Several years ago, Dave’s friend did a 21-day challenge to read the entirety of the book of John with The Navigators at Penn State. Years later, Dave was considering his own ministry in Nashville, and he was talking with a pastor in the city about what it would look like to do a similar challenge there, inviting local colleges and churches to work together to reach students with the gospel.

“My friend got pretty fired up about doing it in Nashville,” Dave remembers. “But it was a big undertaking. Having another person excited about doing it was motivating, and it pushed the challenge from an idea that we might do one day to something we want to do right now.”

The idea was simple, yet effective: print 10,000 Gospel of John booklets and hand them out to students across all the college campuses in Nashville. Each interested student would receive two booklets — one for themselves and an extra copy to invite a non-believing friend to do the challenge with them. The student and their friend would read one chapter of John a day for 21 days, completing the book within a month.

“The challenge mobilizes Christians to reach their friends for Christ in a simple way, seeking those who are hungry and thirsty for the Word and can engage with Jesus through grabbing a tiny booklet,” Dave says.

Partnering with churches rooted in Scripture

Dave decided the perfect time to launch the challenge in Nashville was February 2024. However, to spread the word and distribute as many booklets as possible to the student community, he needed help.

Over 25 churches and ministry partners came out of the woodworks to join The Navigators, helping fund the purchase of the 10,000 booklets and share the challenge with their communities. Dave was surprised to find that many of the churches he worked with were already leading their congregations through the book of John or were preaching sermon series on courageously reaching friends for Christ. It felt like the Lord had already been preparing a way.

“We’ve always had a heart for partnering with churches and Christian organizations to do something evangelistically, whether that’s outreach oriented to campuses or a sense of stewardship between us and the larger body of Christ in the city,” Dave explains. “So when we connected the dots and worked together, it was a win for all these Christian ministries to partner over something that was focused on advancing the gospel.”

When the challenge officially kicked off, Dave was surprised with the response. Almost everyone that was invited to read the Bible said yes. “People had excitement and eagerness to jump in,” he says. “It stood out that, man, God’s on this.”

Softening student hearts for Christ

Almost all of the 10,000 copies were handed out, meaning that nearly 5,000 students and community members in Nashville were inspired and dedicated to read the Bible with a friend for 21 days. Throughout the challenge, Dave saw the Lord move in incredible ways as students formed relationships and doors were opened for non-believing students to take steps closer to Jesus.

One of these stories comes from two students named Dylan* and Kyle*. Dylan is a student with one of The Navigators campus ministries in Nashville, and he met Kyle on the bus going to the airport for Christmas break. Knowing about the upcoming challenge, Dylan invited Kyle — a stranger — to read the book of John with him. Kyle, curious about the Bible, said yes.

After doing the challenge together in February, Kyle felt drawn in by Scripture, though he was still hesitant to fully give his life to Christ. For spring break, he ended up joining a Navigators trip to Glen Eyrie, where he learned more about discipleship. “Throughout the trip, Kyle kept saying he felt so alive to be around our group and the conversations we were having,” Dave recalls. “We told him, ‘Kyle, that’s the Spirit of God among us.’”

After the trip, Dave met up with Kyle to share the Bridge to Life Illustration and gospel message. “I asked him, ‘Kyle, is there any reason why you wouldn’t pray to receive Christ?’” Dave says. “He said, ‘This is going to change everything for me, so I need to make sure I’m ready before I make this decision.’” Dave is still praying for Kyle to lay down his life for the Lord, but he sees so clearly how God is working in his heart.

“There’s something about the way that doors are opening that is highly relational,” Dave says. “We’re reading together, discussing together. Relationships with other disciplemakers are being established and strengthened, and they are being built for the next step in their journey.”

Looking ahead to the next challenge

As Dave looks back over the 21-day challenge, he is encouraged by the ways the Lord worked in the lives of students like Kyle and impacted the greater Nashville community. Looking ahead, Dave is envisioning replicating the challenge with a broader scope.

“We’re interested in doing this again in the fall of 2025, but reaching even more college students,” Dave says. “We’re praying and dreaming about ordering 25,000 copies of the Gospel of John. I think this is something that could be used really anywhere to mobilize believers.”

