My Experience in the Global Students Program (GSP) 2019

By Caroline Gumizamu

You might be wondering from the heading, the reason I attended a students' program and that's why I will start by explaining what GSP is.

Well, GSP is an annual program that was created by The Navigators to develop and train university students, recent graduates, and young adults from around the world to grow in their knowledge of Jesus and in their ability to help others know Jesus as well.

The program was eight-weeks long at the headquarters of The Navigators, Glen Eyrie, Colorado Springs, Colorado. We were 42 people from 20 different countries from Europe, The Pacific, Africa, Americas and Asia.

I personally was engaged in individual and group Bible study, listened to the amazing speakers, received training in communicating the faith to others, participated in fun group outings and volunteered in King James dining room of the castle. In one word, the program was phenomenal. Seeing people from different cultures, tribes, tongues and backgrounds praising God in harmony was the most encouraging thing in my spiritual journey yet. It was a glimpse of heaven. Revelations 7:9-10 says: “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.’”

We did a Bible study about 1 Peter. If I was to summarize the book for you using sub topics, I would say that it talks about Christ, suffering, submission, holiness and the future glory for all those who believe in Christ. And if I was to summarize it in one sentence, I would say . . . It's about hope for the future glory to all those that believe in Jesus Christ. We had a Bible study discussion in our small groups once a week and my group was composed of five ladies: me, Joy from New Zealand, Palesa from South Africa, Naomi from Nigeria and our group leader Eugenia from Ghana. One of my highlights was the night we all shared our life stories and testimonies, it was emotional and I learned that God chooses to use our different stories (good or bad) to glorify Himself in our lives. Little did I know that enduring suffering while doing good was a gracious thing to God and one of the things am called to in Christ (1 Peter 2:20-21). My group members' love for Christ and His word pushed me to seek the Lord more especially during my weekly extended time alone with God, I felt and experienced His presence in my life during the period of two months.

When it comes to the speakers we had, words fail me. They are the real definition of people who are rooted, built up and established in Christ. I learned a lot from their walks with Christ and they instilled in me the thirst and hunger to study God's word and apply it in my daily life. We had weekly themes and topics under the themes. The themes included community and unity, the greatness of God, the gospel, identity in Christ, servant leadership, transformation, the nations and the great commission, generations and spiritual multiplication.

We did street evangelism twice, first in Manitou Springs and then around the Grand Lake in Grand county. Most people turned us down but we got a chance to share the gospel with one person in Grand County. It was a lady with her young girl⁸ about the age of four and when we finished sharing with them Romans 6:23 (For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord), the mother was getting ready to leave and the daughter said, "I want to hear more about Jesus because I love Him." It touched my heart and it encouraged me to keep sharing the gospel with people even after GSP because there are many people out here who would like to hear about Jesus but there is no one to share with them. Whenever I think of the words of a young girl I think of the words of Jesus to His disciples in Mathew 9:37-38. “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

We usually had our group outings on Tuesdays and sometimes Wednesdays. We visited the most beautiful places in Colorado like the Royal Gorge, Seven falls, Pikes Peak and the amusement park. I can assure you, Colorado is beautiful. No wonder it has the place called The Garden of the Gods. It shows how great God's art is!

Volunteering in the dining was one of my favourite highlights in the program. I worked with three other GSPers, two from Taiwan and another one from Rwanda. I saw in them the spirit of serving as ones serving for the glory of the Lord. Other people from the dining and kitchen crew were so sweet, kind, patient and loving. They gave us rides to movie theaters to watch movies with them and other fun places, shared meals with us, attended our international nights and were always ready to share with us jokes and riddles, four hours a day of volunteering ended in like thirty minutes. I am already missing them. I also made many friends with the guests who were visiting or having retreats and conferences at the castle. I would say that my volunteering position was the best of the best and am grateful to God for that because I always left the dining with a smile on my face.

And last, but not the least, the love and affection I received from each and every one in GSP was an evidence of God's love throughout His people and fulfilment of Dennis' (GSP Director) favorite verse, 1 John 4:19. “We love because he first loved us.” I miss all of them so much.

I would love to thank each and everyone of you for your love, prayers, encouraging words, financial support and always checking on me...all your support kept me moving and made my stay enjoyable. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your loved ones.

Young people impacting the world

By Rachel Christofel (2015 GSP Staff)

Sitting between a math teacher from French-speaking Africa, a friend from the far off Island of Tonga, and a student from Taiwan, I worshipped with tears in my eyes.

Among 48 people from 20 different countries, we were led in song by a German, an Indonesian, a Malaysian and a Kenyan. As I looked around the room, I thought of Romans 10:14-15, which says “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
 
And the Lord whispered to my heart, “Rachel, look! These ones. They have beautiful feet. And they will change the world!”
 
In that moment, and many other times throughout the eight week Global Student Program (GSP), I would catch glimpses of God’s heart for people, glimpses of how Revelation 5:9 could become a reality, glimpses into God’s perfect plan for the nations to be redeemed. I was sitting among the messengers of this generation that would take the hope of Christ globally.
 
Coming from very different backgrounds, languages, countries and cultures, these participants took great risks to travel oceans and continents away to spend their summer in Colorado. The one thing they had in common? Being touched by the Gospel of Jesus through the Navigators among them in their home countries. The reason they took great risks and left comfort zones to come to GSP? To be “sent ones.”
 
During the summer, we experienced a lot of firsts: riding rollercoasters, trying s’mores, using washing machines, hiking mountains, seeing rattlesnakes, learning languages, visiting Walmart, and even riding a yellow school bus!
 
But the real focus and purpose of the GSP program was to encourage, equip and train laborers to be sent into the harvest field. Throughout our time, we learned from different speakers how to live out of the Gospel and think about the world in light of Jesus’ plan. Each student was individually discipled and given tools to help them invest in the next generation of laborers. We grew and practiced how to converse about the Gospel with people who aren’t Christians. We volunteered at Glen Eyrie and developed character and servanthood. We spent hours studying 1 Peter together and praying that Jesus’ name would be known through our witness in all continents.
 
These beautiful feet, now equipped, trained, and ready have since left Colorado Springs. But, the effects of these 8 weeks has potential for impact across the globe!
 
Before leaving, my friend from the Czech Republic reminded me, “This is not the end. This is only the beginning!” And she is right! Those 96 beautiful feet are now spreading hope in places like Tanzania, Brazil, East Asia, Canada, Latvia, and Australia, for the glory and praise of Jesus.