Get To Know Haven Barr

posted by Navigators on October 20th, 2025 in Discipleship | Get to Know

Haven is one of our Ministry Apprentices, working alongside our Sydney Labouring Community, at Macquarie Uni.

How did you come into relationship with Jesus and how have you grown?

What child doesn’t love singing along to Christmas carols about the little baby Jesus and associating that with joy? Not little Haven! It took me a while to learn about Jesus and to be able to understand bigger words like repentance. This happened when I was eleven, when I invited Jesus into my heart, saying a prayer with my scripture teacher at the time.

Throughout high school, I developed a more personal relationship with God as my Sustainer, Guide and provider of wisdom. I also began to lead youth group when I was fourteen. I loved youth leading so much I continued to be a leader into my adult years! By teaching others about God, I learnt a lot myself and discovered a hunger for the Word so that I could better understand the Creator of the universe.

Why did you choose to be an apprentice with us and how did God lead you to this?

Haven with other Macquarie Uni Ministry Staff. Photo supplied.

A friend invited me to a Navigators catch-up in first year uni so I went. I quite liked the club so I continued meeting with the Navigators that first year as a student participant. Campus senior staff member Dave McIntosh helped me improve my foundational knowledge about God’s character! Scott Brown then came on board, through whom God led me to accept an invitation to become an apprentice.

I chose to take on this role because I could do exactly what Scott and Dave had done for me, which worked to build my faith (such as completing the Five Assurances Study to memorising Scripture, which was a whole new useful ball game!) I figured I could be of great use to other uni students just like when I was leading youth group. I was stoked to take on a job where I can be a ‘Scott’ or ‘Dave’ for other guys. I know this is important because we need strong disciple-makers.

I think I’ve been called to these roles simply to spread God’s love. Navigators is just one way of sharing God’s love, and I am so happy to be a part of it. I think these roles work well for me because I know I’ve been gifted with the passion to relate to other people through communication. This is evident because I love to read about how to improve my ability to relate to others more, and apply it. I love people; hanging out with mates, sharing stimulating conversations, being in a good community that helps one another out, and sharing memories with people.

What are you praying for God to do during your time as an apprentice both now and in the future?

I pray that God would provide students I can partner with in growing in faith together. That He would provide the donors to enable this apprenticeship to continue to at least July 2026, and then beyond. For opportunities and experiences allowing me to become a more loving, caring, peaceful, righteous man. That He would reveal His plan for me.

Haven is part of our Sydney Labouring Community. If you would like to consider supporting Haven’s ministry, visit his Staff Profile page: https://navigators.org.au/staff/barrh/