Join us in praying for The Navigators in Nashville, that the Lord would continue to bless their ministry on college campuses and in the community. Pray that students discover a heart for reading the Bible, discipling their friends, and growing Christ’s kingdom.

Discipleship Tip:

Through the 21-Day Challenge, thousands of students were inspired to not only read the Bible, but also invite non-believing friends to read with them. Sometimes, a simple invite like that can change someone’s life, like Kyle. Think through your networks and community — who could you ask to read the Bible with you?

Now, you can join in this incredible movement!

With a gift of $25 or more, we’ll send you two copies of the same booklet that sparked change in Nashville – 21 Days in John. One copy is for you, the other is an invitation for a friend to join – just like the students in Nashville did. Let’s continue to spread the gospel, one relationship at a time.

SEND ME TWO COPIES

In this five-day online Bible study, we’ll see how Jesus invited His friends (the disciples) to follow Him and what this means for us. We’ll provide simple next steps for following Jesus with your friends. Click the link below to begin this Bible study today!

Begin the Discipleship 101: Following Jesus With Friends Bible study!

Malachi’s eagerness to grow spiritually was soon evident, and he was invited to join a smaller group of Marines who intentionally ministered to others.

“I started listening to these guys talking about specific people they’d shared the gospel with in their circles of influence. That was such a challenge for me,” he says. “That was the beginning of me looking outward instead of just at myself.” The next day, he shared his faith with a guy he worked with at the base. It was a lot easier than he’d thought!

Through the group, Malachi began to understand what laboring looks like: “abiding in Jesus and inviting others into that.”

As Malachi’s time in the Marines neared its end, Navigator staff Zachary Mills invited him to stay in Jacksonville for more training in discipleship. The two began to meet every Thursday for dinner at Zack’s house. Malachi loved the challenge of the questions Zack asked: “Why do you think that? What are you asking God for?” Malachi was struck by how Zack responded to what he shared. He was “quick to listen and slow to respond,” he says.

Malachi believes the deepest impact of their time together was simply observing how Zack interacted with him and his children. “He demonstrated some qualities I’ve always wrestled with,” Malachi says.

Malachi longed to have the same impact on others that Navigators had on him. He saw the power of Life-to-Life^® discipleship, of watching other believers live out their faith. After Malachi left the military in November 2021, he decided to join The Navigators on staff.

Following Zack’s example, Malachi and his housemate open their house to Marines. For some, it’s become a weekend home: a place to hang out, discuss deep life issues, look at Scripture together—and have fun!

Malachi helps facilitate a small group in the Camp Lejeune Bible study and meets with men. He finds joy and purpose in seeing those he is discipling grow in Christ and get excited about reading the Bible together and praying together.

Life in the military can be a hard road, but God is at work even in the hard places. Jesus acknowledged that “in this world you will have trouble” but He promised hope and peace to those who follow Him (John 16:33 NIV).

Through Life-to-Life discipleship, Zack and Malachi share that hope in Jesus with those who serve our country.

Discipleship Tip:  

Find someone who follows Jesus and ask them honest and challenging questions about their relationship with God. For example, “Where are you energized in your relationship with Jesus and where are you struggling?” Then invite them to ask you similar questions.

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) visual information does not imply nor constitute DOD endorsement.

“Coming into college, I wasn’t looking for a Christian ministry. I probably didn’t want one at that time. But during freshman orientation someone from The Navigators stopped me and told me about Navigators Collegiate at UCR. They asked if I wanted to put down my information,” Antonio shared.

The conversation with Navigators Collegiate didn’t end there. They reached out and invited Antonio to a Navigators collegiate night event.

“At the first meeting they had Bible study sign-ups. I thought to myself, I can’t be the only one who doesn’t sign up for Bible study. So, I signed up,” Antonio laughed as he talked about taking one step after another. “Since I signed up, I thought, I really should go.” 

Eventually, Antonio found a community in Navigators Collegiate he didn’t even realize he needed. 

What seemed to be an accident was actually God pursuing Antonio. God provided him with an authentic community who loved Jesus and intentionally positioned him to share his growing relationship with Jesus with his Latino community. 

