By Edward Mupada
In a semi-arid, rural hinterland of East Africa, Elias (not his real name) befriends men who are sometimes known for violence against perceived enemies. He takes that risk to share the grace of Jesus with people immersed in animistic practices. He hikes with them, helps them care for animals, and serves them in practical ways.
When Elias is not developing friendships with these men, he is helping run a Sunday school and preaching at a rural church. And if that were not enough, he also teaches at a nearby college, where he disciples young nonbelievers.
Through all these efforts, Elias is expanding God’s kingdom to people who Navigators call “high-hanging fruit.” That term refers to people who cannot be easily accessed with the Gospel. Some might be prostitutes or drug addicts. Some adhere to major religions and live in the urban chaos of megacities. Others live in extremely remote, difficult-to-access areas.
Elias’ spiritual journey began with Navigators who partner with African churches to reach the lost. My good friend Geoffrey Washiali, who directs our Navigator Church Discipleship Ministries (CDM) in Africa, first met Elias in his Nairobi church.
Elias was socially a Christian, but he had little knowledge of the Scriptures. He also lacked vision and practical tools for investing in nonbelievers. Geoffrey spent several years with Elias, deepening his comprehension of the Word and helping him learn how to share his faith. During personal times together, Geoffrey encouraged him to think like a missionary, to gain God’s heart for the lost. They prayed for under-reached people in our region.
By God’s favor, Elias landed a job as a lecturer in a rural college. From that natural platform, while he equipped his students for professional life, Elias invited them to learn more about the Gospel. Today, Elias has formed strong friendships with many students. Some participate regularly in Elias’ church, which gives them a needed network of fellow believers. Elias also equips them to share their faith in God with nonbelieving relatives and friends.
Most people who teach in rural areas don’t stay long. The living conditions are too harsh. Elias is different. After several years in his job, he repeatedly tells his superiors that he wants to stay. As Geoffrey told me, “Elias knows this is his mission field.”
Elias’ story is just one example of how, in about 15 African countries, Navigator leaders are helping people in churches to grow in Christ and then advance the Gospel among the lost. Geoffrey, with nine African Navigator leaders, has formed partnerships with teams who serve in other outreach ministries. The result is a growing synergy between the CDM work and our missions efforts among the lost in the region.
These partnerships between Navigators and churches are fueling missions, increasing recruitment to our Navigator movement, and helping churchgoers to carry the Gospel into their own nonbelieving relational networks—even in remote areas.
“It’s impressive how Geoffrey helps so many pastors go deeper in the Word,” said Margaret Fitzwater, a U.S. Navigator who partners with the CDM effort in Africa. “He comes to them as a friend, studies the Scriptures with them, sets up discipleship workshops for their church members, and shows everyone how to take the Gospel to the lost. The fruit of all this has been amazing to see.”
We have found that church pastors and leaders are “hungry” for Navigator coaching and training. By helping church leaders equip their parishioners in discipleship and evangelism among the lost, the CDM effort is helping to build strong foundations for spiritual generations in Africa. And men like Elias are showing the way forward.
Edward Mupada is the regional director of The Navigators in Africa.
