The Navigators™ is an international, interdenominational Christian ministry established in 1933. Navigators are people who love Jesus Christ and desire to help others know and grow in Him as they “navigate” through life. Our 83-year-old slogan, “To Know Christ and To Make Him Known®,” aptly describes what Navigators do. As we befriend those who don’t know Jesus or those just starting out in their relationship with Him, we show them how to grow, and how to help others grow, too. Our mission is based on the Bible, God’s Word. Desiring to fulfill 2 Timothy 2:2, Navigators seek to forward the grace and teachings of Christ from one believer to the next—what we call “generational multiplication.” And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2, NIV). Today, The Navigators™ staff family—4,600 strong—includes 70 nationalities, 130 languages, and numerous heritages and life experiences. The Navigators™ family also includes those who work alongside and support our staff, whose hearts beat with the passion of our motto, “to Know Christ and to Make Him Known®.” For further questions, visit The Navigators™ website or reference our statement of faith.

Students will live in a residential hall on the University of North Florida campus. Rooms house 3-4 students (these students also are all on the same team for summer-long training). The rooms are equipped with twin beds so that each student has their own bed.

The total cost for the summer program in Jacksonville is $3,400 plus an application fee. For more information on what this cost covers, see the Finances & Jobs page.

The fund-raising effort can potentially be very rewarding and helpful to each one of the participants in this summer’s JAX STP. All participants are strongly encouraged to exercise this option, even if on a limited basis. See more information on fundraising on our Finances & Jobs page. In previous summer programs that we have been directly involved in, we have made several observations including: Participants are often hesitant to engage in personal fundraising. Students who do the Bible study included in the funding packet (sent to attendees once they have been accepted into the Program) and follow the suggested guidelines are surprised to discover that personal fundraising is not as terrifying as it may initially appear! Students often find that their fundraising efforts open new opportunities for rewarding conversations about spiritual growth and personal campus ministry. Students are almost always pleasantly surprised to see a number of friends and family members willingly contribute and invest financially in their upcoming summer of spiritual growth and ministry. Students who faithfully follow the guidelines and who diligently work to get the invitation appeals out often see more funds actually given to their account than what is needed to pay for their summer program! Some students see only a portion of their total needed amount contributed by friends, family and home churches. Even that partial amount can be a significant help in reducing the overall cost of the program. While students will be encouraged to fundraise and allow others to invest in their summer, fundraising is not required to participate in the program.

The program fee does not include any travel costs to and from the program. The Navigators do organize students into caravans that depart from key campus locations around the heartland and midwest area. We ask students to share the cost of fuel on the trip with those who are driving their cars to Jacksonville. The Navigators also organize overnight stopping places to and from Jacksonville. Those stops are normally located at the home church gym or family life center of someone who is associated with the Navigator work that lives along the route to Jacksonville – generally including stopping places in Tennessee, Georgia and/or Alabama. If you choose to fly, please arrange for your flight to arrive at the Jacksonville International Airport. Please check with your campus staff for appropriate arrival and departure dates and to arrange pick-up at the airport.

We have chosen to have the students live in excellent dormitory arrangements. It is comfortable, pleasant and exceptionally secure which of course is critical for students living in a major metropolitan area. We know students will be much more teachable and responsive if their basic needs are met comfortably. In addition, students are encouraged to be in pairs or groups at all times when leaving the campus, going walking or jogging on the campus, and at the beach. Basic beach and swimming safety are covered during the first week of the Program.

Some students are able to take their own vehicle to Jacksonville for the duration of this summer program. The Navigators do encourage this in hopes that approximately 60 to 70% of the students will wind up there with a personal vehicle. Typically students at the program are employed at places of business within approximately 45 minutes of the University of North Florida campus. Program staff work hard to consolidate students so that several are working at the same business location. In such cases we ask students to carpool and share expenses for fuel. Ideally all students will be teamed up with other program students at their place of employment.

All teams attend a local church in the Jacksonville area. Teams are spread out among different churches in the city. The churches welcome the students and are excited to have them joining for the summer.