Whoe We AreThe Navigators History

“One day as Jesus was walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, a commercial fisherman, and his brother, Andrew, fishing with a net. Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ And they left their nets at once and went with him.”

Jesus’ story cascades down through centuries. In the early 1930s, a California lumberyard worker named Dawson Trotman caught a vision to pass on discipleship principles he was finding fruitful in his own life. In 1933, Trotman began teaching sailor Les Spencer the principles of Christian growth. They spent many hours together praying, studying the Bible, and memorizing Scripture. When one of Spencer’s shipmates asked him the secret of his changed life, Spencer brought the man to Trotman. “Teach him what you taught me,” Spencer said. Trotman’s response – “You teach him!” – was the beginning of the Navigators.

Bible study mushroomed on a thousand ships and bases. After World War II, many of these men left the Navy but they took with them not only a burning heart for God but also a vision of passing on their passion. They repeated the discipling process as students, lay people, and missionaries.

Six decades later the Navigator disciple-making movement has spread in more then 100 countries, served by 3700 staff of 50 nationalities using 120 languages. It ministers among 138 people groups in 130 languages. Thirty percent of Navigators minister cross-culturally.

 

 The Philippine Navigators History

More than 40 years ago, the Navigators touched the Philippine shore. It later multiplied to three other disciple-making organizations. Many of the men and women trained now serve as leaders and influencers in local churches and the secular world.

Today, the Navigators Philippines minister among high school and college students, professionals, businessmen, local churches, the military and marginalized groups. It seeks to develop the lives of people on a one-to-one basis, meeting with them personally to study the Bible, develop a deepening prayer life, and memorize and apply Scripture, the goal of which is to equip them for their own ministries to others.

Tens of thousands of people worldwide are being reached for Christ through the work of The Navigators.

“Jesus Christ likened the Kingdom to a small seed that quietly grows into a huge tree…” – Matthew 13:31-32