The Navigators

The Navigators is a Christian parachurch organization that develops discipleship, evangelism, Bible-study, and spiritual leadership programs in military, collegiate, workplace, community, and international settings. It was established in 1933 by evangelist Dawson Trotman after he began mentoring Lester Spencer, a United States Navy sailor serving aboard USS West Virginia. Trotman’s approach emphasized sustained personal mentoring and reproducible spiritual instruction rather than only large public meetings. The work expanded among naval personnel, and by the end of the Second World War thousands of service members on ships and military bases were participating in Navigator Bible-study and discipleship activities. The organization’s ministry model combines one-to-one and small-group relationships with practical study materials, leadership training, missionary work, and local ministry teams. Its activities have historically included outreach to military personnel, university students, and people in ordinary workplaces and communities. The collegiate branch began in 1951 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where students associated with the Sigma Nu fraternity and Trotman developed a campus-oriented ministry. This became one of several channels through which The Navigators adapted its discipleship approach to non-military environments. In 1953, The Navigators acquired Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The property became the organization’s principal headquarters and an important venue for conferences, training, retreats, and youth programs. The related Eagle Lake property has been used for youth camping; the organization reported that more than 4,700 campers participated in Eagle Lake Camps in 2014. Glen Eyrie continues to function as an administrative and ministry center, including facilities used for conferences and Christian formation. The Navigators developed an international presence through missions and national movements. Its work reached the United Kingdom during the Billy Graham crusades of the 1950s, and the UK ministry is based in Southampton. The organization also identifies work in countries and regions including Brazil, Austria, and Eurasia, alongside its United States activities. Its international structure has been led by a succession of international presidents, with Joe Maschhoff becoming the sixth international president on May 4, 2025, succeeding Mutua Mahiaini, who had held the position for approximately a decade. Marvin Campbell serves as president of the United States organization. The organization has also appeared in disputes concerning religious activity in the United States military. In 2005, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation included Navigator personnel assigned to the United States Air Force Academy in litigation alleging that the Academy favored particular religious groups and permitted unconstitutional proselytizing. The case was dismissed, while later complaints by the same organization also referred to The Navigators. These disputes form part of broader public debate about the boundary between voluntary religious ministry and government-sponsored religious activity in the armed forces. The Navigators remains an active nonprofit Christian ministry whose principal activities are discipleship, evangelism, leadership development, publishing, conferences, youth programs, and international mission work.

The Navigators originated in the United States in 1933 through the evangelistic and mentoring work of Dawson Trotman. Trotman began working with Lester Spencer, a sailor aboard USS West Virginia, and used an intensive personal-discipleship method that combined Bible study, memorization, prayer, evangelism, and multiplication through trained individuals. The approach spread among sailors and other military personnel. Before USS West Virginia was sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Spencer’s influence had reportedly helped lead 135 additional sailors on the ship to Christianity. During and after the Second World War, Navigator workers expanded among ships, bases, and military communities, and thousands of service members came into contact with the organization’s teaching and mentoring programs. Although military ministry was central to its early identity, The Navigators gradually developed programs for other populations. A collegiate ministry was established in 1951 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Students connected with the Sigma Nu fraternity house worked with Trotman to bring the organization’s discipleship practices to campus. This expansion established a pattern later followed in workplace, community, and international settings: small groups and individual relationships were used to develop Christians who could in turn mentor and teach others. A major institutional turning point came in 1953, when The Navigators purchased Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The property, which included the 330-acre Eagle Lake site, became the organization’s principal headquarters. The purchase agreement required Eagle Lake to be used for youth work. Glen Eyrie subsequently served as an administrative center and as a location for conferences, retreats, training programs, and other ministry activities. Eagle Lake developed into a youth-camping operation; more than 4,700 campers were reported to have attended Eagle Lake Camps in 2014. The organization also extended its work outside the United States. The Navigators reached the United Kingdom through the Billy Graham crusades of the 1950s, and the UK organization later based its operations in Southampton, England. Over time, Navigator ministries and missions were established in additional countries and regions, including Brazil, Austria, and Eurasia. The international movement has operated through a combination of national ministries, missionary personnel, local leaders, and shared discipleship resources. The Navigators’ institutional scope includes direct ministry, training, conferences, youth programs, audio teaching, and publishing. NavPress has served as the organization’s publishing arm, while Glen Eyrie Conference Center has provided a physical setting for Christian gatherings and organizational programs. These activities complement the central ministry philosophy of helping individuals grow in Christian faith and equip others through repeatable relational methods. The organization has occasionally been involved in controversy over its presence in the United States military. In 2005, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation sued the United States Air Force Academy in litigation that cited Darren and Gina Lindblom, who were assigned to the Academy through The Navigators. The complaint alleged that the Air Force Academy favored the Navigators and excluded other religious groups, raising Establishment Clause issues. The lawsuit was dismissed. Later Military Religious Freedom Foundation lawsuits and complaints also named The Navigators in allegations concerning proselytizing in military settings. The organization’s involvement in these disputes reflects the broader tension between privately organized religious ministry and constitutional restrictions on government endorsement of religion. Leadership has changed through several international presidents. Michael W. Treneer preceded Mutua Mahiaini, who served for about ten years. On May 4, 2025, Joe Maschhoff became the sixth international president. Marvin Campbell is identified as president of the United States organization. The Navigators remains an active worldwide Christian parachurch organization headquartered in Colorado Springs, with work spanning military, collegiate, workplace, community, youth, publishing, conference, and international mission contexts.

