1

1

Lord, we pray for all those involved in our ministries, that we may know the certainty of our salvation in Christ (Romans 5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 3:4-6).

We pray, Lord, for solid foundations to be laid in people’s lives, especially confidence in your Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). May we love it and trust it.

We pray, Lord, that because of this assurance you will help us all to be bold witnesses for you in our various contexts (Philemon 6; 1 Peter 3:15).

Lord, help us to practise those disciplines that will lay good foundations and will keep us strong and safe when difficult times come (Matthew 7:24-27; Colossians 2:6-7).

We pray especially, Lord, for those who are struggling right now. Thank you that you promise we will not be tested beyond our strength (1 Corinthians 10:12-13; 2 Peter 3:8-9).

We pray for those who are suffering and in pain and feel quite lost. Please, Lord, be the Good Shepherd you promised to be (John 10:11-15; 1 Peter 1:6-9).

Lord God, we thank you for the reality that you are both mystery hidden and truth revealed. We praise you that you are simply greater than us. Help us not to reduce you but to enlarge you in our lives (Luke 1:4; Isaiah 45:15).

S

M

T

W

T

F

Reaching toward God

For this issue of Reach, I want to bring to you two contrasting thoughts on God.

The first is summarised in Luke 1:4 (NIV), which says, “so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught”. In the mind of Luke, God has so clearly revealed himself in the person of Jesus Christ that Theophilus could be sure about the things he had been learning. Clarity, certainty, knowledge; God does not want us to remain confused people. There are truths which we can state, stand on and believe in, not least the very assurance of our salvation, based not on our works, good deeds or intentions, but on the mercy, grace and generosity of God. Thus we can say with confidence: “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12 NIV)

By contrast there is the truth of Isaiah 45:15: “Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself, the God and Saviour of Israel.” Mystery, silence, unanswered prayer; what are you doing God? There are times in our lives where the latter truth seems more prevalent than the former, when God seems far away, his purposes unclear, his presence stunted. And we are reminded perhaps of passages such as “How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Romans 11:33 NIV)

It is good to build the solid foundations of certainty, so that when the storms of doubt and questioning assail us our faith is not destroyed. Perhaps it is only because of the solid assurances we can have that God permits us to walk in ways which are less clear, so that we may yearn and long for him even more. Wherever you are in your walk with God, may you know his blessing and peace in these months.

S

2-8 FebruaryPrayer

Tom Walsh

2

Pray that the Connect Group leaders who meet at Paul and Jayne’s home will be encouraged, inspired and equipped to be more intentional in discipling others.

Pray for opportunities to train leaders in how to write Bible study questions that encourage people to dig into God’s Word and apply the truths to their own lives.

Pray for a passionate disciple-making culture at Alive Church, Lincoln.

Pray for wisdom for Navigator Church Ministries (NCM) as they finalise materials to help churches develop a disciple-making culture.

Pray that many church leaders will attend the national launch of NCM’s approach to disciple-making cultures and will want to use the Crafter’s Framework in their church.

Pray for an inspiring presentation of NCM at the Navigator Reps conference to help Reps consider how they can further serve their local church.

Pray for a smooth transition for Paul and Jayne’s foster children, Lilly (2) and Lacey (1), as they move to their adoptive family this month.

9-15 FebruaryPrayer

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

2

Helping the whole church

We have been Connect Group leaders at Alive Church in Lincoln for nearly 20 years. During this time we have tried to use the principles and skills we learned with the Navigators to disciple those in our Connect Group.

A few years ago Paul joined the Navigator Church Ministries. They challenged us to believe that we could help the whole church to grow in their understanding and practice of discipleship.

Around the same time Alive Church invited us to be Cluster Leaders, overseeing and encouraging five other Connect Groups. Initially this was fairly low key. Earlier this year we started inviting these Connect Group leaders around to our home once a quarter

for a meal and discussion. This has provided us with a natural way to talk about the why and how of discipleship.

We are using the Crafters’ Framework, which uses the analogy of craft-making to explain discipleship. It helps us to think about what we are trying to achieve, the principles involved in disciple-making, the tools we have available and the skills required to use these tools effectively. We are thankful for this great opportunity to help other leaders catch the vision of disciple-making.

One of our leaders asked how she could be expected to disciple others if she herself has never been discipled. Our pastor has been impressed with the support and training we have provided and has asked us to invite more Connect Group leaders along in the new year.

