Search Result

Conferences

Choose any conference/events from the Menu on the left. If none listed that means we don't have any at this time. Check back shortly.

The Road to Freedom: Western Culture 9

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery… You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire ...

Josiah Road Student Guide

LUKE & HAROLD HARPER Josiah Road is a spiritual development study that focuses on encouraging students to stand up and lead as Christians in the student community. Inspired by King Josiah’s nation-leading skills, this study examines the young king’s impact on his community, even at a ...

What is ISM (International Student Ministry)?

Among our Communities is a strong International Students Ministry (ISM) within our universities. But what is ISM and how did it start? Compass interviewed Tim Mapperson for an insight. Tim, what is ISM and what is your involvement in this ministry? ISM is a door to the nations. Exciting ...

ISM - Doorstep to the Nations!

By Judy Leow, extract from Judy's newsletter, August 2018. Greetings in the Name of our Precious Lord Jesus Christ! During our last two Family Group gatherings, while the ladies had their Bible study and the children played by themselves, I had the pleasure of reading John’s Gospel with Aly's ...

Register Now for Monash ISM Conference

An Easter Reflection

By Grant Dibden "To me it makes as much sense as bunny rabbits handing out chocolate eggs ..." Easter in Australian society is thought of as a holiday time.  And many – most? – people don’t understand the significance of Easter, and often they don’t want to. A local Eastern Sydney ...

Expressive Individualism: Western Culture 7

An epic song in the movie “The Greatest Showman” called “This Is Me” has received almost universal praise in declaring the worth of all people. The movie, set within circus life, shows various “misfits” who have been rejected by society, made fun of, called unlovable and assaulted ...

Conformity and Challenge: Western Culture 2

I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; ...

Easter Thought

By Grant Dibden The year has been a bit of a blur. I got started in earnest after Australia Day, had trips to Brisbane, Sydney and Tasmania, and an early Easter. But what really makes it a blur is my father-in-law’s death twelve days after diagnosis. Arthur’s death puts things into ...

The Bridge

Step 1 – God’s Love and His plan God created us in His own image to be His friend and to experience a full life assured of his love, abundant and eternal. Jesus said, “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b) “…we have peace with God through ...

Cries of the Soul

By Bruce Clarke, first printed in Compass, Spring 2015 All of us will experience suffering or adversity at some point in our lives. Some fall away when God does not deal with them in a way that they desire. But it is also true that many come to faith when adversity strikes. Adversity can ...

Students and Workers Conference 2024

Engaging well with God through His Word Stowe Campbell joins us from New Zealand Navigators to show us how we can engage well with God through Scripture. We will see how who God is influences the way we read, interpret and apply God’s Word. We will have fun together, discuss the teaching in ...

2024 - June - The Bible Meta-Narrative

During our Mid-Year training, the Rev Dr Graham Cole led us through some sessions on the biblical meta-narrative, which helped equip us with biblical themes to “out-narrate” our cultures’ stories and show how our deepest aspiration and desires are fulfilled, and that the Bible makes the ...

An Alien View of God: Western Culture 1

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now ...

John Ridgway - The Influence of One Man

A Tribute by Robin Dennis “The least one shall become a thousand and the smallest one a mighty nation” ~ Isaiah 60:22 I was working in Canberra at Parliament House and living in one of the many public servant hostels, Lawley House, which had two sections – the old and the new. Newcomers ...

Spiritual Decline: Western Culture 3

As the deer pants for streams of water,     so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.     When can I go and meet with God? Ps 42:1,2 The prophet Isaiah had a vision of heavenly creatures declaring: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the ...

Viewing Human Achievement: Western Culture 4

   “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;     the whole earth is full of his glory.” Is 6:3 Each day we are surrounded by people’s incredible achievements. We can purchase almost any food at any time of the year, we have social welfare systems that assist in times of ...

Beyond the Age of Reason: Western Culture 5

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,  Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts". Isaiah 55:8-9 Western culture has made a sharp distinction between ...