Since his first days with Navigators Collegiate, Antonio now mentors high school students through the Compton Summer Intensive (CSi) in Compton, California close to Los Angeles. CSi is a summer program offering high school students the opportunity to learn everyday life and job skills and to be mentored by local college students connected with The Navigators. 

“During this past summer at CSi, we talked about identity and how God is intentional in creating each of us,” shared Antonio. “I am brown and have a Mexican background and that has intention. Because we have a God who is intentional, then I can use how He created me to further His Kingdom and encourage others who look like me.” 

What Discipleship Looks Like 

Armando Madrid, Navigators Los Angeles City Director, remembers the influence a group of college students had on his life when he was in high school youth group in L.A. 

“The Navigators had a couple of Summer Training Programs (discipleship training during summer employment) here in the L.A. area where I grew up,” Armando shared. “They brought in a bunch of college students who stayed at my church and discipled us through material now known as the Design For Discipleship Series. Seeing those college students was an inspiration for me. I knew I wanted to get involved on a college campus with a strong Navigators Collegiate presence.” 

Armando has now been with The Navigators for 35 years through Navigators Church Ministries, Navigators LaVida Network (a ministry network for Hispanics and non-Hispanics who desire to reach U.S. Hispanics for Christ), and most recently a seven-month leadership development initiative for Navigators staff with Latino heritage. He focuses on encouraging and equipping disciplemakers, especially within the Latino community. 

Living in East L.A., the heart of the Latino community in this city, Armando gets energized to see college students like Antonio embrace how God created him and come alongside high school students of similar Latino background. It was through his leadership with the CSi where Armando first met Antonio. 

“As I listen to Antonio share his story, it excites me. He was really quiet when I first met him through CSi almost three years ago. He was still finding his relationship with God,” shared Armando. “Then to have him come back last summer for CSi and see the amount of devotion to God that had occurred.”

Antonio had grown in his faith and so had the high school student he had mentored his first year with CSi.

“These high school students need people to pour into them, not just in a way of nurture, but also through friendship. If I could do CSi for every summer for the rest of my life, then that would be an easy choice to make.” Antonio shared enthusiastically. “Seeing a high school student I had mentored my first year come back two years later, a lot had changed. I saw his maturity and his growth. I realized it was most important that he knew I was there supporting him whether he needed me there or not.”

Sharing My Faith with Family 

Navigators Collegiate at UCR became such an important part of Antonio’s life that his family noticed a difference and asked questions. 

At first his family thought he had joined this Christian club to meet a girl. But, instead of sharing about a girl he had met, Antonio shared about how God was changing him personally. His actions changed and became noticeably different–from the worship music he listened to and how he acted around them. 

As he contemplates joining EDGE Corps, a post-college two year internship with The Navigators, his family recognizes how serious he is about this faith in Jesus.

“They see how serious I am about this commitment. It’s not just about this thing I go to every week or even being on Zoom for Bible study. Now I’m considering doing this full time. It’s definitely a shift from just being the guy who accidentally joined the Christian club,” Antonio shared. “Now I’m the guy who has a relationship with God and reads the Bible daily, prays daily, and talks about God daily.”  

Antonio has had intentional conversations with his mom about faith; he’s noticed his dad turning on the worship music in their house; and even one of his sisters started attending Navigators Collegiate during her freshman year at UCR. 

“Now [my sister] has experienced what I have experienced and it has had an influence on her life. It’s taught her how to study the Bible and be more intentional,” Antonio shared. “ Now it won’t just be me talking to my family about how my relationship with Jesus is impacting me, but it will be both of us.” 

Reaching Latino Communities with The Gospel 

Antonio didn’t always embrace the ways God created him uniquely and with purpose. But now he is excited for how God created him and the opportunities he’s been given to reach his Latino community.  

“Whether through CSi or at Navigators Collegiate at UCR, I am grateful for the diversity of my community. I want to be someone who encourages others who look like me. I’d like to remind them that they don’t have to feel awkward because of being a minority,” Antonio shared. 

As Antonio encourages Latinos through CSi and Navigators Collegiate at UCR, Armando encourages Latinos who are also Navigators staff to recognize the ways God has uniquely created them with purpose. 