Paul & Jayne Arnold

20s & 30snetwork

Sometimes something enters into our lives that we’ve not experienced before and we find that what worked before doesn’t seem to cover it this time. Now what? Or perhaps it isn’t something sudden, more of an increasing sense that things just aren’t how they were supposed to be in some area of life.

For people in their 20s and 30s, life is full of experiences like this. We constantly face new challenges and opportunities as we build towards our future.

A sanctuary retreat provides a safe place for people in this demographic to process where they are at and to learn together to press in and wrestle with God when life isn’t what they expected.

In 2019 we ran two retreats, both at the Old Mill Centre in Richmond, surrounded by acres of beautiful Yorkshire countryside. In June, we asked each other ‘What brings true life?’ And we explored what Jesus’s answer means for us today: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’” (Luke 10:27 NIV).

At November’s retreat, we looked at Habakkuk’s fascinating conversation with God. We discussed how we tend to respond to tough or disappointing times, what we tend to turn to in order to make sense of what’s happening, and how we can wrestle with God and pray out of our pain. Crucially, these retreats offer people in their 20s

16-22 FebruaryPrayer

3

Zanel LeafZanel Leaf, who runs the retreats, is expecting her first baby in February 2020. Pray for plenty of opportunities to rest amongst all the changes and for wisdom in decisions around the future.

Thank God for the retreat weekends and their potential to offer rest, reflection and connection with God and others.

Please pray for those who have been to a retreat, that they will continue the conversation with God that they began there.

Pray that more people in their 20s and 30s will come to a retreat weekend and be refreshed by time with God and their peers.

Pray that those who’ve experienced a retreat weekend will encourage each other to develop habits of rest, play and prayer.

Pray for Reps working with people in their 20s and 30s. Pray for the ability to meet up regularly and for insight into each person’s unique context.

Please pray for graduates who are isolated and not in fellowship with other Christians. Pray for them to find a supportive Christian community.

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

23-29 FebruaryPrayer

4

Pray for wisdom for Duncan Miller as he champions the 20s and 30s network.

Please pray that graduates will develop relationships in which they can be open and honest with Christian friends.

Pray that God will guide the LIFEnet groups in Birmingham and Glasgow as they help 20s and 30s to develop ‘spiritual friendships’.

Pray that God will inspire new people to approach the LIFEnet team, eager to set up new LIFEnet groups.

Please pray that more graduates will catch the vision for living together (as ten of them do in the Community at 41 in London). This is a fantastic way for Christians to support and disciple each other.

Please pray that graduates will find good churches that will help them to apply their faith in their working lives.

Give thanks for Robin and pray that events like the Summer School will continue to encourage graduates through God-shaped content and that graduates will be able to attend.

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

and 30s the chance to do three things that life often pushes out:

• Rest up and reflect – Life can get hectic and full. We create some space.

• Reconnect and play – These weekends aren’t just for reflecting. We spend time doing things people enjoy with old and new friends.

• Pray and revise – We make time for conversation with God, for people to share with him what weighs on their heart and mind and to get his perspective on it.

Retreats are a key part of our 20s and 30s network, but there is more to the picture. We also help Christians to be the best kind of friends to each other (LIFEnet) and we offer training opportunities, such as the Big Weekend and Summer School. Here’s a story from an Edinburgh graduate who attended a recent Summer School…

Robin says:

“I would 100% say the Summer School encouraged me to serve in my context. I work in an industry where large parts of our pay are linked to numerical performance. I found the teaching around grace, especially that ‘You cannot lose through effort what you did not gain through effort’, to be a welcome reminder that Jesus offers a radically different way.

Being surrounded by the Navs community again was an encouragement that discipleship, while hard, is really worth the time. I had been feeling fairly discouraged after several false starts at leading church groups and sharing a discipleship vision. However, the conference helped me persevere. It’s been really exciting to see my small group flourish in the last year. Finally, after four or five years of trying, I’ve found a community I enjoy being a part of and which I can contribute to using my gifts.”

55

Faith, fitness and friendship

For Susie, a life of faith involves running, mentoring and parenting dilemmas. It’s about relationships with friends at home in Loughborough and in Serbia. It’s remaining in Jesus in every minute!

Susie and her husband Gavin have been investing in their local community for the last 20 years through school governance, athlete mentoring and coaching, an outward-looking home group and now Second Half Living workshops. Recently their home group saw a couple of their friends turn to Jesus.