Expressive Individualism: Western Culture 6

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Rom 12:4,5 I was recently learning to play the song “You are Beautiful” by James Blunt. I ...

The Good Life: Western Culture 8

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s ...

Meditation: Western Culture 10

Some of my strongest childhood memories come from the times I spent on my uncle’s dairy farm. The heat of summer, the cooling of the milk refrigeration room, the sound and smell of the cows.  I would seeing them constantly chewing and later learnt they had 4 stomachs and were often ...

Living the Story: Western Culture 11

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.1 Jn 1:1 We were staying in Lake Louise village and decided to go on a walk through the forest when we ...

Lest We Forget - Anzac Day 2022

By Grant Dibden You can learn a lot about a country from the people or events they celebrate in their monuments. In the USA there’s a great bronzed statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting in his mighty marble temple in Washington. Down the street is a thirty foot statue of Thomas Jefferson. In ...

Resilience in the Gospel

By Ian McIntosh, first published in Compass Winter issue 2022 What do you think about when you hear the word resilience? TV interviews with disaster victims or soldiers fighting a David and Goliath battle? Relational conflict? People battling their personal demons relating to themselves, others ...

Put Your Head Down and Labour

By Tami Brown and June Sparks, first published in Compass Winter issue 2022 Theresa Suan has had an incredibly fruitful ministry at Macquarie University ISM. She shared with us recently how it has changed over time, giving us a glimpse into the journey the Lord has taken her on. There were ...

A Focus On Scripture Memory

By Sharon Yong, Melbourne Labouring Community (International Student Ministry, Monash), first published in Compass Winter 2023 As Navigators, we have a focus on the basics. In our Monash Uni ISM, we use the acronym POWER (ie. Prayer-Outreach-Word-Equipping-Relationships) to help keep our focus. ...

Jesus

Jesus the Man Jesus is the central figure in Christianity. He was and is the most effective and compelling leader in all of recorded history. He was born into a lower class family to a teenage mum and worked as a carpenter until aged 30. But then He took 12 ordinary blokes – fishermen and tax ...

How to Read the Bible Better

By Mike Johnson, Melbourne Labouring Community (First published in Compass Autumn 2024) Have you ever thought you understood what someone was saying but, without the full picture, made a complete muddle of their meaning? I have, and it’s embarrassing. God speaks through His Scriptures and, ...

God is Enough for Me

By Kendrea Dibden, Sydney Labouring Community As a teacher, I know the importance of intentional reflection and analysis to be aware of strengths and shortcomings. Reflexive practice in order to be constantly improving. As a believer this has been a vital part of my walk with the Lord as well. ...

Knowing God

By Scott Brown In the Autumn issue of the Compass, Mike Johnson clearly laid out a few simple and crucial rules to follow when reading and studying the Bible in order to interpret it accurately. If you haven’t read that article on How to Read the Bible Better, I recommend you give it a read ...

God's Word Impacting Young Hearts

By Rob Allen (with Angie Allen), Queensland Labouring Community, first published in Compass Winter 2024 issue. Angie and I thank God for having the opportunity to share God’s message of love and hope through His Word with young people over the decades. Many are under enormous social, ...

A Trip to Marysville

By Paul Bailey, Monash Uni Student Ministry On Thursday June 23, the Monash Navigators organised our first ever road trip to Marysville with students: ten pre-believers and nine believers. We never thought we would get a place where we would be able to take students out for a trip. As we ...

Your Questions Answered! - by Theresa

The abridged version of this interview was first published in Compass, Spring 2019. Being on mission looks different for each of us. Some are compelled to go to far-flung nations while others are called to stay right where they are. What does being a local missionary look like? Theresa Suan ...

Easter in a Covid-19 Environment

Dear Nav Family, A little over 2000 years ago tonight, the disciples ate the Last Supper, and the next day Jesus was crucified. Jesus had told his disciples that he would be killed, that he could even be crucified, but the disciples didn’t really understand. They didn’t really get it. We know ...

