this time I was ready to grow. I met Cecil and Jeanie Bean and moved into their home. For the next two years I was discipled and started discipling other men myself. I spent the next 29 years helping men follow Jesus.

In 2006 I retired and came on staff with the Navs and continue to serve today. I’m so thankful that God placed men and women in my path who care enough about an individual that they will invest their lives in others for the sake of His Kingdom.

~ Chuck Wood

Navigator Connection:  Dave Coffield, Cecil Bean

Posted by The Navigators @ 3:29 pm

My Navigator story starts with a desk. You see, this desk belonged to Dawson Trotman. Dawson is my grandfather. My mother is Faith Trotman Kraft. My Uncle Bruce had this desk in his home for decades, and a fairly recent trip (2005) to Colorado Springs to visit family became the opportunity for me to acquire this desk.

I brought the desk back home with me to California and it sat in storage for about three years. I decided that I might want to donate this desk to the Navigators and maybe get it back to the Springs and put it back in the Castle where it had once been used by Grandpa. Well, I got in touch with the Nav Headquarters, stated what I had in mind, and they had a local Navigator (Dan Green) get in touch with me.

Well, Dan and I hit it off great, and he took the desk and stored it in his garage for approximately two years and told me he would do his best to get it back to the castle. After two years, I eventually bought a house and decided that if Dan still had the desk and was willing to give it back, that I would love to have it in my home office. We arranged the pick-up of the desk and it is sitting proudly in my home office in Northern California. The great part is what has happened since.

You see, I’ve been a back-sliding Chrisitian for the past 25 years. Meeting Dan, passing this desk around from Colorado, to Sacramento, to Rocklin, to Roseville, and now to Lincoln, was God’s great plan to bring me back to the Lord. I just recently re-dedicated my life to Christ, and my 16-year-old son accepted Christ as his personal savior two nights ago.

My family is fired up for the Lord and we are excited about having Jesus in our home again on a full-time basis. Praise the Lord. We now have scheduled meetings with Dan and Suzanne Green to study the Word, and we thank The Navigators for everything that they do to keep the Holy Spirit alive in over 100 countries and world-wide.

~ Erik

Navigator Connection: Dan Green

Posted by The Navigators @ 2:45 pm

I first became involved with Navs when I was a senior in high school.  A young lady in our town that was leading a Bible Study was being discipled by Navs.  Then when I went to college-River Falls-I eagerly searched for them and then again when I went to Madison.  That time with Navs was some of my best spiritiual growth and good times.  It has helped keep me steady and close to the Lord these some 40 years later.  I will be forever grateful to the Navs.

~ Maribeth

Navigator Connection:  Andy Lockridge, Dave and Anne Frahm, Chuck and Ellen Broughton

Posted by The Navigators @ 11:57 am

I was raised in an alcoholic household with a father who beat me abusively, and a brother who molested me sexually. I used sports as my escape and my anger was used up in weight training, football and hockey. I played football one year in college, but my third knee surgery ended my sports career. Three of my closest friends committed suicide and I was lost. For six months, people on campus told me they were praying for me.

On the 4th of JULY, 1980, I asked Christ into my life. I lived in a boarding house where a brother from The Navigators lived. I told him the next morning I got saved, he thought I was nuts, but asked me later to pray. We prayed out loud together and he began to disciple me. He asked me to do the TMS with him, and I did the first book by the next week’s meeting. I went through the entire system in 6 or 7 weeks. I went on a Nav training program the next summer in Syracuse, and was able to lead three co-workers to Christ. Stayed with Navs for two more years, but all staff went to Australia.

Then suddenly Bob Lewis who was NE regional director took an interest in me and discipled me for several months before I got involved with Campus Crusade. I have been through many trials and tribulations, and 30 years later the TMS has been my foundation, and scripture memory has truly kept me from walking away from the Kingdom. Thank you for your ministry. I have never shared this with anyone before, and not quite sure why I do so now. God bless you in all you do.

~James

Navigator Connection:  Ben Blackinston, Bob Lewis, Roger Sheppard

Posted by The Navigators @ 10:57 am

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