“We want the staff to appreciate and see the way God built them is the way God can use them in their ministry and the people they relate to,” Armano shared. “Because Antonio is homegrown, he’s being raised up here from L.A. God has touched his life and God is going to use him to advance the gospel for the rest of his life.”

Antonio smiles. He is confident in who God has created him to be. 

“I’m an ambassador of Christ and I exemplify God’s love. People will see that and they will recognize there is something different,” Antonio shared. “When they ask, the answer isn’t because I’m a good person or the way I was raised. The answer is because God found me where I was and chose to water me and grow me. As a result, I can do all that I’ve done so far.”

“These men helped me understand what it meant to have accountability and to live out the Great Commission,” says Major Craig. “It was at Lewis-McChord that I started getting up early in the morning to spend time with God. That meant 5 a.m., since we started our work assignments at 6 in the morning. This practice has stayed with me and still is important to my faith life.” 

A subsequent posting at Fort Riley after he got married, gave Major Craig and his wife the opportunity to be discipled by a Navigator couple. This helped his wife share in the vision of what it could look like to have a ministry mindset as part of a military family career. 

Now back at West Point as an instructor, Major Craig is active in spiritually mentoring cadets as the officer-in-charge of Navigators. One of the cadets, Calvin*, is the son of a Navigators Military family whom Major Craig met while he was at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. 

Calvin was asked by Major Craig to lead a Bible study during his junior year. Initially he was unsure about whether he had enough Bible knowledge to lead. “I talked to my father about leading a study,” says Calvin. “He reminded me that teaching is one of the best ways to learn, and that being challenged is a great way to grow in my faith. I decided to step up and lead. Our schedule is pretty intense, but unless I invest in my faith, I won’t keep growing spiritually.” 

PRAY for continued growth and depth among the cadets and faculty involved in Navigators Military at West Point. Pray that cadets will catch the vision for how fulfilling the Great Commission can be part of their daily life in a military career.

_{*Names changed}

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“I realized I needed to make some changes in my life,” shared Daniel. “I was caught shoplifting, and it hit me how far I had drifted. I realized that I needed to seek after God. I had been raised in a Christian home, but I had focused on sports rather than God. I asked a friend about the Bible study he attended. I decided to join the Bible study, which was sponsored by The Navigators, and there I met Osaze Murray, who was with Navigators Collegiate at the time. He became a mentor, friend, and discipler.”

Osaze had been discipled as a student at Howard University by long-time Navigator Eugene Burrell. After graduation, Osaze did additional training and an internship with The Navigators, then went to graduate school. After finishing grad school, Osaze helped start The Navigators ministry at Bowie State. “From the start, I realized that students needed to know that we cared about them as people,” said Osaze. “That caring had to go beyond just their participation in Bible study and Navigators events to invest in their everyday lives.”

Life-to-Life^® Discipleship Ignites on Campus

“In my time with Daniel, we would explore all the emotions of life—grief, sadness, and anger. He was eager to grow. Daniel was the first student at Bowie State to step up as a student-leader. We offered a structure so there were ways for students to step into leadership and grow.”

Going back spiritual generations from Eugene Burrell discipling Osaze and now Osaze investing in Daniel helped Daniel realize it wasn’t just for his benefit. “God ignited something in me, and I wanted to pass it along to others,” Daniel said. Now Daniel is on staff with Navigators Collegiate at Bowie State, investing in the next generation of students. He leads a small group of young men and encourages them to grow in their walk with the Lord. 

How Discipleship Leads to Personal Transformation 

Jhori’s path to involvement with Navigators at Bowie State was different than Daniel’s. She got involved right away during her freshman year—connecting with Navigators during freshman move-in. She grew as a disciplemaker throughout her years of college. After graduation she joined EDGE Corps (Navigators Collegiate internship) to serve on the Bowie State campus.  

“Being able to disciple women at Bowie State has been pivotal in my own transformation,” Jhori shares. “I have been able to grow along with these women and I have a fire for the next generation.”

Jhori led a Bible study and now has passed on the baton to the next generation of young women to lead at Bowie State. She is moving into next steps in her career and is praying that God will use her in the workplace.

