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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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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God gave more than 200 Brunei dollars!

Posted on January 5, 2010 | Filed Under Discipleship, News, People

My father came to Singapore for a few days to visit me. He surprised me with a 200 Brunei Dollar (S$200) gift before he went back to Malaysia.

I recalled what I learnt from our study on Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops. Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Our Bible study leader shared with me how he experienced the truth of that verse when he gave some money to a brother who was in need, and how, to his surprise, he got back the money from God.

Maybe I could have the same experience too! So a month after I got the S$200 from my dad, I decided to give it to God by giving it to the Navigators.

When the semester started, a lecturer came to me and said I probably would receive a book prize award for the module she taught. I was nervous when I went in for the Book Prize Presentation Day because for the whole week I kept thinking about what prize I would get. I wondered whether it would sum up to what I gave to God.

I sat there restlessly, especially when the names of the top three students were announced. The third place was not me, nor was the second! The winner was – me! I got the most outstanding award for the whole academic year. My mind went completely blank. I was speechless. I was awarded three module book prizes and the cash prize summed up to S$250!

I was happy and excited, but also shocked. God granted my prayer – to experience the truth of his faithfulness as I gave to him. “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

I gave and I reaped even more! The honour of getting the first place was amazing enough for me. I didn’t have much confidence that I could make it, but God encouraged my heart and helped me to give my best.

I praise God, not because I got more money or the award, but that God allowed me to experience his promises and his faithfulness. Through this, I grew in my faith and dare to commit to God the bigger things in my life.

My father surprised me with S$200. God surprised me even more! - By Nicholas Wong, Electrical Engineering, Year 2, Ngee Ann Polytechnic Navigators

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The Navigators’ GPS

Posted on November 26, 2009 | Filed Under News, People, Uncategorized

We purchased a car when we came to Singapore. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was to have a GPS installed in the car! Many times in the last few months I’ve found myself wanting to go to a particular place… a certain church, a sports field to pick up one of my children, even home, and not knowing how to get there. Not a problem with the GPS, though. I simply plug in the address and it tells me how to get to where I want to go.

The Navigators have a GPS as well… something that tells us how to get to where we want to go. It is our Calling:

To advance the Gospel of Jesus and his Kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of labourers living and discipling among the lost.

The three underlined words are of particular importance. 

 

 

 

 

Advance
The Navigators are not about maintaining the status quo. We are about advancing the Gospel and the Kingdom. Jesus is our role model. Knowing that traveling to Jerusalem would result in his certain death, he nevertheless “resolutely set out” for the city. (Luke 9:51)

David is also a wonderful model of advancement. When faced with an adversary three-metre-tall, covered with bronze armor and carrying a huge spear, David, “ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.” (1 Samuel 17:48)

Navigators “resolutely set out” and “run quickly to the battle.”

Labourers
The Navigators are not just about us reaching the lost and making disciples. We are about equipping others to reach the lost and make disciples.

About a year ago one of our staff women, Lee Yin, taught one of our polytechnic girls the 2 Timothy 2:2 principle of investing in a faithful few. The poly student began to pray for three younger pre-believing poly girls by name. Recently one of the younger girls called Lee Yin and asked if she could get together to talk bout faith issues. Lee Yin could easily have met with the younger girl alone, but instead quickly called the older student and arranged for the three of them to have lunch. At lunch the older girl led the younger girl to the Lord, and is now following her up.

Navigators help others reach and disciple others.

Lost
Labourers have one purpose…to work in the harvest… sowing,cultivating and reaping. (Matthew 9:37, 38)  This was Jesus’ purpose. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

The Navigators are not about one way of reaching the lost. We are constantly on the look out for what works best in any particular culture and at any particular time, recognising that sometimes several different methods work well.

Bottom line… we agree with C.S. Lewis who wrote, “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.”

Navigator are about labourers for the lost. - by Doug Erdmann, National Director

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