NavNews January 2008 by The Navigators Singapore

In memory of Mrs. Phyllis Raelene O’Connor Hapke Robertson

Not here only for the mangoes

Dedicated to Roy and their children and grandchildren

mily Marie likes to write, Erik took 2000 photos in one week here in Singapore, Naomi enjoys talking to friends, and Natalie likes to play with Lego. Shannon does gardening and Lisa makes lovely home-baked bread. The Sandquist family of six uprooted and left their home in Iowa on November 1, 2007, but they didn’t come here just for the mangoes, which they all love. Shannon and Lisa Sandquist have been ministering to youth and university students in the USA for 20 years. They have served with The Navigators for the last 12 years and still counting. Shannon says, “A highlight in the last few years has been leading mission teams to an unreached people group in Asia. It was, in fact, during our stopovers when we stayed at the Navigator headquarters in Singapore that we began to gain a heart for the people of Singapore.” Last January they found out about our need for staff to work among university students and were delighted to respond to God’s call to come here. Shannon will lead the ministry at Nanyang Technological University in mid-2008. What an answer to our prayers! – AK v

I met the first Navigator missionary couple Roy and Phyllis Robertson in 1962 Phyllis set the pace for my impression Of what it means to be a wife of a Navigator Always kind and gentle Never self-absorbed Served with love and patience Mindful of one’s needs Never overbearing Never complaining Always encouraging Always affirming She taught me To speak up for myself She showed me How to serve the Lord By serving others

Faith exercised, faith rewarded

A quiet gentle spirit An elegant lady A godly mother to her children A spiritual one to many

* Name has been changed. Graphics from Microsoft Clip Art

A tower of strength and help A life-long soul mate To her beloved Roy Robertson

Background photo by Robbie Ribeiro, www.sxc.hu

he scholar lost his allowance from the company that was sponsoring him. It wasn’t Aaron’s fault that he had failed to submit his thesis on time. A scholar from another country had published a similar paper just before he could publish his. The paper he wrote could no longer be accepted. Aaron made no complains. Instead, he took it as an opportunity to exercise faith and increased his giving to the Lord. Later when he told his boss what had happened, his boss said, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier that you were dropped out of the scholar’s list?” His boss helped him to convert his status from scholar to salaried staff of the same research institution. Aaron the scholar is one of the key men helping out in the Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) Navigators. “He stayed wholehearted in his faith and God provided for him,” said NP Navigator ministry leader Ryoo Jae Kwan. His new thesis has since been submitted and he is now a full-fledged employee of his sponsoring research institution. – ALC v

Now she rests in the presence Of our loving heavenly Father Awaiting the coming day When we shall all meet again In His presence of joy Forevermore v Tom Lee

Faithful to the end Phyllis Robertson, 1923 – 2007 by Angeline Koh and Aurelia L. Castro

he woman who stood alongside the man whom God sent to start the Navigator work in Singapore in 1962 was called home to glory on November 26, 2007. Roy Robertson, personally commissioned by Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, was the first Navigator missionary sent to East Asia. Phyllis joined the staff of The Navigators in the 1940’s and had served in Europe and Asia prior to her marriage to Roy. For nearly half a century since their sojourn in Singapore they have fruitfully served Christ in Asia. In his book, Developing a Heart for Mission, Roy wrote how he had come across David’s “30 Mighty Men” (1 Chronicles 11:10-47) after he returned to Singapore from a short furlough in 1967. Roy prayed, “Lord, please give me 30 mighty men as the fruit of this ministry in Singapore.” “So I planned to call all our key men together and exhort them to reach and teach at least one other person on a regular weekly basis. “I shared this exciting dream with my wife, who calmly asked, ‘And what about the girls?’ “‘Of course,’ I replied, as if I had them in mind all along, ‘we will call them the 30 Godly Girls.’” Roy went on to write, “God answered our prayers for this vision and enabled us to follow it beyond our expectations. At the end of the year 34 males qualified as Mighty Men. The women did even better as 37 ladies earned the title of Godly Girls. (Phyllis kept careful records of her ministry). “The raising up of spiritual generations begun in our missionary days in Singapore continues to the present time...” v