Jimmy, who is the interim Campus Director at Bowie State, describes how Osaze set up the next generation of leadership. “Osaze stepped back enough to say, ‘God is going to fan Jimmy’s flame in a way that is different from Daniel’s flame, and others.’ He definitely set us up in leadership, passed the baton, and he believes we can take it the next couple of laps.”

Now Osaze is the Director of Staff Training nationally for The Navigators. It is exciting for him to see Jimmy and Daniel leading the campus ministry at Bowie State: 

“Now when I go to an event on campus, I don’t know any of the students. This next generation of students involved with The Navigators at Bowie State are all a result of the leadership of Jimmy, Daniel, Jhori, and others.”

This process of igniting the flame of faith, and developing skills to disciple disciplemakers, is what creates generations of disciplemakers. As one generation reaches out to the next, and the next, a movement is created and continues. Those who come to Bowie State next fall and meet Jesus will be the result of the faithfulness of men like Eugene Burrell, whom they will never meet. Eugene passed away in 2021, after decades of service with The Navigators at Howard University. But his legacy lives on in the next generation of disciplemakers, from life to life to life … 

Watch the full story at navlink.org/bowie

To add to the struggle, Ron’s sister was diagnosed with cancer, his wife was in the hospital with COVID and his mother-in-law had an infection due to her diabetic condition and in a hospital back east.

“Tim Chou, my friend and my first point of contact with The Navigators, stepped in immediately to lend me a hand with my family of four kids.” Ron shared. “I went to God and cried out to Him and I submitted myself to Him. I see how He carried me through that time.”

Ron wasn’t the only one who recognized how God cared for him through tough times. He also had the people in his workplace Bible study observe his faith and hope in Jesus and pray for him, too.

How a Bible Study Began in My Workplace

In early 2020, Ron and his co-workers in the medical community had stepped into an unknown season. They recognized the toll it took on them as the world around them changed with many losing their jobs due to lockdowns and failing businesses. 

While this hospital community was used to seeing sick people, Ron describes the scene as eerie and empty, feeling like something more would happen. 

“We experienced this pandemic season first-hand,” Ron shared. “My co-workers and I love music and we all play instruments in my department. So, we started bringing guitars and playing during break times. At first, we played secular music, like R&B and then we would move to gospel songs.”

Then this jam session grew. 

“Next we decided to include other departments, but we needed a new spot.” Ron shared. “We started in this little pathway in the hospital and took our jam session up a notch by talking about life. We shared our struggles, disappointments, and challenges.”

The little pathway in the hospital didn’t last for long, so Ron and a few others approached the hospital chaplain about using the Meditation Room. 

“It used to be called the Prayer Room, but living in a secular community they had to change the name,” Ron shared. “We were straightforward with the chaplain and shared that we were going to do Bible study and if he wanted to join us he could. And he did!”

The Meditation Room became the new home for this Bible study and worship/jam session during their lunch break. While typically there weren’t many people in there, during this COVID season it became a place to rest because so many at the hospital had to take on long shifts. 

“So we just jammed and then we shared the Word. It unfolded into a Bible study and became routine. After discussing a verse we share our prayer needs and then pray for each other,” Ron shared.

Through God’s guidance and Tim’s influence, Ron had replicated the type of community and discipleship relationships he had longed for and found.

Where I Found Community

Prior to this, Ron had prayed that God would provide a Life-to-Life^® Discipleship community for him and his family, while living in a different part of San Diego. 

It was through his times playing basketball that he met Tim and eventually moved into the same neighborhood. His local church is across the street from where he lives. 

“Tim has impacted my spiritual life and still does. We meet once a month for Bible study, but also meet weekly to play basketball and and often hang out together with our families,” Ron shared. “It is a blessing to have this community around. Not just for me, but for my family.”

Ron knew the blessing he had found in this Life-to-Life discipleship community needed to be shared. 

Sharing My Faith with Co-workers

At first, Ron didn’t want to disclose to his already burdened co-workers all that was going on in his life with his wife and mother-in-law both in the hospital and sister battling cancer, but realized that God could use his struggles and faith-testing time as a testimony. 

As this medical community watched, Ron’s wife made a full recovery and even finally got a job after waiting for such a long time without one. They also heard about how Ron’s sister didn’t have to go through extensive treatment because they had caught her cancer at a very early stage. Even his mother-law got the necessary treatment to fight the infection. 

