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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

Monash International Students Ministry Conference 2026

Jump to registration form below. Mt Evelyn Discovery Camp 70 Tramway Rd, Mount Evelyn VIC 3796 10-12 April 2025 With Guest Speakers: Bernard & Lilian Lee, who are trained English teachers from Singapore. Over a period of 45 years they have discipled young people who today walk with and ...

Events

We would love to see you at our community gatherings and appreciate your prayers if you are unable to join us! Keep this page bookmarked. We will have updates early in the New Year! National January Training 23-25 January 2026 - CMS Conference Centre, Katoomba, NSW. Brisbane South-East ...

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 ...

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 ...

Remembering the Sacrifice - Anzac Day 2025

John 15:13 (NLT) ~ "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."  Grant Dibden reminds us of the sacrifice many have made for the sake of our nation. Men and women laying down their lives for family, friends, country. In this video, he highlights two individuals ...

You are Needed for the Journey

By Paul Bailey, Melbourne Labouring Community It’s full speed ahead, and I’m not sure if we’ve filled up the tank with enough fuel! The train tracks: Monash University, and open for service; the Train: Monash Navs, and it has begun its journey. “ALL ABOARD!” was called at our first ...

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 ...

National Conference 2027 - DRAFT

We can't wait to see you at our National Conference on x-x October 2027 at XXXXX, NSW!  "...I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through ...

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. ...

Come - Be an Overcomer

A reflection on the 2025 Monash International Student Ministry Conference by Arnetta Wijaya, Melbourne Labouring Community Over the mid-semester break, the Monash Navigators International Student Ministry (ISM) held our annual conference, a time filled with laughter, reflection, growth and, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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; ...

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.” 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, ...

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 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 “chewing ...

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 ...

For the Sake of the Nations

By Scott Brown If you closed your eyes and imagined what it means to embrace something or someone, I wonder what you might envision. Does the word embrace invoke ideas of a friendly smile and an arm over your shoulder? Or perhaps it stirs notions of a warm and hardy handshake. For me, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

Your Questions Answered - The Heart for Short-Term Mission

David and Julie McIntosh have been labouring with the Australian Navigators for over a decade, leading our Short Term Missions ministry for some years during that time. We asked them: What are some characteristics of a helpful posture as we consider serving and not hindering the long-term ...

How Can God Love Me So?

By Lindsey Swartzentruber I want to try to tell you some of who God has revealed Himself to be this year. There have been three significant stressors in my life this year which have all led me to various ends of my strength. I have been mentally exhausted with no other ideas, no backup plans and ...

Get To Know Sarah Vernon

Sarah has been part of our Australian Navigators family for several years and recently joined one of our Short-Term Mission Trips. We interviewed her for the Winter 2025 Issue of Compass, our newsletter, where an abridged version of her interview was first published. How did you come into ...

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 ...

Generational, Relational, Intentional, Personal

By Dustyn McLaren, South-East Queensland Labouring Community It is such a privilege to serve the Lord in the Great Commission and, even more so, to enjoy His friendship. John 15:15 says, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have ...

National Conference 2025

We can't wait to see you at our National Conference on 3-6 October 2025 at Galston, NSW!  "...I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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.   ...

Into the Nations – Workshops

Saturday Morning The Bible Isn’t Flat: Reading God’s Word with Wisdom (Part 1) – Mike Johnson God is the Great Communicator – He speaks to be understood so His people may know His nature, will, and ways, and respond with faithful obedience. Yet His Word comes through diverse human ...

Into the Nations – Registration Cost

National Conference 2025 Cost   Cost ADULT $ 440 COUPLE $ 880 Student $ 370 FAMILY with children under 5yo $ 880 FAMILY with 1 child 5-12yo $ 1135 FAMILY with 1 child 13yo and over $ 1170 FAMILY with 1 child 13yo and over and 1 child in ...

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 ...

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 ...