Christlikeness, Day by Day

By Mike Johnson, Melbourne Labouring Community, first published in Compass Winter issue 2023 If the Spirit of God lives in a person, change is inevitable. How could it not be so? He is the Spirit of truth,1 God’s agent of transformation.2 God loves and wants the best for His children, so He ...

Your Questions Answered about Mutua

Mutua Mahiaini is our current International President and was scheduled to be our keynote speaker at the upcoming National Conference in October. (While the conference itself has been cancelled, Mutua is still preparing to send us his messages.) But ... Who is Mutua Mahiaini? Prior to joining ...

Remembering Dr John Ridgway

By Mike Swan I met John for the first time on 19 June 1972. In a few months, that will be fifty years ago. I know the date as well as I know my birthday, because it became my ‘new birth’ day. In the space of 48 momentous hours, I travelled ‘the road less travelled’ from unbelief to faith ...

Conference Confirmation

Hi Thanks for completing your Conference/Event registration. If you did not receive an email confirmation within minutes please do the following: 1. Check your Spam folder just in case. 2. Email or call the office stating you have not received your Confirmation email after registering.   ...

So Grateful For Your Generosity Towards Our Nepal Appeal!

Nepal Appeal Update Thank you for your generous and encouraging giving towards our Appeal for Nepal. Your gift enabled us to reach and exceed our goal of $5,000 for Lalita (you gave $6,300) and to reach our goal of $20,000 for the Endowment Fund of the Nepali ministry.          We ...

Called to Follow the Fruit

By Tim Mapperson, Melbourne Labouring Community It was mid-June. Stepping out into the cold winter night, we closed the door for the last time. We had been meeting at this Community Centre in Carlton for many years as a campus ministry. Tonight was to be our final night. This season was coming ...

Community-based Evangelism

By Fran Johnson, Melbourne Labouring Community, first published in Compass, Summer 2021 What if we prayed for 21 days for our city? What if twenty or so Navigators focused prayer for 21 days on their city? Do you think it would have an impact for theadvance of the Gospel? Wanting to seek the ...

Next Door to Everywhere ... in Brisbane!

By Luke Midena, National Leadership Team The National Leadership Team met with the National Council on the first weekend of April to hear from God's Word, pray, study Job, and plan and discuss this year's priorities. Luke gives us a glimpse into what's happening in one of our communities – ...

Our Staff Job Studies

From Grant Dibden We had a wonderful time considering several of our staff Job studies during the year. It is such a packed book and we were challenged as we reflected back over the whole book, its themes and big lessons as part of our final study time. The book of Job explores why God ...

Growing in Godliness

By Thomas Bielenberg, first published in Compass Summer issue 2023 What would you say if asked, “What is godliness?” You might think that godliness is good conduct, or bearing the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, etc. But godliness is more than that, as I thankfully ...

Mark Bible Study

By Luke Midena, with Scott Brown, for the National Council In our Staff Bible studies this year, we continued to explore how Jesus made disciples in Mark’s gospel. Here are a few insights. Jesus was not simply teaching his disciples but training them, and a core focus of their training was ...

Spurred on to Love Others

By Daryl Goh, International Student Ministry, first published in Compass, Winter 2019. I’ve been a part of the Navigators International Student Ministry (ISM) with “Aunty” Sharon and “Uncle” Andrew for the past year, along with other first-year international medical students at Monash ...

A Double Miracle

The story of Jack and May Griffin as told to Margaret Mulholland Cooper, first printed in Decision Magazine, January, 1979 and reprinted in The Compass, Volume 2 No. 2, March, 1979.   ... we share a common birthday—April 12, 1959—when on a fine Sunday afternoon, we walked ...

Relational Resilience

By Ian McIntosh We can see relational conflict all around the world and throughout history. These conflicts have resulted in wars. We see this in the news today. These wars take place on a much larger scale, but I think I can say all of us have experienced relational conflict on a smaller scale. ...

