Q & A with Gary Allan
posted by Navigators on October 19th, 2021 in Get to Know
GET TO KNOW GARY ALLAN, Senior Executive Ministry
Gary Allan joined the Nav ministry while at RMC Duntroon in 1972. Since completing 27 years military service, he has worked in senior business roles. He has served as Chairman of the Australian Navigators Board and is currently the Board Chair for the Business Life Network.
Why did you begin this ministry?
Traditionally, the Australian Navigators ministry has focused on university and military people as future leaders of this nation. Over the last 30 years, many of these ‘Navigator’ people have been or are in very senior leadership positions in various industries with little opportunity to share or to be encouraged to serve God where they work. “As one piece of iron sharpens another, so friends keep each other sharp.” Prov 27:17 (ERV)
Who are you reaching out to and who can join?
These are an invitation only, semi-formal two-hour luncheon for senior executives that were first held in Sydney (from 2014) and in Canberra (from 2019). In Sydney and Canberra, the groups consist of 15-20 Christians and non-Christians who are members of Parliament, very senior bureaucrats, business leaders, educators and in the military.
Tell us about the meetings?
After a brief catchup over lunch, a pre-arranged management or leadership topic is discussed. The lunches are not a ‘preach session’ but a share time in the context of our faith journeys under an agreed strict ‘Chatham House rule’*. These roughly bi-monthly luncheons have meant many have been encouraged in the Lord, one has come to faith, and one even had a heart attack before he left the building (since recovered; Praise The Lord!).
What can we be praying for you?
We are hoping to begin them in Melbourne post Covid lockdowns. Please pray for that and for these luncheons to continue to serve the business leaders of this nation …
Col 1: 9-11 (ERV) “… that God will make you completely sure of what he wants by giving you all the wisdom and spiritual understanding you need; that this will help you live in a way that brings honor to the Lord and pleases him in every way; that your life will produce good works of every kind and that you will grow in your knowledge of God; that God will strengthen you with his own great power, so that you will be patient and not give up when troubles come.”
For further information contact tony.mclennan@businesslife.org.au
Chatham House Rules: When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed. (https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/chatham-house-rule)