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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 significant ...

What or who is a Disciple?

By Robin Dennis Discipleship is nothing new. We find the concept of a disciple – that is, a person following a master – among Plato, Socrates and Herodotus; in ancient Hebrew culture, Elisha (2 Kings 4:38), Isaiah (8:16), Samuel (1 Sam 10:5), then we know that John the Baptist had ...

Would You Win an Arm Wrestle?

By Philip McMaster, from their ministry newsletter, McMaster News, October 2018 Did you arm wrestle when you were growing up? I used to love arm wrestling with my brother and my dad when I was younger (and stronger!) It was great fun trying to win and you never quite knew what would happen ...

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 ...

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 ...

A Purpose Greater Than Myself

By John Ridgway, first printed in "Compass" Autumn 2003 God's purposes and plans are brilliant, extensive, unique, lavish and exceedingly glorious beyond our comprehension. As a young teenager growing up in Sydney, my parents brought me up in the ways of God and we attended church every ...

The Joy of Labouring

By Paul Baily, Melbourne Labouring Community. This article was first published in our newsletter, Compass, Autumn 2026. The Great Commission and the call of sending out labourers into the harvest has been echoed from pulpits for centuries. As each generation pleads these causes, I imagine the ...

Why Celebrate ANZAC Day?

By Grant Dibden A little over 100,000 Australians have died in wars. Several hundred thousand more were wounded and countless others suffered psychological damage. Of these casualties the vast majority were between 18 and 25 years old. Just think that if you had been born 100 years earlier it ...

The Sacrifice

This is the transcript of the ANZAC talk given by Grant Dibden on 24 April, 2019, at Anglicare Residential Care, Lemon Grove Gardens, Penrith. ANZAC Day commemorates a great defeat which seems very strange to other nations.  Australia’s most hallowed day of military remembering doesn’t ...

A Life Transformed by the Gospel

By Phil McMaster I first met 'Derek', a trainee Army cadet, in January at a voluntary church service during Year One Familiarisation Training (YOFT) at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA). He came from a small regional town in Victoria. It wasn't clear whether he had any sort of faith ...

How do we care for international student graduates?

Caring for our co-labourers is a vital ingredient in keeping our communities strong. Kanini Mapperson and her husband, Tim, are community leaders in our International Student Ministry in Melbourne. June Sparks took the opportunity to sit with Kanini to get some tips on how to continue caring for ...

Jordan got baptised!

By Andrew Oldfield, Canberra Labouring Community. One of the highlights of this year's ministry at ADFA was seeing one of the cadets, Jordan, get baptised. I’d met Jordan for the first time at the start of the year as I started with Navigators at ADFA. Before this he had met with Thomas, ...

Your Questions Answered - The Chain Illustration

This year, we look at some “discipling” tools and how we can use them for our own ministries. In the last issue, Robin Dennis discussed how we could apply The Word Hand illustration. In this issue, he looks at The Chain Illustration - How to claim a promise, with an example of how to use ...

Halfway There

By Paul Bailey, Melbourne Labouring Community Here we are, midway through 2025, reflecting on all the good the Lord has done, but also looking ahead in faith for what is to come. It has been a number of months since I was able to give a comprehensive update on all that's been happening! So ...

Foundations for Life

By Levi Swatzentruber, Canberra Labouring Community University students are at a pivotal time of life, they are forming convictions, making life-direction choices and often forming what they believe for the first time. Yet, one opportunity which God has given me has reminded me that there is ...

Viewing Human Achievement: Western Culture 4

   “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 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 need, ...

Summer Mission Trip: 2018

A Trip to Nepal *a great part of this post is an extract and edited version of one of our mission teams' Ministry Update, first printed in Compass, Winter 2015. In late 2014, a small team led a short-term mission trip to ministries in Nepal. This was followed by a trek to Ama Dablam Base Camp ...

Sharing ANZAC Day with you

During this unexpected time of isolation and distancing for health purposes, we long to still share in commemorating a day that is important and special to us all. And so, despite not being able to march or meet together, we could perhaps at least listen to one common message and prayer. Please ...

From Grant to You - Resilience of Joseph

A message from our National Director, Grant Dibden. This message also published in Compass Winter 2022 issue. Perhaps one of the greatest stories of resilience in the Scriptures is that of Joseph. As we think of Joseph’s life, we see that he experienced great extremes – he was his father’s ...

Serving Faithfully No Matter the Response

By Dave and June Sparks This term our church has been studying the book of Jeremiah. He was given a message from God that he was told the people wouldn’t want to hear.  He was told he would suffer while bearing that message, but the Lord also promised to strengthen and embolden him for the ...

The God Who Saves

By Luke Midena, Canberra Labouring Community  I wonder, have you shared about Jesus with someone who seemed to recognise the good news for what it is, but never embraced the message? I’ve often wondered where the process has broken down. Was it me – did I overlook a vital element of the ...

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 ...

Mark's Gospel

By Luke Midena and Frank Mapperson, for the National Council The National Council takes seriously the need to keep God’s Word central. Together, we studied the first eight chapters of Mark’s gospel. Mark draws on the first-hand experience of Peter, and his Gospel is a fast-paced account of ...

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, ...

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 ...

Get To Know Doug and Geneve Utley

Doug and Geneve Utley are lifelong labourers from our Melbourne community. Doug has served previously as National Director, and he and Geneve have worked with many students and graduates, couples and emerging leaders over the years. He has produced resources such as the Enriching Your Marriage ...

Jim Downing

"They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green . . . " - Psalm 92:14 We remember and celebrate the life of one of the pioneers of The Navigators, Jim Downing, who passed away in Colorado Springs this week, aged 104 years old. Here is a classic message from Jim from ...

