By Stephanie Mahiaini
I am deeply passionate about investing in future generations, particularly Navigator children.
As a child, I was taken to Sunday School regularly, even though my parents did not attend church. At age 12, I received Jesus into my heart. While I was a teenager at a mission girls’ boarding school, a teacher took me under her wings and discipled me. In college I received further help from a godly Nav staff woman, and I began to understand the importance of individuals of all ages, including children.
When Mutua and I first had our children, we took little steps to help them know the Lord. As soon as they could understand, we taught them to memorize simple scriptures and we read small passages of the Bible to them. As they grew up, we had short quiet times one on one with them. We taught them to pray and answered their questions. I’ve seen many Kenyan Navigators do the same for their children.
The hope was to get our children beyond just attending Sunday school. We pray now for them to help others come to Christ. We want to give them the tools to point their friends and colleagues toward knowing Jesus in a deeper way, to read the Bible on their own, and to grow spiritually with those around them. It is essential for Navigator children to understand and cultivate a mindset that ministry is not just for their parents or The Navigators alone, but that they can take ownership of their faith.
An example of success in this area is a group of both Kenyan Navigator and non-Navigator children who decided on their own to use their school holidays to help teach children in the countryside about Christ. Together, they did this on every vacation and saw many come to faith in Jesus! Why are we tempted to think children cannot reach other children? Sometimes we search for Gospel opportunities elsewhere, when the people God may want to use are in our own homes.
While it is crucial to prioritize ministry to those within our sphere, we must be mindful not to let it overshadow our ministry within our families. Our eighth Core Value is “Families and relational networks in discipling the nations.” It is important to strike a balance, ensuring that we invest time and effort in nurturing the spiritual growth of our children alongside that of others.
One effective approach to address this challenge is to integrate ministry into our home environment. There is great value in involving our children when appropriate. Something as simple as allowing them to observe and ask questions during Bible study can make a significant impact and give them opportunities to learn alongside us. It has been heart-warming to witness how some of the college students we initially set out to disciple became mentors for our children, pouring back into our family dynamic.
Another temptation that parents often face is to discontinue discipleship as their children transition into adulthood. Although your time may become divided and your lives more complex, maintaining intentionality in your relationship with them remains paramount. Explore deeper questions together, set aside dedicated time to discuss challenging situations, and pray with them as they navigate life—even if you are physically distant. Above all, assure them that you are always there for them, offering support and love throughout their spiritual journey.
Life-on-life discipleship is of course most effective when we live with our children. They learn by observing the way we open our homes to others, how we share the Gospel, and how we immerse ourselves in the Word. When they see us trust God in times of difficulty and see us believing His promises for the people we are helping, they themselves will begin to walk humbly with their God.
Mutua and I earnestly and regularly pray for the untapped potential within Navigator children worldwide. Our longing is that today’s physical generations, whether children or adults, will receive as much attention as our spiritual generations do. The Great Commission is a calling for all believers, and we humbly trust that our own children would be actively involved in this mission with us (Psalms 78:1-8 and 2 Timothy 2:2).