Heroes of the faith by Bien Llobrera, Philippines

ow the years have flown! In 1966 a bunch of awkward, callow Filipino college students went to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to join other young Navigator Disciples for Summer Training in the OTC (Overseas Training Corp). Roy and Phyllis Robertson were among our heroes. Phyllis will remain there among the truly humble, joyful, and thoroughly efficient and godly daughters of Sarah. For me, at least, these names (next to those of Roy and Phyllis) remain vivid in my memory – Jim and Selene Chew, Dave Dawson, Chuck Hunt, Waldron Scott, Joe Simmons, Nancy Bigenhoe, Russ Johnston, and of course, our own Gene Denler and Gene Tabor. Over the succeeding years (for me, until 1971), we’ve met many more. How I (I believe the others too) stand in awe of these Navigator heroes. We are all wiser now. I thank God for Phyllis who left us an example of one who took heed to these words, and therefore she could say with Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing,” 2 Timothy 4:7-8, NIV May we all follow Phyllis’ example of faithfulness to the end. v

Watch the three-minute video tribute to Phyllis Robertson at www.navigators.org.sg/archives/101

disciplemaking TOOLbox

Here are some patterns in your life that can help you become fruitful insiders or gospel carriers wherever you are.

Life patterns of a gospel carrier

by Alan Ch’ng, Navigators Asia Director

1. Take little initiatives (Matthew 5:43-48). Express love for people. Greet them. Slow down and notice people around. 2. Pray for them (Romans 1:18-20). Pray for God’s guidance. He is already there working in people’s hearts even before you get to them. If you really want to seek the lost, pray for them. Connect with them. Who are you praying for regularly? 3. Socialize and serve (Luke 15:2). Men and women of doubtful reputation were attracted to Jesus. They listened to him. Jesus treated them as friends. Take time to socialize and do what you need done with non-Christian friends – meals, recreation, and holidays, among others. We have to consciously connect with our non-Christian friends. At the same time, serving opens the door for the gospel. When we serve, we don’t have to do commercials for Jesus. We serve because we are followers of Christ, not just because we want to do evangelism. 4. Converse the faith (Colossians 4:5-6). Drop one liners that make people want for more. Talk about the gospel naturally. Know how to share your testimonies bits and pieces. Communicate your life values. Have meaningful relationships because when you have that, you can talk about a lot of things. Sow the idea of one day reading or discussing the Bible with them, if interested. 5. Partner with others. Reaching out to your friends, neighbours, and families can be quite overwhelming. We have different gifts. We need each other. Team up with people who have the same vision. 6. Facilitate conversion (Mark 4:26-29). We need to understand conversion and its problem – that is, rebellion against God. Christ confronts our ego. As long as it’s intact, there’s no conversion. The intellect, the emotions, and the will should be involved to have genuine conversion. To be wise labourers, we need to know when it is ripe. We can’t bring about conversion. We’re just like midwives. List the people in your natural traffic patterns in life. You’ll be surprised you’ll probably have a hundred people in your network. Note two or three people that you think your relationship can go further. As you think of them, what are your next steps in developing your relationships with them? v Despite his extensive travelling schedule, Asia Director Alan Ch’ng intentionally maintains close ties with his friends and family. These lessons were shared at the Navigator “Into Your Neighbourhood – Advancing the Gospel in your relationships” seminar held last May 26-27, 2007. Various among his local network who have come to Christ are now in turn reaching their own network of relationships.