Upside Down

UPSIDE DOWN - The Paradox of Servant leadership Stacy T. Rinehart THE LEADERSHIP STYLE OF JESUS Most believers are familiar with Jesus’ recipe for leadership success: “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” ...

Give

Christian giving has its foundation in the nature of God God pours out blessing upon blessing – health, housing, food, sunshine, rain and most graciously and sacrificially eternal life for all who believe through Jesus’ death on the cross in our place. God is a wonderfully generous ...

Leading Others to Faith

God loves people. He wants everyone to repent, to come to a saving faith in Him. The Creator and Sustainer of the universe has made it possible for each of us to be His child and heir through Jesus’ death on the cross in our place. Isn’t that the best news ever! How could we not share this ...

How to Study the Bible

As we grow in Christ, it’s important that we learn to dig into the Word of God for ourselves and not depend solely on the instruction of others. Consider the challenge from the writer of Hebrews: Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about ...

Theresa Leads a New Generation Closer to Jesus

Theresa works full time as a nurse for Red Cross and is also leading groups of disciples in the Navigators’ International Student Ministry. This is her story. I grew up as a Buddhist. My family worshipped many gods, each god representing a different aspect of life. To me, religion was just a ...

Who are the Navigators?

The Navigators is a global discipleship movement of people who want to move forward in their relationship with Jesus and impact the world for Him. We invest deeply in people to see their lives transformed. Our heart is to lead wherever God asks so that, together, we can see the Gospel spread and ...

The Power of Investing in One

Imagine running the relay race for the Olympic team. As you pass the baton successfully to the final runner, you cheer on as they cross the finish line. This is what it felt like for Mike Treneer (former International President of the Navigators) to pass the baton of International President ...

Partners! Together!

Labouring Together! The partnership of believers all over the world is a testament to God’s grace at work. Through our worldwide partnerships, we are able to help our  Navigator brothers and sisters to advance the gospel in various contexts amongst the nations. At the National Conference ...

"As the Father has sent me..."

By Bruce Clarke, first published in Compass, Spring 2019 The word “mission” has its origin from the Latin “mittere” used to translate the Greek “apostele”, giving us the word “apostle”. It has the meaning of God sending and people being sent for the purpose of salvation and ...

Christmas in the MER

A Christmas message from our National Director, Grant Dibden, from the Middle East Region (MER).   10 000 Afghanistan Army soldiers are killed each year that we know of. There’s probably more, and about half that number of civilians. And this doesn’t include the enemy. That was what ...

Stories of "New" Life in 2020

The Lord continues to do great things in people's lives. Neither a pandemic, strict lockdowns, fires or other catastrophes have stopped our labourers from labouring in various circumstances despite the variables that were thrown at us this year. Precious young students in Melbourne and Sydney ...

Belonging Before Believing

By Luke Midena, Canberra Community Leader, first published in Compass Winter 2021 edition You may have heard the phrase, ‘belong before believe’. It was the catchcry of some within the Emerging Church Movement of the last few decades. Driven by a desire to share Christ with the world, ...

Foundations of Resilience

By Bruce Clarke. First published in Compass, Autumn 2022. The global pandemic has significantly changed our lives through lockdowns and restrictions affecting employment, relationships, travel, gatherings, sport, etc. We are cut off from so much of what is important to us as creative, social ...

Q & A with Jane Sheppard

Let's get to know another one of our new Ministry Apprentices. This time from our Melbourne Labouring Community. How did you come to be with Navigators? As a young adult I had asked God to provide me with a godly woman who could be a spiritual mentor to me. After persevering 20 years in ...

Joy to the World!

A Christmas message from National Director, Grant Dibden It is a wonderful blessing to be grounded by the rhythm of each year, so as we approach the celebration of the birth of our Lord it is important to reflect and remember the most important things. Recently I saw a piece on Jonah being a ...

