Page 10 - March-April 2022 Together

TOGETHER MARCH – APRIL 2022
From Long Beach,
SUPPLIER FOCUS California, to the Ends of the Earth

The history and future of NavPress Publishing,
by David Zimmerman.

‘You can lead a man to Christ in twenty minutes,’ in the mid-1970s NavPress was formed to
the late Dawson Trotman, founder of The accommodate that demand. NavPress quickly
Navigators, used to say, ‘but it takes twenty weeks established a leadership role among Christian
to a couple of years to adequately follow him publishers in personal discipleship and disciple-
up.’ Drawing that important distinction between making, starting with Navigator-created resources
evangelising and disciple-making has been like the 2:7 discipleship curriculum and the
an organising idea for The Navigators since its Topical Memory System for Scripture memory,
beginning, and it has captured the imaginations and expanding to include the LifeChange and
of followers of Jesus on every continent in the Becoming a Woman of . . . Bible study series;
decades since. seminal books such as The Pursuit of Holiness
by Jerry Bridges and Abba’s Child by Brennan
Trotman began his (at first informal) ministry of Manning; and The Message, the bestselling
training people to abide in Christ and move in Bible rendered in contemporary language by Dawson Trotman (Courtesy of the
mission in the shipyards of Long Beach, California. Eugene H. Peterson. Navigators Archives)
His interactions with naval shipmen led to rapid
growth and spread of the disciple-making vision With discipleship and disciple-making always at That fifth trait is a reflection of Paul’s charge to
of what came to be known as The Navigators. the foundation, NavPress continued to produce Timothy: ‘Pass on what you heard from me’ (2
As the network of disciple-makers grew, the groundbreaking works on Christian identity and Tim 2:2, The Message). Discipleship is (or ought
movement became organised, eventually re- spiritual formation, such as Renovation of the to be) inherently generative, with disciples of
centering in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Heart by Dallas Willard and Spiritual Disciplines Jesus reproducing in their friends a desire to
the U.S. Navigators and The Navigators Global for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney, along know Christ, a passion to make Him known, and
Partnership are headquartered today. with books that explored the intersection of the skills to help others do the same.
spirituality and mental/emotional/relational
Part of Trotman’s genius was to point continually wellness, including Inside Out by Larry Crabb Recent NavPress releases reflect this holistic
to the Scriptures, to develop tools and hooks that and Bold Love by Dan Allender. disciple-making vision: ministry resources
made Christianity more concrete and actionable, like the Get Wisdom Bible studies by Teresa
and to keep focused squarely on the heart of NavPress continues this long, multifaceted tradition Swanstrom Anderson, books like Surprise the
discipleship: abiding in Christ and participating in today, publishing select resources every year in World by Michael Frost and The Message
the Great Commission. That intentional simplicity three product lines: Books, The Message Bible Prayerful Reading Bible seek to draw people
allowed The Navigators to expand quickly beyond and Ministry Resources. Five ‘traits’ of a disciple- deeper into life in Christ and move them more
a ministry to the military onto college campuses, maker identified by The Navigators offer a general boldly into gospel witness.
and ultimately into workplaces, neighbourhoods, organisation for the publishing programme: In 2014, NavPress entered a strategic
churches and relational ‘third places’ – knowing 1. Walking with Jesus partnership with Tyndale House Publishers to
Christ and making Him known where people live, 2. Knowing and living the Scriptures maintain a broad and ambitious market presence
work, play, study and pray. while focusing in editorially on that original
3. Participating in Christian community
The tools and hooks developed in those early 4. Engaging those who don’t know Christ disciple-making vision. NavPress continues
years generated significant demand, and 5. Reproducing spiritual generations to acquire and develop books, Message Bible
products and ministry resources that advance
and amplify the mission of The Navigators,
with Tyndale House adding strength to the
programme through its efficient systems and
sales team. The results have been encouraging
a deeply coherent and compelling catalogue
of resources, a robust marketplace presence
and a rich, diverse community of authors and
publishing professionals.
Resources that support personal formation, a
sense of vocation born of a distinctly Christian
identity and a commitment to the mission of
God in the world. Nearly a century removed from
Dawson Trotman’s early days of ministering to
ISBN 9781631469985/ ISBN 9781631465161/ ISBN 9781641583862/ young seamen on the Pacific coast, the horizon
NavPress/Teresa Swanstrom NavPress/Michael Frost/ NavPress/Eugene Peterson/ remains wide, the ends of the earth inviting, and
Anderson/PB/£14.50 PB/£6.50 HB/£27.99 the future bright.
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