Celebrating life by Thomas Chua, National Director

ive minutes after Roy and Phyllis Robertson finished writing a letter informing friends of their retirement and formal handing over of leadership responsibilities, Phyllis said that she didn’t feel well. Roy helped her to the couch where within minutes she slumped over unconscious with a massive stroke. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital but never recovered. Roy and family were at her side when she passed away on November 26. Though saddened by Phyllis’ home call, we celebrate the life of a remarkable woman who showed us what it means to remain faithful to the end. Roy and Phyllis started the Navigator work in Singapore in 1962 and are the spiritual grandparents of thousands of people who have been blessed, touched, ministered to, discipled, equipped and sent out to the nations. The Robertsons have not only left a spiritual legacy to their children and grandchildren, but have also left a tremendous spiritual legacy to their spiritual children, grandchildren and descendants in Singapore and among the nations. We pray for God’s personal comfort on the family and thank the Robertsons for their obedience to the Lord, availability, sacrifice, example and ministry to us, and among us. v

Question

Ponder

What kind of spiritual legacy would you like to leave behind you? Write to us if you have a comment or story angel@navigators.org.sg

asia and beyond by Royston Koh, Director Church Discipleship Ministries (CDM)

Travelling three days just to get there 2:7 Series on the move in India

Background photo by Tue Romanow, www.sxc.hu

ll roads led to Ahmedebad, Gujarat, India for the first National Conference on Intentional Disciplemaking last October 16-20, 2007. About a hundred conferees from 13 states of India came. Many of them had to travel for two to three days just to get there. God’s presence was evident as the delegates were stirred into action by the testimonies and preaching on Fulfilling the Great Commission, “Go and make disciples of the nations.” Navigator CDM staff member Mogan Mannar and I attended the conference on the invitation of Prasad*, leader and key man of the discipling movement in North India. Well-loved and respected, Prasad is an exceptional man of God with a clear focus on furthering the cause of the discipling movement in India. Over the last 20 years, he has unflinchingly promoted the 2:7 Series, a Navigator discipleship training programme. As a result, he has seen the transformation of believers and families in his own state of Gujarat. Into many languages To reach the majority of North India, Prasad’s team recently completed the translation of the 2:7 Series into Hindi. For the rest of English speaking believers in India, the training package is also available in English. At the conference a set of three books (Courses 1 to 3) was sold at a heavily subsidized price of 100 rupees (S$4). Many delegates were awed hearing the report by brother Ashvin*, a missionary who works with village and tribal folks using the 2:7. Hundreds of lives and families have been transformed as the Word of God penetrated their social networks. Equally noteworthy is the maturing of young men who became elders and pastors of new churches.

Exposed to disciplemaking in his younger days, Pastor Viraj* from Andhra Pradesh came with three other pastors whom he trained in seminary. Moved on hearing how God is using the 2:7 among villages and tribal people, Viraj determined to have the discipling materials translated into Telegu, the native language of his state. Pastors Bupen*, Ravi* and Abhijat* traveled two days and nights by train to attend the conference. They were not disappointed. Likewise, they felt the urgency to translate 2:7 into Tamil for Tamil Nadu, the southern state. Samuel* and Eliza* are European missionaries who have been living in a town near Nepal for 17 years. Samuel is currently translating the Old Testament into Nepalese. Sensing the urgent need for discipleship of the first generation believers in Nepal, he felt greatly burdened to translate 2:7 into Nepalese.

Propelling the discipleship movement The evangelisation of India’s billions of people lies in the discipling movement penetrating myriads of relational networks. The gospel propels forward only as strong spiritual foundations are laid in each individual disciple, and as each one moves out to disciple others. CDM exists to come alongside church leaders in their mission. v * Names have been changed

www.navigators.org.sg

The calling of The Navigators is to advance the gospel of Jesus and his kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of labourers living and discipling among the lost. Views expressed in published articles are those of the individual writers and may not necessarily be the views of The Navigators Singapore. THE NAVIGATORS SINGAPORE • National Director: Thomas Chua • Editor / Design & Layout: Angeline Koh • Writer: Aurelia L. Castro 117 Lorong K, Telok Kurau, Singapore 425758 • Tel: (65) 6344 4133 • Fax: (65) 6344 0975 • E-mail: admin@navigators.org.sg Printed by Seng Lee Press Pte Ltd