“My co-workers who met with me for Bible study were in awe of what God did,” Ron shared. “There are definitely people coming who have never heard the gospel. When we have these Bible studies we’re bold in worship and sharing the Word with whomever is there. We don’t pry into their belief systems, but show our relationship with Jesus.”

After weeks of these routine worship and Bible-study lunches, some medical professionals even came to the hospital on their days off just for Bible study and community. They use social media to encourage and challenge each other through sharing Scriptures and short devotions. 

One of Ron’s co-workers recently shared how she liked the devotion he had posted. He had incorporated the topic of sports to share about difficulties in life. It was her interest in sports that grabbed her attention. Ron says he enjoys finding common ground with people he meets because that’s where conversations about God can start. 

“Be truthful and let your life situation speak, while putting God first. Whatever it may be: good, bad, happy, sad, joy, trial, our lives are full of unknowns,” Ron shared. “But if you share your unknowns with people, then they become known, and could become your testimony.”

Q: You discuss the “just do it” model of Christian living—describe how this approach impacts our faith:

We intuitively know that no matter how hard we keep trying, we can’t consistently obey the God we believe in. So, focusing on a list of Christian rules and actions is incredibly discouraging and eventually damages our souls. In my experience, we end up responding one of three ways:

• We lie and pretend that everything is fine in our Christian life.
• We hide to cover our sin and shame.
• Or, we burn out and walk away from faith.

We aren’t created to respond to rules. We’re created to respond to love and to live in an intimate love relationship with God! Jesus models this love relationship and offers His love freely to us. In my own personal journey of faith, it took me to the brink of suicide to learn that the “just do it” model of Christian living was killing me, and I needed to surrender myself to the love of God in Christ.

Q: How do you approach discipling a new believer, so they understand God’s love and learn how to walk with God?

By focusing on God’s love, I try to help them understand that the spiritual disciplines are invitations to intimacy with God, not rules to follow. Bible reading and prayer, for example, are invitations to be with the God who loves me. If a new believer can embrace from the very start that the Christian walk is about living in love with Jesus, they will begin to understand that obedience flows from that love!

When discipline becomes a have-to, love dies—this is true in all relationships. If I have to spend time with my wife, that isn’t building our love relationship. In the same way, feeling like I have to spend time with Jesus doesn’t compel me toward a growing love relationship.

Also, Jesus’ love means that He desires for us to be whole. I address the issues of shame and brokenness with people. What wounds does this person carry? The redemption and wholeness that God offers each of us doesn’t call us to work hard to fix our wounds ourselves, but instead to open ourselves to the healing love of God in Jesus Christ, to penetrate our broken places.

Q: What about difficult parts of our faith journey, when it feels like God is silent or distant, not our loving companion?

I experience these times when God feels silent or distant, even after years of turning my heart toward His love. Sometimes I don’t feel His nearness or hear His voice clearly. These are the moments where I ask the Father for courage to “walk by faith, not by sight.” I continue to seek His face, to keep turning toward the One my soul longs for, my One Great Love.

We also must have the community of faith surrounding us. There’s a chapter in Free on “Healing Love in Jesus’ Community” that helps us understand we cannot abide in Jesus’ love if we walk alone:

“We’ve got to let go of our ‘Sunday is enough’ mentality. In the ancient world, the church not only gathered formally once a week but informally every day (Acts 2:46). These brothers and sisters of Jesus were true family, interdependent, connected by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). We can’t expect ancient-church healing if we stay locked in to twenty-first century ‘see you next week,’ shallow church protocol.”

You can purchase Free: Rescued from Shame-Based Religion, Released into the Life-Giving Love of Jesus at NavPress.com

As she made her plans, God was also at work, leading her to discover a Navigators Bible study group in college. During a Navigators spring break trip as a freshman, Caitlin felt drawn by the Holy Spirit and accepted Christ in her life and started learning how to live as a disciple. However, after being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease her senior year, her plans to pursue a career in medicine were suddenly put on hold. It was at this time that she was invited to join staff with The Navigators. After college graduation, she joined staff and moved to University of Alabama in 2010.

