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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, Leicester, Nottingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and St Andrews (link to studentNAVS.org / Navigators UK for more details). The Southampton Group is part of the Navigators South East Region (as see pictured above).
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 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.'
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I've been involved with Navs since my first year at university, and I can honestly say I'm not sure where I'd be without them. From the beginning I was challenged to think through questions I had about the Bible and my own walk with God by looking at the scriptures for myself, and not being spoon fed answers as I had been before. This really helped to ground me in Gods truth and encourage me to seek to know Him deeper. Having the support of a network of older Christians has been invaluable, meeting up with someone for coffee or to study the Bible was a real help, especially in the first few years at uni. Navs has become like an extended family to me now, one where each person is valued and encouraged to be the person Christ made them and encouraged to do everything for His glory. I'm so thankful to God for my time with them!
Kate
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