• 2025

  Joe Maschhoff becomes international president

  [1]The Navigators (organization)en.wikipedia.org

  Joe Maschhoff succeeds Mutua Mahiaini as the organization’s sixth international president on May 4.

• 2005

  Air Force Academy litigation

  [1]The Navigators (organization)en.wikipedia.org

  The Military Religious Freedom Foundation brings litigation involving Navigator personnel and alleged religious favoritism at the United States Air Force Academy; the case is dismissed.

• 1953

  Glen Eyrie becomes headquarters

  [1]The Navigators (organization)en.wikipedia.org

  The Navigators acquires Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, including the Eagle Lake property for youth work.

• 1951

  Collegiate ministry begins

  [1]The Navigators (organization)en.wikipedia.org

  Students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, working with Trotman, establish a campus-oriented Navigator ministry.

• 1933

  The Navigators is founded

  [1]The Navigators (organization)en.wikipedia.org

  Dawson Trotman establishes The Navigators through a discipleship ministry begun with United States Navy sailor Lester Spencer.

A relational, decentralized Christian ministry centered on reproducible discipleship, personal mentoring, Bible study, evangelism, and leadership development across military, campus, workplace, community, and international contexts.

• Christian ministry · 1933

  Discipleship and mentoring ministry

  The organization’s core offering is a relational discipleship model built around individual mentoring, small groups, Bible study, prayer, evangelism, and training people to guide others. The method is designed to be reproducible across military, campus, workplace, community, and international environments.

• Youth programs

  Eagle Lake Camps

  Youth camping and related Christian formation programs operated at the Eagle Lake property associated with Glen Eyrie. The site was included in the 1953 acquisition of the organization’s Colorado Springs headquarters and is intended for youth work.

• Conferences and retreats · 1953

  Glen Eyrie Conference Center

  A conference, retreat, training, and administrative facility in Colorado Springs. Glen Eyrie serves as The Navigators’ principal headquarters and supports organizational gatherings and Christian ministry programs.

• Religious publishing

  NavPress

  The publishing arm associated with The Navigators, producing and distributing Christian books and discipleship-oriented resources. It extends the organization’s teaching model beyond local mentoring and group ministry.

• Audio teaching

  Navigator audio messages

  Audio-based Christian teaching and ministry material associated with The Navigators, supporting Bible instruction, discipleship, and spiritual development through recorded messages.

• 2005

  Military Religious Freedom Foundation litigation

  The Military Religious Freedom Foundation cited The Navigators in litigation against the United States Air Force Academy. The complaint alleged that Navigator personnel received preferential treatment and that the Academy permitted religious activity favoring particular groups. The case was dismissed. Later complaints by the same organization also named The Navigators in allegations concerning proselytizing in the military.

  Source

Read more

• 2025

  Appoint a new international presidentOther

  Background

  Mutua Mahiaini had led the international organization for approximately ten years, following Michael W. Treneer.

  Action taken

  Joe Maschhoff was appointed the sixth international president on May 4, 2025.

  Aftermath

  The leadership transition continued The Navigators’ succession of international presidents while the organization remained active across its worldwide ministry network.

  Source

• 1953

  Acquire Glen Eyrie and expand residential ministry infrastructureStrategy

  Background

  The organization needed a permanent base for administration, conferences, training, and youth work as its ministry expanded beyond its original military setting.

  Action taken

  The Navigators purchased Glen Eyrie from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, with the related Eagle Lake property designated for youth work.

  Aftermath

  Glen Eyrie became the organization’s principal headquarters and a long-term venue for conferences, retreats, training, and youth programs.

  Source

1. 1The Navigators (organization)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Navigators official websitenavigators.org