THE PROCESS
Last January 13-17, 2018, right after the installation of the new National Director, all the staff gathered together to seek God to give us a Unified Ministry Direction which will serve as guide for the next five years.
Coming up with Unified Ministry Direction was a process, we spent 4 days with God and his words and reviewing what He has revealed already in the past before coming up with a statement that describes what God wants us to do in our generation.
Unity
One of the things that I was asking the Lord to happen on that four-day staff gathering is to see that we are an answer of His prayer to be one. In John 17:20-22 He prayed;
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—
FAMILY TALK
We started with family talk where we discussed things that divided us in the past and some holes in the bucket that are leaking out the water as an organization (I will share these leaks later).
We agreed to apply Biblical principles in Conflict Resolution. (Mat 18:15-20, Mat. 5:23-24, Rom. 12:18, Gal. 6:1, 1 Cor. 12:25-27). We agreed that we do not just say a cheapen sorry, but really talk, ask more question until each one felt understood. We also agreed that we will ask the Lord to help us patch those holes starting from the lowest part all the way up so that we all be filled with the Spirit of God and our ministry become an overflow of our walk with Him.
TIME WITH GOD AND HIS WORD
We then spend two days with God and His Word individually and we had sharing in the afternoon of what God has showed us. Then we prayed together in the evening.
The first day we all asked God “Who are you Lord?”, and one common character of God that we saw was, He is a “God of Promise” and He is fulfilling every promise that He made. His major promise is He will bless all nations on earth (Gen 12:1-3). Then He pass on this promise to the next generations until it reaches us.
On the second day we asked the Lord “What shall I do Lord?” and few of the things that were shared are: He want us to serve and love one another (Jn. 13), He wants us to abide in Him and be fruitful. (Jn 15), He wants us to partner and depend in the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14, 16) as we do what He did. He trained the 12 to continue the work as He leaves them temporarily (Jn.17)
REVISITING THE PAST
On the third day we revisited important documents that were written and illustrated to express God’s guidance to the Navs in the past.
The Promises of God
We started with the promises of God that we Navigators are claiming. We found out that we are claiming it not only because they were claimed by our past leaders but it is also a promise to us NOW, because we too are heirs of these promises as spiritual children of Abraham. (Gen. 12:1-2, Isa.43:4-6, Isa. 51:1-2, Isa.54:1-6, Isa. 58:12, Isa. 60:22, Ps.2:8, Mat. 9:37-38, Mat. 28:18-20, Eph. 3:20-21 and Gal 3:7-9,29)
The Basics
We then revisited the Basic tools of Dawson Trotman, the The Bridge Illustration that we use to share the gospel, the Wheel Illustration as framework for follow-up and discipleship, the Hand Illustration for the firm grasp of the Word and the TMS for Scripture Memory.
The Fundamentals of Navigator Ministry (FOM and FONM)
The next document was the Fundamentals of Ministry (FOM) and the Fundamentals of Navigators Ministry (FONM) where we get our clear understanding of what we are doing in the Navigators to partner with God in raising up laborers. Evangelizing, Establishing and Equipping.
The Scriptural Roots of Ministry (SRM)
The next was the Scriptural Roots of Ministry (SRM) where we learn to go to the Bible whenever we are confronted with issues in life and ministry.
The Six Critical Factors
The next document was the Six Critical Factors (6CF) of multiplying Ministry. 1) Laying the foundation, 2) Going to the Lost, 3) Discipling our Generation, 4) Community, 5) Laborers and Leaders 6) Spiritual Generations.
The Insider and Community
From the 6CF we went into “Insiders” approach in going to the Lost. And we also start thinking and practicing Loving Community as the expression of God’s Kingdom here on earth, functioning like a local church although different in form and activities.
The CORE
Then we have the CORE of the Navigators, rewriting our Calling, Our Vision and Our Values. We found out that all the past revelations of God to the Navs are capture by our Core.
The Poverty Corruption and Injustice Study
About ten years ago the Lord added one more element in our Core through the “Poverty, Corruption and Injustice (PCI) study done by our leaders worldwide. The message is something like this; “As you continue to do My calling, do not neglect the poor”. This is the basis why we have our ministry among the poor and we also learn and started doing the “Holistic Approach” to Ministry.
THE PHILNAVS UNIFIED MINISTRY DIRECTION
The process has helped us realized that our Core is indeed what the Lord wants us to do as Navigators. This is our ROLE as we partner with God and the rest of the Body in advancing His Kingdom while we are waiting for His coming.
Our Calling
“To advance the Gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of laborers living and discipling among the lost.”
We are together with the rest of the Body partnering with God in advancing the Gospel and His Kingdom
Our main contribution as Navigators to help raise generations of Laborers whom God can send to live and disciple among the lost. – This is our main assignment.
Our Values
- The passion to know, love, and become like Jesus Christ.
- The truth and sufficiency of the Scriptures for the whole of life.
- The transforming power of the gospel.
- The leading and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
- Expectant faith and persevering prayer rooted in the promises of God.
- The dignity and value of every person.
- Love and grace expressed among us in community.
- Families and relational networks in discipling the nations.
- Interdependent relationships in the Body of Christ in advancing the gospel.
Our Vision
INTERNATIONAL NAVIGATORS VISION
We see a vital movement of the gospel, fueled by prevailing prayer, flowing freely through relational networks and out into the nations. Workers for the Kingdom are next door to everywhere!
The two important elements of our calling are there: a.) The advancement of His Kingdom b.) The Laborers
PHILIPPINE NAVIGATORS VISION.
We envision loving communities living out and proclaiming the Gospel of God’s Kingdom, leading to the transformation of hearts and lives, families and nations, from one generation to another.
Our vision presents three important elements instead of two. a.) Loving Community b.) The advancement of His Kingdom and c.) Laborers – but laborers are only implied and can not easily be identified. Because of this the staff decided to put laborers clearly in our vision statement.
REVISED PHILIPPINE NAVIGATORS VISION STATEMENT
Adding the laborers for clarity our revised Philippine Navigators Vision statement is now:
“ We envision loving communities and laborersliving out and proclaiming the Gospel of God’s Kingdom, leading to the transformation of hearts and lives, families, and nations, from one generation to another.”
This become also our Unified Ministry Direction Statement: There are three BIG implications in our revised Vision Statement:
- We are to build Loving Communities – in all strata of society
- We are to raise up generational Laborers – in all strata of society.
- We are to advance the Gospel of God’s Kingdom – into individuals, families, society and the nations.
In part two I am going the share the Framework that the staff have came up on how are we going to do these three implications.