But running this race of faith is not without its challenges. Paul hints at the dogged determination it requires: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,

but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me… one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14 NIV)

What are our lives about, if not to run with Jesus and others towards an eternity with God? But running with others can be frustrating, worrying and awkward. There are barriers that stop us from sharing Jesus, that stop our family and friends from listening. How do we live with the tension between what’s around us and what’s in front of us?

Trust and thankfulness, living and serving, humility: these are words Susie has been wrestling with. We don’t need to settle for less. Whatever we’re doing, we can take others with us, all the while trusting that God is not limited by our barriers.

1-7 MarchPrayer

5

Susie BrownThank God for Susie and Gavin’s local churches and their emphasis on discipleship. Pray for guidance for each home group member, discipling in different settings (Psalm 127:1-2).

Thank God for his saving grace! Pray that Susie and Gavin will know that God made them and has good things for them to do (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Thank God for the enthusiasm of Susie’s running group for women and the community that’s developed (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Thank God for working in Susie’s friends through and since Alpha. Pray for Jesus to open their minds to understand the scriptures and be saved (Luke 24:45).

Pray for Susie as she works through what God is saying to her about trust and thankfulness and about taking responsibility for felt needs (Philippians 2:12-13).

Pray for Susie and Gavin’s home group as they discuss Second Half Living, that God will help them seek his kingdom first as they prepare for this stage of life (Matthew 6:33).

Pray God will help Susie and Gavin share their faith clearly at every opportunity with their unbelieving family members (Colossians 4:4-6).

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

6

Pray for Marion’s ongoing health needs and especially for the medical staff overseeing the various aspects of her treatment and care.

Pray for Martin in his own care of Marion, that he will demonstrate Christlikeness by being loving, patient and helpful.

Thank God for the support and encouragement Martin and Marion receive from their family, as well as from several close friends locally.

Please pray for the non-Christian man who asked Martin to mentor him as a life coach. Pray for spiritual fruit to be borne from this unexpected, God-ordained encounter.

Give thanks for the fruitful ‘alongsider’ relationships Martin has developed with five other men. Pray that the Lord will help him to encourage and resource them in their various jobs and ministries.

Pray for Martin’s ongoing involvement with two groups of seniors: a monthly men’s lunch gathering and a twice-yearly meeting with a few former Navigators from the south of England.

Above all, pray that God’s over-arching purposes will be fulfilled through circumstances that are at times humanly difficult and draining.

8-14 MarchPrayer

He will remain faithful

My wife Marion’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in early 2018, with its attendant tiredness and anxiety, has brought significant changes for us both, with limitations that have at times been hard to bear.

The need for me to be available to care has restricted most of my ministry to the Southampton area, but with some wider possibilities by Skype and FaceTime. Marion herself is my main ministry, a commitment I made before the Lord 50 years ago this year!

Thankfully her mobility is above average, with regular use of the treadmill, games of table tennis and creative work in the garden. But she has debilitating ‘shaky patches’ at least once on most days, which are impossible to predict as to timing and extent.

Through everything, the support of our family and friends has been wonderful and, with their help, I have been able to enjoy some times away from home, including a relaxing weekend on the Isle of Wight, during which God did an amazing thing! He led a non-Christian man, whom I met over breakfast, to ask me if I would consider ‘mentoring’ him. So far we have developed an excellent rapport through three hour-long phone conversations.

Over the past 18 months God’s provision has been constant and abundant, whether in finances, advice, encouragement or excellent healthcare. As FB Meyer writes, “Whenever you give yourself absolutely to Christ and His service… you may reckon absolutely on His thoughtful provision; and even if your faith should give out, He will remain faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” Hallelujah!

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

Martin Cooper

Navigator office prayer

On 4 January 2019 Southampton House of Prayer (SoHOP) was launched in the city. The House of Prayer is a space set aside for focusing on God and people go there because they want to make time to be with God. SoHOP believes that Jesus is the hope for our city – they are dedicated to seeking him in prayer.

I was really struck by this and the importance of creating a rhythm of prayer – a regular time and space that is set aside for focusing on God and spending time with him. This is not only important for us to do as individuals but also for us as an organisation and so we have set up a rhythm of prayer in the Navigator office. This has been running for the last 10 months.