Get to Know Dustyn and Hannah McLaren

Dustyn and Hannah are from our South East Queensland Labouring Community. Dustyn joined our Staff last year. We interviewed him for our Compass Newsletter Autumn 2023 issue. How did you come into relationship with Jesus? At the ripe age of five in October of 1987 I remember contemplating a ...

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 ...

G'day from Melbourne - an update

By Mike Johnson, Melbourne Labouring Community  Intercession for the people of our city has been a primary goal for us this year. Beginning with God, we then attempt to pray for the people and great needs of our city based on our meditation on the character and attributes of God. Using ...

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 ...

Discipling Men

By Thomas Bielenberg, Canberra Labouring Community Here's what's been happening in the ADFA/RMC Community recently: Caleb is discipling Eddy and leading a Bible study Caleb* will be discipling Eddy* this week while I’m away. We have been meeting Eddy together most weeks as I hand him over ...

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 ...

Your Questions Answered by Daniel Goh

Daniel Goh is a fulltime engineer who started engaging with a Navigators university group after graduating. In 2022, he was invited to join the 2-year Melbourne Navigator Leader Development Training Program. We interviewed Daniel to get to know him better as well as asked for insight into the ...

Your Questions Answered - Men's Workers Group

Robert Walterson is a member of the Navigators Men’s Workers Group in Canberra. We asked him to tell us a bit about the group and how it has helped shape his growth. How did you get involved in this group? I got involved with Australian Navigators in 2018 at ANU’s Orientation Week. I ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

From Grant to You – All about Mission

God is a missionary God. He is a sending God. The Father sent the Son to earth to bring His people into a right relationship with Him. And the Son went. As the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus sends His disciples into the world to share the good news of the gospel with every nation (John 17:18). God ...

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 me ...

Your Questions Answered: What Does it Take to Reach the Nations?

What does it take to reach the nations? Ordinary people in relationship with Christ, with a heart for the nations. Many live next door to everywhere, sharing the hope they have; others are willing to go everywhere, live next door and advance the gospel to the lost. What does it take to be ...

The Authority of the Word of God: A Pillar of Faith

By Grant Dibden, first published in Compass, Summer 2024. In Australia we live in a time characterised by shifting moral values and diverse worldviews. Popular culture tells us to look within to find out who we really are, to ‘be true to ourselves’, which is the key to living full and happy ...

The Power of God's Word From Neighbours to Nations

By an Australian Navigators Labourer Our neighbourhoods are a wonderful place to advance the gospel. My friend, on numerous occasions, has met neighbours from differing cultures with different exposure to Jesus and the Scriptures. With great regularity, I hear how she shares the Scriptures with ...

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.” ...

Sydney Labouring Community Update Summer 2024

By Scott Brown "In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." - John 16:23–24 - If you've kept up ...

Go!

By Mary Merrill, friend and faithful supporter of Australian Navigators. We’re a family that loves an adventure – “Go” is an inviting word. So, when we had the opportunity to move to Spain with work, we were thrilled. More than an adventure, we love the Lord and want to be obedient to ...

Third Culture Kids

By Leah Pieri, first published in Compass Winter 2025 “A ‘Third Culture Kid’ (TCK) is a child who spent a significant portion of their formative years outside their parents’ home culture, often in a different country or environment. This experience leads them to create their own unique ...

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 ...

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

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Get To Know Clint and Leigh Ann Trebesh

Clint and Leigh Ann have served on staff with The Navigators since 2004. They have worked in camp and conference ministry, led disciple-making work among university students, and laboured with multiple city teams, before moving to Melbourne earlier this year. This is the unabridged version of their ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Expecting God to Work!

By Levi and Lindsey Swartzentruber, Canberra Labouring Community Our new team members, JT and Laine, have only been in the country with us for two months now but already their contribution to God’s work at the ANU is showing… For years we have struggled to gain interest from the students in ...

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 ...

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 ...

Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross, The

NABEEL JABBOUR Go beyond mere tolerance to a passion for Muslims. This book explains how that can be done in ways that are sensitive to Islamic culture and provides suggestions on how to build vital relationships with Muslims. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Nabeel Jabbour was born in Syria and grew ...