Living with Christ as Lord

By Scott Brown, Sydney City Leader (first published in Compass Autumn 2023) From the earliest days of the Navigators, Dawson Trotman’s Wheel Illustration highlighted the importance of living with Christ as Lord, or as he termed it, with Christ the Centre. Galatians 2:20 and 2 Corinthians 5:17 ...

The Foundation of Many Generations

By Doug Utley, Melbourne Labouring Community We escaped to Hamilton Island in August for a week. Glorious sun and warm water, beaches and coral reef. One night, I got up for a drink and was stopped in my tracks by the night sky entering through the balcony doors. It was a moonless night and with ...

Learning Godliness

By Sergio Echegoyen, Southeast Queensland Labouring Community, first published in Compass Summer 2023 issue My name is Sergio. I’m originally from Mexico and it is a privilege to have been in this beautiful country for the last few years. I was raised in a Christian family as my parents are ...

Your Questions Answered - How to Meditate

This year, we’ve looked at some “discipling” tools for ministry with Robin Dennis. In this post, he addresses one question he has been asked many times over the years, especially by new Christians: How to Meditate. (First published in Compass Summer 2023 issue). An easy way is to remember ...

Gospel For Real Life, The

Jerry Bridges WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THE GOSPEL MAKE? The gospel of Jesus Christ is the door to eternal life, but what difference does it make once we’re inside God’s kingdom? Jerry Bridges says the gospel is the very lifeblood of our walk with God. It is the key to our salvation, for sure, ...

LifeChange Series: Hebrews

With Jesus giving us a complete picture of who God is, we can live faithfully and confidently. The letter to the Hebrews reinforces how Jesus’ life on earth can help us look forward to the life God promises. This foundational and deeply impactful letter encourages us to have confidence in ...

Student

Navigators have campus communities on several universities around Australia. While each group is slightly different, they all strive to follow Jesus. Indeed, we welcome people of any spiritual background and religious experience who are interested in considering who Jesus is, what the Bible ...

Conference Talks

To listen to the messages given by the Main Speakers at our National Conferences, please choose from the menu.

Q & A with Katherine Halliday

Let's get to know Katherine Halliday, Ministry Apprentice at Macquarie University, Sydney. What is your role with the Navigators? I’m serving as a Ministry Apprentice with the Navigators at Macquarie University. I have committed at least 2022 and 2023 as an apprentice, and I am excited ...

Our Navigator Family in the UK

By Jeanette Dibden Grant and I lived in England in 1989 and on the way there we travelled to Kenya. We were going to go on a safari camping trip but found ourselves in Nairobi and unable to hire a sleeping bag. Grant’s solution was to ring the Navigators (listed in the phone book – remember ...

Worldwide Partnership Day of Prayer

Every year, the Navigators set aside one day for prayer as a worldwide partnership. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to work together and fellowship with colleagues across our international partnership.  This year, our Worldwide Partnership Day of Prayer will be on Saturday, March 18. ...

From Grant to You

Dear Friend, Discipleship means many things to many people, and you can’t go to one verse and get the Bible’s definition of discipleship. Its root meaning is follower or pupil, a learner. Today we think of a learner as someone who wants to know what the teacher knows, but a biblical ...

An Appealing Message?

By Luke Midena, Canberra Labouring Community Is this an appealing message? This was a question asked by a young man in our discipleship training group over dinner recently. In an era where people crave authenticity and evidence of God’s power, Simon* — who has been battling ...

Uncompromised Faith

S MICHAEL CRAVEN In today's culture of modernism, Christianity is an afterthought. Explore how the majesty and radical reality of God’s amazing grace has been rendered impotent in America. Then begin to tear down the cultural barriers to both the acceptance of the gospel and the mission of the ...

Give at the Melbourne Fundraising Dinner

Thank you for coming to the Melbourne Fundraising dinner. We invite you to prayerfully consider giving to:   Jane Sheppard Paul Bailey Melbourne City Projects(Please select 'Melbourne City'from the 'Special Projects' list)  

People of Passion

The early followers of Jesus were called ‘people of the way’. This was long before the term ‘Christian’ was coined. Perhaps it came from Jesus’ words ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life' (John 14:6). People of Passion* is here to help you on your way, following Jesus, The Way. It ...