The first Monday in the month the office staff host a prayer meeting in the morning to which the local Navigator Reps, Associates, Connect Workers and Trustees are invited. This is a

great opportunity to gather together and pray. Although we are all involved in different areas of the work, we are united in our vision of seeking God and his kingdom. Introducing this rhythm of prayer has helped build on the friendships we have but more importantly keeps us focused on the reason we do what we do. It is so easy to get caught up in tasks and to-do lists that we can forget to set aside time with the One who holds it altogether. We don’t have a formal agenda for the time together, just space and quiet to offer our praises to God and lift different areas of the work to him. “Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.” (Psalm 141:2 NLT)

Marie, who works in the office, writes: “When I’m embroiled in the day-to-day busyness of the office it is very easy to lose perspective and forget the motivation behind all that we do. The monthly rhythm of prayer provides a great opportunity to refocus on why I am here, on whose work I am doing, and to align myself with God’s way forward.

15-21 MarchPrayer

7

We are blessed with a large enough office that we have space to host a monthly prayer meeting. Please join us in thanking God for this provision.

Please pray that as we gather on a Monday morning to pray that we will be inspired and encouraged in our prayers for the work and for each other.

Prayer changes the atmosphere. Please pray that those who pass through the office as visitors or workers will sense God’s presence and be reminded of his love for them.

Prayer brings change. Please pray that we will remember what we have prayed for over the months so we can see where God has answered and be thankful.

Give thanks for all those who have been able to attend these prayer meetings. Please pray that they will be encouraged to have their own rhythm of prayer with God.

As daily demands increase it would be easy to try and shorten the prayer time so we have more time for tasks. Please pray that we will keep the prayer time as a priority and trust that God will enable us to complete our work in the rest of the time.

Please join us in praying Psalm 141:2 for our times together. May God accept our prayers as incense offered to him and our upraised hands as an evening offering.

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

Naomi Sebborn

22-28 MarchPrayer

8

As we interact with other organisations such as our auditors, insurers and bank, please pray that we will develop good relationships built on integrity and honesty.

As we interact with those who support the work of the Navigators financially and in prayer, please pray that we will serve them diligently and cheerfully.

As we interact with those who make use of our publications, please pray that we will provide an efficient service and helpful advice.

As we interact with the Reps, Associates and Connect Workers, please pray that we are able to encourage them as we deal with day-to-day matters.

As we interact with the Trustees, please pray that we will provide the information and support they need to help them govern well.

As we interact with other Navigator organisations across the world, please pray that these relationships will be an encouragement to everyone involved.

As the office staff in Southampton interact with the other employees based elsewhere, please pray for strong friendships and good communication.

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

And sharing in the prayer time has helped me to get to know others who attend in a deeper way.”

Simon, one of our Trustees, writes: “As a Trustee it’s very refreshing for me to spend an hour once a month praying for the Navigator work with like-minded friends and colleagues, as opposed to the inevitable and necessary focus in our Trustee and committee meetings (after opening devotionals) of facts, figures, discussions and decisions. As we pray for one another I am also helpfully challenged by the sheer diversity of contexts and circumstances within which we live and minister. What a great rhythm to build into one’s devotional life!”

These prayer times help those of us who work in the office to have a fresh

perspective on the work we are involved in. We are often interacting with different groups of people, providing information or serving them in various ways. Stopping and praying for these different groups of people helps us focus on the bigger picture of the Navigator work as a whole rather than just our individual tasks. It also reminds us of how God is interested in all areas of our lives and that nothing is insignificant to him. Having a prayer time together helps us be prayerfully minded as we then carry out our duties, whether it be a conversation on the phone with the auditor, posting out a publications order from the website or answering a Rep’s email. This is why we should “never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT).

Office in Southampton

The alternative call

9

Article

When I heard that I should deny myself, take up my cross and follow Jesus, I believed that true, radical God-following meant giving everything to everyone – stopping at nothing to be what Jesus was to everybody. But I failed to grasp that only Jesus could be the once-for-all gift to everybody and that God doesn’t lack resources. I fell deep into the exhaustion of following a subtly alternative call.

I like to try to be the kind of person who is no bother to anyone. I have a ‘can do’ attitude in everything. I also feel the concerns of others deeply. Over time, however, this ideal demanded more than I could give, as I became a husband, a father to three young children, an assistant pastor and a ministry leader to over 100 students. My god demanded that I be everything to all of these people… so I tried to do just that, and my god appeared to be unimpressed. Perhaps my god didn’t even notice as I grew more and more

by Xander Cant

10

downtrodden, depleted and defeated.

