I first joined the ministry last August, and the past year has been spent in a posture of learning. My internship with the Scottish Navigators has two main facets: training and placement. Training involves a series of studies designed to equip me for disciple making, including books, essays, presentations, and discussion with the other interns. Placement involves my work with the student ministry in Glasgow, Scotland, where we create programming for university and college students. The aim of the Navigators in the UK is to “get alongside someone and see what God can do,” and for students, that partly looks like organizing group events/services and weekly small group Bible studies. We also meet with students one-on-one, diving into deeper topics with them and supporting their journey toward the Lord, especially as they are often just entering into adulthood.
Over this last year, we had a lot of new students, both freshmen and upperclassmen. We spent a lot of time focusing on helping them get to know each other, develop community, and lay foundations for one-on-one discipleship. In particular, I meet with two girls going into their second year, and I’ve seen both of them open up and develop a deeper understanding of how God is working in their lives. I’m so excited to see that continue.
One of those girls started off the year seeking community and support and wrestling with a lot of anxiety. Over the course of the year, I have watched her relationship with God grow from not knowing how to hear him at all to starting to listen for him both in the loud and the quiet of life. We have worked together to find tools and techniques for surrendering anxiety and fear instead of holding onto them. This year, she’s entering into some leadership positions on her campus. I pray that God will lead her to spread his word in new circles and pass on what she’s learning.
Looking ahead, since we had so many new students this year, we’re hoping this next year will give them the opportunity to invest more deeply in each other and for us to invest more deeply in them. With that, we’re excited to see how we can challenge them to dig into scripture in new ways and ask bigger questions, and we’re kicking off the term with a study on God’s “I am” statements. We hope that as they learn what it means to grow in maturity in faith, they’ll understand that there will always be more to learn about who God truly is and that we’re never “done” with any part of scripture.
With all of this in mind, for the ministry, please pray that our connections with existing students would continue to deepen and that we get new students who are needing to hear God’s word through us. We’re also always looking for ways to support and uplift both boys and girls in the ministry. We had and have lots of girls and want to make sure boys feel welcome and receive support. For the team, please pray for health and energy as we start off the new term. Two of us are dealing with some ongoing health frustrations and are seeking answers about how to deal with them. For me, please pray for protection and peace as I wrestle with questions of who God made me and what he made me for. Please also pray for discernment about whether to pursue longer-term ministry after this year, or if God is leading me a different way.