Born to Reproduce - A Story by Tony McLennan

First published in Compass, Autumn 2014. Dawson Trotman gave a signature message called "Born to Reproduce" which sets out the normal expectation that mature believers are to reproduce the spiritual life they have by bringing the Gospel to new people. The passion to be involved with the Holy ...

Labouring in Hard Soil

By Mike Treneer “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” Psalm 126:5 Jesus often used agricultural metaphors to describe the growth of the Kingdom of God. • The Kingdom is like “a man sowing seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed ...

The Words of Eternal Life

By Phil McMaster (Military Community Leader) on behalf of the team, Thomas and Raylee Bielenberg (ADFA and RMC) and Julianne McMaster (Solid Rock) I don’t know about you but I love reading the Bible with children. It is a special moment as the words bring excitement, joy and amazement from ...

Compass Feature: David Turner

Interview by June Sparks David Turner Reflects on Compass David Turner has been behind the scenes or at the helm of Compass for over 30 years. He’s seen its transition from no colour to two colour to four colour to full colour. Compass has always been about connecting with the Australian ...

Kingdom Community

By Frank Tully, first published in Compass, Autumn 2019 In order to follow God’s calling in our lives – To advance the Gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom - we need to have a context. For Navigators, that context is authentic community deeply rooted in the Kingdom of God. We don’t consider ...

Leadership, Partnership and Discipleship!

Next Gen Leadership Forum and Staff Finance Seminar By Levi Swartzentruber  We had the privilege of having Chee Hoe and Bit, Mike, and Glen from the Asia Pacific (AP) leadership team join us for a weekend of learning about “Leading Like Jesus”. We heard examples of other leaders in ...

"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 ...

A Glass Half ...

By Paul Bailey, Melbourne University Ministry, (first published in Compass Winter 2023) The Great Commission – a command given to all yet not fully understood by all. Dawson Trotman poses a challenge in “The Need of the Hour” to all believers on their perspectives on this command. He ...

Labourers for Life

By Mike Johnson, first published in Compass, Winter 2020 edition. “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20: 24 The apostle Paul ...

The Lordship of Jesus

By Mike Johnson, first published in Compass, Autumn 2021 edition (if you would like to receive the hard copy, please contact our office). Navigators are called to advance the Gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom. The message we have is one about a man who walked among us, shared in all things human, ...

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 ...

Another Student Receives Christ

By Luke Midena, Canberra Labouring Community Your prayer has been answered! Yesterday the Burmese student I asked you to pray for in August received Christ. I love how God brought this about. As I sat down with this student yesterday, the pressing question on his mind wasn’t, ‘How can I be ...

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 ...

From Grant to You - God's Word is Flawless

Dear Friend, Ps 12:6,7 says “The words of the Lord are words that are pure, silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” Psalm 19:7 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect”. Proverbs 30:5 tell us, “Every word of God is flawless.” Psalm 119:160 says, “All your ...

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 ...

From Grant To You - Beautiful Feet

Dear Friend, There are all sorts of feet. There are large feet, small feet, long feet, short feet, lean feet, and pudgy feet. Did you know that there are foot models? They get paid to have their feet photographed! Look at your feet. Do you like them? On a scale of one to ten – one being ...

Your Questions Answered - A Heart for Missions

We, as Australian Navigators, have a deep desire to go on mission; our heart is for the nations. We asked one of our Associates why he has a heart for missions, not just locally but overseas as well. Why do you have a heart for missions? Jesus’ parting words were to tell his disciples that ...

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, ...

Reaching and Equipping Cadets

We are so thankful for your partnership with Navigators. Every gift you give – whether for an individual labourer, a special project or where needed most – helps our work in advancing the Kingdom. Andrew Oldfield is part of our Canberra Navigator community, working with Trainee Cadets and ...

On Mission

A three-part piece by June Sparks The God of Mission It is hard to separate God from His mission. God’s mission in the world and history is to reveal Himself. He has entered the world through Christ, bringing reconciliation between humankind and Himself. When we look at it, we see the focus on ...

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 ...

The Power of Example

By Grant Dibden Ever been challenged by Example? Landing at the airport in Tonga for a conference, I was met by a softly-spoken man—Tevita Palu (CEO and Owner of Palu Aviation, which owns several companies including Real Tonga Airlines). I was later informed that Tevita has invited ...

A Glimpse of the Gospel Through Abraham

By Luke Midena, Canberra Labouring Community.  Two recent themes we have explored as Australian Navigators are: sharing the gospel through story and understanding the grand story of history as outlined in Scripture.  Let’s bring these two themes together and incorporate our national ...

Toss Your Do-List

By David Lyons Now, I begin each month with a day set aside for fellowship with God during which I pray for the month ahead. As I pray, the Lord shows me that He never intended for me to do some things on my list. True confession: I used to write things on my do-list that I had already done ...

Your Questions Answered - The Word Hand

Robin Dennis, one of our lifelong labourers and disciple-makers, is doing a series this year on how to use some of the 'discipleship tools' we have available. This article first appeared in the Compass newsletter, Autumn 2023 issue. The Word Hand Illustration I don’t think one can go past ...

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 ...

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 ...

Apprentices at the Australian National University

Canberra Labouring Community Update by the Swartzentrubers In response to the crowds of people Jesus saw as he ministered, he told his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” ...

Death as a Means to Our Joy – An Easter Reflection

By Scott Brown, National Director Death is painful and it spares no one. Young, old, weak, powerful, rich, poor, moral, immoral’– there are no exceptions. While some evade its grasp longer than others, global mortality rates remain 100%. Even among the living, the harsh reality of death is ...