“God, where are your infinite resources for the task you’ve assigned?” I used to ask. “I’m coming to you for all I need to cope with the task you’ve given me.”

And this god gave no reply to this question, just the familiar refrain: “Keep going, deny yourself, stay loyal. Just continue to be that ‘can do’ person – you’re such a trooper!”

I began a sabbatical – six months of rest from being anything to anyone (wife and kids aside). I decided that I would stop listening to this god. In fact, I almost completely stopped in every way. I promised nothing, did nothing, was nothing to anyone. I felt far from my god.

But over those months, I slowly became familiar again with another God, a God who didn’t appear to be demanding but had been waiting in the wings. This God was similar – authoritative – but this God didn’t maintain the same “keep going, you’ve got this” refrain.

This God seemed to understand my predicament much better than I did. This God seemed to say, “I see you are anxious about many things… Will you receive my help?” I began experiencing something new, the pain and joy of being loved

for absolutely no reason. As Isaiah 30:18 (NASB) puts it: “The Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore he waits on high to have compassion on you.”

This God didn’t demand all that determination or service. This God called for my devotion as a response to receiving his help. This God didn’t ask that I be everything to everyone, but instead waited until I collapsed into this impossible task, offering expertly timed compassion to a heart that was ready to receive. This God said, “I’ve got this. Can I be everything to you?”

I had made an idol and I had become as blind and lifeless as my idol. I was being slowly killed by a god – a god who was a toxic concoction of my delusions, romantic ideals and trooperish expectations of myself. When these expectations were blended with misunderstood sermons, examples and testimonies of others doing great things that I could add to my work ethic for this god, I dug deeper and crumpled further.

Over a period of months, I slowly uncrumpled. This god wasn’t God after all – this god was a counterfeit, a soul crusher, a very naughty boy! It turned out that God was God.

I’ve done my best to do away with my idol through

setting boundaries, prioritising, a proactive focus… but these simple changes couldn’t kill my idol. God knew that one of us had to go, and as I repented, I participated as God killed my idol for me. Living without this idol to worship still leaves a hole sometimes, but in its place I live in awe of the time that God’s compassion came and won my devotion.

I can’t always be everything to everyone – I know that now. No longer will I allow God’s enemy, Satan, to mislead me into mishearing Jesus’s call to follow. The true God has shown me that denying myself, taking up my cross and following Jesus can be discharged perfectly well from within the limitations of our humanity, by the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave Martha an invitation to be devoted, not a restriction from serving. God is teaching me to serve him and love people around me from within the limitations I have, by the provision of his Holy Spirit.

With all the gifts of a whole variety of people at his disposal, God only requires each of us to do our bit. If the Father has written a symphony for his church to play, then the Spirit is well able to conduct this diverse orchestra with authority and expertise. Praise God that King Jesus was and is the provision for all things, and we are not.

The Trustees

Thank God for some encouraging conversations and new contacts in the search for new Trustees. Please keep praying that God will lead us to two or three new Trustees, including one with a financial background.

Summer School

Praise God for good networks in Scotland. Each of the Scottish student ministries is seeing fruit in different ways, so we are thankful for people remembering us in prayer. Specifically, we’ve seen an answer to the request to pray that the graduates who joined us will feel encouraged and ready to serve God in their various contexts. It’s great to hear of graduates being inspired by grace and applying this to their work, church and friendships.

11

Answered Prayer

We would like to thank you for your prayers. To encourage you as you pray for us, here are some answers!

Publications

Thank you for praying for our resources and resource team. It’s amazing how clear God’s answers can be, when you stop to think about it!

We’ve seen a wave of Navigators approaching us with blog articles and ideas for new resources, we’ve welcomed Shona Cullens to the publications team and Jonny Lawrance-Owen as an editor, and we’ve heard of new life resulting from people encountering Jesus through our resources: “One of the men in the church began doing First Encounters with another guy. They did chapter one and the guy gave his life to Christ. The next Sunday his mother came to church with him because she was so amazed at the change in his life. She said that she wanted a First Encounter like her son had had. We are getting more great stories from the church, as over 50 people are using First Encounters one on one.”

Finally, Eva Leaf represented the Navigators at the CRT (Christian Resources Together) Retailers and Suppliers Retreat. Many good contacts and links with major Christian bookshops were made. Several said they would be interested in discipleship events where Navigator publications could be presented.

12

New arrivals!