As her love for God and compassion for helping people continued to grow, Caitlin also started struggling with anxiety and depression, primarily related to her chronic disease.  She had seen other members of her family struggling with mental health as well. Sadly, in her family and the broader Christian community no one talked about the need to treat mental health issues.

After years of fruitful, full-time ministry while ignoring her own mental health, Caitlin started experiencing burnout, which in turn made her anxiety increase. One of her supporters realized Caitlin was struggling and offered to pay to send her to receive counseling to help with her mental health. This was good start, but while continuing to serve on staff at University of Alabama, Caitlin’s anxiety was so high that it resulted in panic attacks.

The Navigators campus director noticed the struggles Caitlin was having and advised her to move to Colorado Springs for a summer so she could receive counseling and care at the Navigators headquarters. She was able to meet regularly with the pastoral care team, who saw how deep the problem was. Eventually they advised her not to go back to Alabama and begin a journey of healing in Colorado Springs.

As Caitlin experienced healing she was reminded of Psalm 40:1-3: “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.”

It was in that healing season that Caitlin and her friend Matthew, who is part of Cru, created a mental health “roadmap.” The roadmap was created when Caitlin was invited to do a workshop for the Navigators 20s to help understand mental health from a Christian perspective.

The allegory in the mental health roadmap covers four common places on the journey of mental health: despair, tension, care, and hope.

• “Swamp of Despair” where she shares her personal story and symptoms of all-consuming anxiety.
• “Forests of Tension” which acknowledges the complex questions that Christians wrestle with such as, “Are mental health issues sin or are they biological?”
• “Meadows of Care” where they discuss the various kinds of spiritual and professional help that exist for those who struggle with mental health issues.
• “Mountains of Hope” where Caitlin shows how the Gospel brings “altitude” and perspective on mental health.

Using this roadmap as a guide, Caitlin has been able to encourage many who struggle with mental health. She is now on staff with her husband at Texas State University and sees firsthand the increased levels of mental health issues students are facing. Caitlin’s main ministry is serving with the pastoral care team to help staff experience Jesus amid their mental health struggles.

God has used her struggle to help others as she continues to grow in the understanding of Psalm 40:1-3 and experience freedom and peace.

Mental health is now being talked about more openly and there is hope for those who are overwhelmed and may not know where to turn. If you or a friend struggle with anxiety or depression, pray for them and share this article with them. The Navigators also has additional resources for mental health issues.

In the parable, a widow goes to a judge appointed to bring justice for people, but this judge ignores her. As we consider the vulnerability and need of this woman, we are indignant and distraught at the widow’s pain and angry at the indifference of the judge. Finally, she experiences a breakthrough. Jesus describes the judge’s response to the woman’s persistent pleas: “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’” (Luke 18:4,5).

In the end, the widow got results, but our heavenly Father is not like the judge! Jesus said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly” (Luke 18:6-8).

Our heavenly Father is a God who hears, a God who brings justice, not one who is indifferent and needing to be pestered! The point of the parable is this: Pestering is not needed to see prayer answered. Answered prayer comes out of the heart of a good and generous God combined with our faith displayed in perseverance in bringing our requests to Him.

As we become people of prayer, we will learn that God is not indifferent, but postured to respond to dependent faith. We don’t have to edit our prayers or worry our requests are too basic or they don’t conform to some kind of pious standard. Just as a loving earthly father does not expect his children to filter their requests, we can come as we are, dependent and needy. He will not keep putting us off. Rather, He will act on our behalf. God longs to bring help to those who cry out to Him (see Luke 11:9-13). We can trust that God’s goodness and generosity will be reflected in His responses to all our prayers, big and small (see Matthew 10:29-31).

This is a new year full of new possibilities; may our goals and intentions be matched with dependent, persevering, faith-filled prayer. Prayer can open whole new vistas of relationship with God, even as our earthly life becomes crowded with difficulties. Through prayer, we not only invite intervention from our Heavenly Father, we learn more about who He is and how generously He cares for His children.

Portions of this article adapted from Doug’s book Making Waves: Being an Influence for Jesus in Everyday Life.

Visit Doug’s blog at dougnuenke.com.