Next Generation - Columbia

Does it seem like young people are being bombarded with more conflicting messages than ever? Tearing at the fabric of who they are? Leaving them confused, adrift, and at a loss to deal with what life throws at them? Disappointments in life, doubts, failure and deep pain have led to an epidemic of mental health issues, addictions, and empty relationships with others and God.

Like many of us, teens usually don’t feel it’s okay to share these types of struggles. But in that isolation, they can so easily find themselves caught in a whirlpool of meaninglessness and fateful choices.

It's OK to share these things at Next Generation. Together we experience those very struggles on our way to finding out who Jesus really is. When we take the time to faith-fully walk through life with each other, we all find meaning and experience real relationship — horizontally with others and vertically with God.

Over and over we've seen our students grow in security, willing and able to share failures and struggles without shame, confident that Jesus covers them. They set out in life with purpose, secure in who they are, following Jesus wherever He leads, and cultivating meaningful relationship with others to help them have it too.

NavNights, Bible studies, retreats, camping trips, special events, prayer, service, student-leader team, individual care, and more. Yeah, we play games, have some music, hang out together, and there's almost always food involved!

But real stuff happens when we start to explore together what Jesus has to do with real life. Not the musty old stuff that's just about do's & don'ts. Stuff like: 

"Is He really here? What does He really want? Does He really care? Does it even matter? How do you know?"

It doesn't matter at all where you are on that journey.

Next Gen is a safe place to find out.

Next Gen is a bunch of people who want to take that journey with you. 

Because we focus on Life-to-Life® discipleship, Navigators minister to people wherever they are: college campuses, military bases, inner cities, workplaces, and communities in the U.S. and around the world. Next Generation is The Navigators' high-school ministry.

However they engage in our ministry, Navigators are disciples making disciples. Since 1933, The Navigators has walked side-by-side with people to help them walk side-by-side with Jesus. And as we do that, we teach them to do the same with others—creating a legacy of discipleship that grows continuously, engages new generations, and expands into every walk of life. To date, The Navigators has 2,800 U.S. staff in 115 countries*, plus countless thousands of Navigators making disciples where they live, work, and play.

Bible-based : At The Navigators, we believe that the Bible is true and reliable. It speaks to all people, at all times, for all of time. As the foundation of our lives and our ministry, the Scriptures are fundamental to spiritual growth. From day one, our discipleship approach has revolved around helping people learn Scripture, reflect on it, apply it to their daily lives, and ultimately, do the same for others.

Relational : We serve a triune God who is relational at His core. Since we are created in His image, we are also relational and made to live in community and connect with others. The Navigators believes that when one person comes alongside another to intentionally help them grow closer to God—this is Life-to-Life discipleship. By living out our faith sincerely and earnestly, we are able to meet people where they are and walk with them on their path to Christ. Our approach to discipleship incorporates authenticity and accountability, to build relationships that open the door to the transformational power of the gospel.

Intentional : Since the beginning, God has shown us that Kingdom-building is an intentional process, and He has called The Navigators to play a crucial role as disciplemakers. We are focused on our mission:

To know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same.®

We are disciplined in our biblical, relational method of discipleship, and we strive to follow Christ’s example with interactions that are personal, purposeful, and patient. This intentional approach to disciple-building allows us to thoughtfully shape our ministries to engage different people, in different contexts.

Transformational : The Navigators discipleship model builds the Kingdom day by day, Life-to-Life. We know that the gospel can transform the life of one person, and empower that person to have a generational impact on others. We live out our faith and walk alongside each other, bringing the good news of Jesus into peoples’ lives, families, workplaces, and communities. By engaging people where they are, in a way that resonates, our approach cultivates disciplemakers and expands the Kingdom through spiritual generations.