Congratulations to Daniel and Lisa White and Kat and Ben Shepherd, who have recently become families of four!

Kat, Ben and Erik were joined by Maria Helen on 11 July 2019 at 17:40. Kat says, “We are revelling in how generously God is providing for us through friends and family. Please pray that Ben and I will love and serve each other and our children, continually reliant on and aware of God’s parental and gracious love for us both.”

The Whites welcomed Martha Joyce into their family on 29 September 2019 at 23:17. Daniel says, “We love her so much and are so thankful to have her in our lives at long last. Elizabeth loves being a big sister and big helper. Thanks to all who have been praying for us.”

70s and 80s Bristol Navigators Reunion

We started with a virtual reunion, supported by an email cascade and a website. People added life summaries, photos, their location and their email address and were enthusiastic about getting together. Some were nervous about how much everyone would have changed! On 25 October 2019 just under 50 people (including spouses) gathered together in Bristol. It was great to see everyone so engaged in conversation and enjoying re-connecting.

George and Chris Howard started the Bristol ministry in 1972. God has plainly blessed the fruits of their labours. Committed labourers have scattered and are serving God in the UK and abroad.

Farewell to Steve Peters

On 13 November 2019 Steve Peters’ term as a Navigator Trustee came to an end, after nine years on the Board and as our Finance Committee chair. Steve’s wisdom, generosity, attention to detail, geniality, sheer hard work and spiritual insight have been deeply appreciated. He will be greatly missed! We pray that God will bless him richly in his new ventures.

NavigatorsNews

Steve Peters

Bristol Navigators Reunion

Transformed lives and campuses

When Jesus called his disciples, he marked the moment by declaring he would be making them “fishers of people” (Mark 1:17, ISV). In the Scottish student ministries we dream of transformed lives and transformed campuses. This means communities and individuals who help ordinary students on a journey with God: from curious, resistant or passive to a living trust in Jesus. We want to see students convinced that there are opportunities all around them to share what God has given them so that others will join this journey.

Our four student ministries in Glasgow, St Andrews, Stirling and Edinburgh are having an impact on over 300 students every week. As a result, we are experiencing a mixture of

real encouragement and real challenge. On the one hand, we are seeing new life and growth in our communities and a genuine openness among non-believers. On the other hand, we are seeing students struggling with stress, boundaries and commitment, whilst our ministries are led by small teams of just a few Reps, Connect Workers, students and part-time helpers. Our prayer in light of this is two-fold: that God will lead and protect these teams, and that we will see more students grow to become fishers of people.

Here are a few encouraging stories from the Scottish student ministries:

Mairi, a St Andrews Rep, says:

“We have been studying ‘Who is God?’ this semester, looking at some of his attributes and asking whether we actually see him

Pray that the student Reps, Connect Workers and Associates will prioritise walking with Jesus and that all their ministry will flow from their relationship with him.

Pray that the student teams will be an environment of grace and vision, releasing each member to make their unique contribution to Jesus’s kingdom.

Pray that the Connect Workers will be attentive to God’s voice so that he will be able to lead them into the places they most need to grow this year.

Pray that the students will really hear and catch the vision of disciple-making and that we will see them take small steps toward becoming labourers.

Pray for strong, mutually encouraging relationships between Reps and their supporting partners. Pray that both parties will trust and experience God as their provider.

Pray for the student small groups that meet weekly across the four Scottish cities, that they will be places where students learn to go deep with God and one another.

Pray for local ministry events and weekends away, that the teams will discern what is most needed in each case, that the students will come and that the Holy Spirit will use these times to bring deep change.

29 March - 4 AprilPrayer

13

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

Colin Gillies

14

Pray for the students as deadlines begin to mount up. Pray that they will love their work as a gift from God and that they will get the balance right between working hard and prioritising their growth in Christ.

Pray for protection and healing for the increasing number of students who are struggling with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Pray that the Navigator communities will be wise and compassionate in how they help, and that God will use these experiences for his glory and others’ freedom.

Pray for the Navigator ministries that have the privilege of working in partnership with churches, UCCF ministries, Friends International and other organisations. Pray for kingdom-minded generosity and clarity.

Pray for the Summer School in May, that it will have a lasting impact on those who attend.

Several non-Christians attend Navigator groups in Scotland. Pray that they will be convicted of their need for Jesus. Pray that we will connect with non-Christians through campus outreach and personal relationships.

