ABOUT THE NAVS

 

Who are the Navigators?

"The Navigators" is not what it sounds like and is certainly not a sailing or orienteering club, neither is it some dodgy religious cult and nor is it a church! Confused? So was I when I first heard about "The Navigators" but don't let that put you off. The Navigators is in fact an international missions organisation working across the world in over 100 different countries. Here in the UK the Navigators work in a number of different contexts, one of which is with students with whom the Navigators have been working for over 40 years in Southampton and across the UK.

 

There has been a NAVS student group in Southampton since 1968 (See History). Aside from Southampton, there are also Navigators student groups in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Stirling and St Andrews (link to studentNAVS.org / Navigators UK for more details).

 

Our experience of discipleship has often been at best very "re-active" in that when things go wrong older Christians draw alongside us to help us. The NAVS however aim to offer "pro-active" discipleship by investing in individuals so that when the hard times do come there is that platform for support already in place. If Moses had not trained Joshua, if Elijah had not trained Elisha, and if Barnabas had not trained Paul, stop to consider the great good the entire world would have lost. Now it's our turn to invest in the lives of others, using Jesus as our example to follow. He invested in a few, and they changed the world for Him!! Read what people have said about NAVS here.

 

What is the relationship beween NAVS and other student groups in Southampton?

We are certainly not seeking to compete with the great Christian Union in Southampton, but rather to help and support students in a slightly different way through our emphasis on discipleship. For a many years the Navigators have also been involved in helping and resourcing the Christian Union, especially in the area of leading small groups. We are committed to working with the various groups in Southampton to complement and support one another.

 

Our Calling (See also our Vision and Values)

'To advance the gospel of Jesus and his kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of labourers living and discipling among the lost.'