People of Passion

The early followers of Jesus were called ‘people of the way’. This was long before the term ‘Christian’ was coined. Perhaps it came from Jesus’ words ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life' (John 14:6). People of Passion* is here to help you on your way, following Jesus, The Way. It ...

Easter Reflection - The Coming of the King

By Grant Dibden What Christ's triumphal entry means for us Easter is the most important time of year for Christians as we reflect even more deeply on Jesus' death and resurrection. As I have reflected on Christ, I hope to share some thoughts from scripture to encourage you. As Jesus approached ...

Feeling "small"

By Scott Brown, Sydney Labouring Community When was the last time you felt small? Was it among the foothills of the Rockies or standing on the coastline with nothing but water in view? Perhaps it was staring up at the brilliance of the night sky overflowing with stars. For me, it was in the ...

No Greater Love

By Grant Dibden The Navigators ministry started in the 1930s, when Dawson Trotman began to work with sailors in the US Navy. Daws spent many hours praying, studying the Bible, and memorising Scripture with a sailor, Les Spencer. Les in turn discipled one of the shipmates, and soon the two men ...

Your Questions Answered - Navigator Discipleship

Fran Johnson from our Melbourne Labouring Community answers some of your questions about Navigator discipleship. Why have you enjoyed Navigator discipleship, in group and individual settings? Navigator one-to-one discipleship began my spiritual transformation. I was quite broken spiritually ...

Developing a Taste for God's Word

By Lindsey Swartzentruber, Canberra Labouring Community I have been trying to think of an analogy to explain the newest development with our students and I realised that, really, the closest thing is liver and brussels sprouts. Let me explain… Seven or eight years ago, my research led ...

The Start of Generations

By Grant Dibden A number of years ago I met a young man at Macquarie University. Dan was a keen guy studying to become a primary school teacher. We met for a number of years one-to-one looking at how Jesus discipled His followers. We saw that Jesus worked deeply with a few, despite being able ...

How to break the binding cable of habit

By Robert Boardman, first published in The Compass, Volume 2 No. 2, March, 1979 The cold in Japan anywhere in December penetrates your bones, but this was northern Japan and I could feel it even through my long underwear. The Japaneses with the ancient wisdom of Northeast Asia build with a ...

Special Feature: God Bless You, Karen!

Our Time With Karen ... “Good morning, The Australian Navigators. Karen speaking!” For the last 35 years, Karen Woolley has been the face and the voice of The Australian Navigators. Like the Queen of England who has seen her nation through many Prime Ministers, Karen has worked with ...

Remembering Harvey Soderholm

Compiled by June Sparks, first published in Compass, Winter 2020 edition. Remembering Harvey Soderholm: A link in the Chain Harvey Soderholm was a lifelong labourer who served the Lord with The Navigators from the 1950s. He passed away on 11 June 2019, after suffering a cardiac arrest the ...

From Grant to You

Dear Friend, A man was travelling down a road with a friend who was an architect when the friend pointed out a house and said, “That’s my house there. I designed that one and am very proud of it.” The man admired its symmetry and style and drove on. A short while later he was again driving ...

Life's Unpredictability

By Luke Midena, Canberra Labouring Community There have been many ups and downs to start the year, but God is clearly working in the midst of it all. Let me share about two events impacting the student ministry at the ANU. In February, Levi, who runs the ANU ministry, was involved in a ...

Growing in Christ Series: Lessons on Christian Living

Lessons on Christian Living: Eight Life-Changing Bible Studies and Memory Verses for Growing Christians (Growing in Christ Book 4) Lessons on Christian Living presents eight short Bible studies on major scriptural principles. Learn how to put Christ first in your life and rely on His strength. ...