Please pray that God will call people to take part in the Connect programme next year and give them the faith to trust him, especially regarding raising their own support.

Pray that many international students will impact other countries because while in Scotland they learned to walk with Jesus and help others do the same.

5-11 AprilPrayer

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

for who he is. This has led to some wonderful conversations as the students wrestle with this question. Some are beginning to move from a place of legalism to freedom, recognising that our view of God massively affects how we live! Personally I am learning more and more that discipleship is a slow process, but I am encouraged by my Navs group that our vision for what God is doing in our lives is widening!”

Shona, a Stirling Rep, says:

“This semester two of the students involved in our small groups and the CU have put their trust in Jesus. It has been a joy to watch the other students surround them, love them and point them to Jesus through friendship, conversations and also looking at the Bible with them. One of the students who became a Christian is in my small group. The student co-leading with me wants to help her as she starts her

journey with Jesus and is going to do the First Encounters Bible studies with her. Other student leaders are meeting and discipling students in their groups too. As well as this, there are seven other students reading Uncover Mark with their friends.”

Ben, an Edinburgh Connect Worker, says:

“The people from Navs who got alongside me have really impacted my life. They supported and encouraged me in my journey to becoming a Christian and continue to help me to grow in walking through life with Jesus. I’m now doing the Connect programme with the Navs in Edinburgh in the hope that, just as I’ve been helped by those who cared about me and my relationship with God, I can similarly help others by getting alongside them in their life.”

Building on the past

What do we do in the UK with our years of experience in Ethiopia? We know lots about Ethiopia, its language, culture and people, and what it means to flourish as a disciple in the Orthodox Church. We loved living in Ethiopia, but we don’t live there anymore!

Of course, as a Navigator, many things are transferrable to church and community life in the UK. Ralph gets a chance to do some university teaching about religion and Africa and even to teach some people Gə’əz (the classical language of Ethiopia). But we long to use all the things that God taught us in Ethiopia in creative ways here and now.

Waiting is something that we have to learn. As I once heard in a talk, Moses did a 40-year BA in Egyptian studies and then a 40-year MA in desert survival before he really started his

ministry! One thing we need to learn is that we are not ‘experts’ but we are disciples of Jesus, and that is what matters most in the way we relate to and serve others.

Earlier this year Ralph met some people at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (OCMS), an organisation that seeks to serve the church through scholarship. They are seeking to develop their work in countries with an Orthodox Church and to develop training for Orthodox Church leaders. ‘Would you like to be involved?’ they said. ‘Oh, and by the way, our focus is Romania and Ethiopia.’

In November, we spent a few days together in Sibiu, Romania, and in January we visited Ethiopia, offering opportunities for people to spend time at OCMS and reflect on mission in these places. What a privilege. It seems God is opening a door to let us build on the past, and serve his church in these nations.

Pray for the Lee family, seeking to live as disciples of Christ in Cambridge, for good relationships in the community and church in which they can show Christ’s love.

Pray for the work of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, especially for new initiatives seeking to work with Orthodox Churches in promoting mission in a secular age.

Pray for people from Romania’s Orthodox Church with a heart for mission and facing the challenges of secularism, that they will engage with the opportunities at the Oxford Centre.

Pray for people from Ethiopia’s Orthodox Church with a heart for mission, that God will help them navigate the challenge of a country with growing ethnic and religious tensions.

Pray for wisdom for Ralph as he seeks to develop study and training materials relevant to Orthodox leaders.

Pray for Ralph and others at the Oxford Centre, that they will develop significant relationships with students, impacting the whole of life.

Pray for the nations of Romania and Ethiopia, for the good news of Christ to come to people in transforming ways.

12-18 AprilPrayer

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

15

Ralph & Sarah Lee

16

We thank God that he continues to provide for our Reps and ministry. We are conscious of depending on Jesus for his provision through our partnership with our supporters.

Pray for our Reps who live on gift income. Depending on God for provision day to day can be exciting yet can also be emotionally fatiguing. Pray for grace to cling to the Lord in faith.

Pray for wisdom, grace and the Lord’s perspective for the National Leadership Team and the Board as they work through budgets and funding for the year ahead.

Pray for Reps as they develop partnerships with supporters, that the Lord would go before them into every relationship, preparing the way as they bring up the challenging subject of money.

Pray for those in our ministry living on conventional income - they too depend on the Lord’s provision, but through employment. Pray that God will protect their jobs.

