For almost 70 years The Navigators have
been seeking to Know Christ and Make Him
Known.
In 1933, Dawson Trotman, founder of
The Navigators, began teaching sailor Les Spencer the principles of Christian
growth. They spent many hours together in Bible study, Scripture memorization
and prayer. A shipmate of Spencer's soon asked him about the secret of his
changed life. Spencer brought the new man to Trotman and said, "Teach him
what you taught me!" Trotman's answer –"You teach him!" – was the
beginning of The Navigators.
Spencer did teach the second sailor,
and the two in turn reached others. Soon, 125 men on board the USS West Virginia
were growing in Christ and actively sharing their faith. By the end of World
War II, men on a thousand ships and military bases had surrendered their
lives to Christ and were learning the principles of Christian discipleship
as a result of The Navigators' ministry.
After the war, the ministry of The
Navigators expanded to college campuses (the first at the University of Nebraska
– Lincoln in 1958) and numerous communities throughout the U.S. In 1948,
the first overseas Navigator missionary was sent to China. Others soon followed
to Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin
America.
Today, tens of thousands of individuals
worldwide are being reached for Christ as the work of The Navigators grows.
A heart for individuals continues to motivate us to teach on a one-to-one
basis. |
