Are you one of the 10,000?

Posted on March 2, 2010 | Filed Under Alumni, Discipleship, Ministries, News

To advance the Gospel of Jesus and his kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of labourers living and discipling among the lost – that has always been the heart of the Navigators.

Since 1962, the Navigators in Singapore have been advancing the Gospel and helping others do the same, impacting no less than 10,000 students and various individuals, estimates Jim Chew, one of our former national directors.

The goal has been to disciple these students, as they graduate, to become labourers for Jesus next door to everywhere.

Businessman Alex Lo is one of them. He was discipled by a Navigator student when he was at the Singapore Polytechnic. After graduation, he served in the military for seven years while continuing to minister to students at his alma mater.  He never lost the vision. Currently, Alex and wife Corinne are actively making disciples in their church and own business and personal contacts. He is also one of the key alumni who have been taking initiatives in encouraging the rest of the alumni to come together and press on with the calling.

Another Navigator alumnus, Henry, shared about meeting with his cell group member for a man-to-man time. Not knowing Henry’s background, this member asked, “Are you from the Navs? I know only Nav people give one-on-one time”. He then began thinking how to disciple his own girls at home.

Are you one of the 10,000 who would like to reach out the lost for Christ and train others as well, but need help and encouragement to do so? On 6 March 2010, a “Nav Alumni Gathering” will be held at YWCA (Fort Canning). The Navigators and the key alumni leaders hope to ignite passion and commitment among one another and also provide some practical on-going help, including disciplemaking trainings for those interested.

The Navigators hope to see this event kick off a faith venture of “seeing one hundred alumni not currently labouring, labour again wherever they are, within the next two years.”

(The “Nav Alumni Gathering” is open for all Navigator alumni. YWCA (Fort Canning), 3-5 pm, Saturday, 6 March 2010. For planning and catering purposes, please RSVP supra@navigators.org.sg or call Desmond at 63444133 x 103.)

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Wanted: life-long labourers

Posted on February 26, 2010 | Filed Under News, People

In 1980, Doug Erdmann, a young college graduate ventured to cross several continents to serve as a short-term Navigator missionary in Korea. He returned home two years later to work as a systems analyst while at the same time serving as a volunteer Navigator labourer at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Two years later, he left his job to serve as a full-time Navigator staff pioneering a ministry on an Ivy League campus, Dartmouth College.

In 1989 in response to God’s call, Doug left his full-time Navigator staff member status to enter law school. As a Navigator alumnus, he continued to labour during law school and as an attorney. Nine years of law practice later, he once again answered God’s call to join full-time Navigator staff and supervise various collegiate regions in the U.S., ultimately leading the Eastern and Central Divisions. His journey with the Lord has now led him to the shores of Singapore to direct the Singapore Navigators.

Whether as full-time staff member or as someone working in the marketplace, Doug’s passion to advance the Kingdom of God into the nations has kept him labouring and encouraging others to do the same.

Why Singapore?

I had always planned to come back to Asia with the Navigators after spending two years in Korea. Starting the ministry at Dartmouth was to be a stepping stone to China. After Dartmouth, plans to go to China were approved by Warren Myers, the leader of the Southeast Asia work, but the Lord led me to go to law school instead. A couple of years ago, I asked International President Mike Treneer if I could be a supervisor in Asia. He said, “I can’t place you there, but see if you can get invited over and renew relationships.” I didn’t know how to “get myself invited over”, but out of the blue the Korean Navigators invited Joyce and me over last summer. This led to Singapore extending an invitation to come to their staff conference, ultimately leading us to move to Asia. So leading and ministering as National Director in Singapore is the fulfillment of a life-long dream!

What is your dream/direction/goal?

That the Navigators Singapore lead the way in developing life-long labourers for the harvest in Singapore and around Asia.

What are some personal promises from God that you are claiming?

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.” Joshua 1:6 “ …and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:3b

Do you have a word of encouragement for the staff and labourers?

The Navigators Singapore have a rich tradition and wonderful strengths. I sense it is time now to build on that tradition and those strengths and boldly raise up multiple labourers for the harvest.

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Youtubies Tribes

Posted on February 18, 2010 | Filed Under Discipleship, Evangelism, Ministries, News, People, Testimonies

“I’m a youth worker in this strange land where the young people of this land communicate with a strange tribal language…I struggle how to connect, how to communicate that I care and only want to help.They seem hopeless and lost…But I decided to try and try again. Many times I feel like a fool…but I’m not giving up! My reward is that if even one of them is saved it’s worth the effort.”

A digital story by Oliver Kelly, staff member, The NavTeens

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Calling all Navigator Alumni

Posted on January 25, 2010 | Filed Under Alumni, News

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Promotion in the midst of recession?

Posted on January 20, 2010 | Filed Under Discipleship, Ministries, News, People

I thank God for the economic recession last year. As a result, my workload in the office became lighter and I was able to apply leave easily. For a period of time, I was able to take leave every Thursday to join my brothers (Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) Navigators) either for vacation training programmes or outdoor activities. I enjoyed our fellowship and our time of learning from one another.

Initially people thought I was working part time or being retrenched and I laughed over it.

At that same time, my company also informed the staff that due to the harsh economic crisis, there will be no promotions, no increment but a possible pay cut in salary. My heart was not disappointed, I know there’s a greater reward in serving, following, and working hard for God. 

Prov 14:4 says ‘Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.’ That period God blessed me in many areas. I came to know some students during those Thursdays that I took off from work and I was able to minister to them by serving them and sharing the word of God.

Around July last year, I was surprised to hear from my director and manager that they were going to promote one person despite their earlier announcement that there will be no promotion for the year. To my surprise, I was the one chosen for the promotion and also receive an increment in my salary!  I could not believe it because in the first half of 2009, I took a lot of annual leave either for NP Navigator Vacation Training Programmes or medical leave for my physio sessions due to my torn ligaments. I was surprised that working lesser days in the company ended up with an unexpected promotion. My wife was also surprised to hear that when I told her. Both of us laughed over it.

God has shown me that He will definitely not short-change any of his children when we serve Him wholeheartedly. - Alex Lim (not his real name), NP Navigator volunteer labourer

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