Pray for our supporters, that the Lord would bless them abundantly, so that in all things and at all times, having all that they need, they would abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).

As we look to the future, the Navigators need to consider how best to sustainably meet our central costs. Pray that the Lord would show us his path, and that we would follow well.

19-25 AprilPrayer

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

Finance Report

We are so grateful for your gifts and for how God is using them to advance the gospel of Jesus and his kingdom.

Gifts for Reps: £1,385,795

These gifts enable our Reps to

• share the Good News• train and disciple• show God’s love to people• impact universities, churches, communities• work in the UK and abroad

The amount shown is after transfer of 8% of these gifts to our central funds.

Central funds: £165,104

These central funds enable us to

• run the Connect programme• train and support our Reps• match the fundraising of new Reps• put prayer at the heart of our organisation• provide strategic leadership• develop resources• hold events like the Big Weekend, Summer School• provide administrative support• provide good governance

Gifts to central funds: £52,869

8% admin charge (from Reps) for central funds: £112,235

Gifts for Reps: £1,385,795

17

The ‘our’ in the Lord’s Prayer

Reflections on Matthew 6:9-13

Praying the Lord’s Prayer as a community

by Derek Leaf

Wednesday

Thursday

Sunday

Our Father in heaven (v 9)

I have always thought of the Lord’s Prayer as a personal prayer, yet it speaks in terms of ‘our’. So, how does it feel to pray it with a sense of community? Think about a community you are in - there may be people about whom you have strong emotions. How does it feel that this Father in heaven is your collective Father?

Pray: Thank you, Father, that you are the Father of us all and that you love us all. You love those I love, and you love those I am challenged by. You love those I agree with, and you love those I disagree with.

Monday

Hallowed be your name (v 9)

This Father of ours is holy. How does our hallowed Father look at my attitudes towards others in the community?

Pray: Father, forgive our attitudes towards other members of our community that are governed more by selfish ambition and vain conceit than by your love and holiness.

Tuesday

Give us today our daily bread (v 11)

The more intense my need, the narrower the focus of my prayers. It can be a challenge to look at and pray for the wider needs of the community.

Pray: Father, as you have a heart for our community, help me to lift up my eyes from personal needs to the needs of us all and to pray across the wider needs of the community.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (v 12)

How does our community handle repentance? Do we recognise that there are collective sins that need collective repentance? Are there groups that the community as a whole needs to forgive?

Pray: Father, our community has sinned as a community. Our members have abused one another, our leaders have failed in their leadership, our community has acted badly towards other communities. Forgive us Lord.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (v 10)

I find myself praying for what I want my Father’s will to be rather than asking what our Father is doing in this community of his. How can I work and pray towards what he has shown himself to be doing?

Pray: Father, open our eyes to become aware of what you are doing in our community. Help us to work with you and not fight against you in developing this community so that it might more completely reflect you.

18

Friday

Saturday

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name”

And lead us not into temptation (v 13)

Just as I have blind spots where I can easily be tempted, so our communities have collective blind spots where we are collectively tempted.

Pray: Father, be with our leaders; help them in their leadership to steer clear of our collective areas of weakness. Father, develop in us the spiritual strength to stand with you.

But deliver us from the evil one (v 13)

The evil one is a potent and largely unseen enemy. Just as we need to be aware when the spiritual climate around us changes and pray against any influence from the enemy, so we need to be aware of the spiritual climate in our community and pray against the enemy’s attacks on the community.

Pray: Father, open our eyes to see where the enemy is attacking. Help us to pray simple prayers of cleansing from any attack or curse or presence of a spirit. Thank you that you have such power by the blood of Jesus.

All references are from the New International Version

26 April- 2 MayPrayer

19

Topical Memory System

Learn more about God and his character as you memorize his Word.

For anyone who wants to memorise Scripture but isn’t sure how or where to start. Focusing on key texts that communicate the core truths, this kit developed by the Navigators includes perforated cards with the verses in a variety of translations.

Buy: navigators.co.uk/online-shop Price: £14.99

If you would like a large print version of this prayer guide, please contact the office.

Summer Training Programmes

We’re sending six teams out this summer to different countries around the world and we’d love you to join us! We’re heading to Slovakia, Norway, Philippines, USA, Poland and Hungary.

These trips are aimed at 18-30 year olds and have been running for over 20 years.

Be transformed and grow in your own journey of faith and experience what God is doing amongst the nations.

For more information visit: www.navigators.co.uk/stp