Besides Mike Treneer, International President of the Navigators, the Lord graced us with the presence of several Navigator women leaders who helped pioneer the work in Africa. These include Anne Marie Tingaard, Carol Plate, Mary Van Wyke, Sherry Hall and Linda Dunn. Linda still serves in Ghana. Lena Hagegard, who discipled both Esther Waruiru (now an International Vice-President of the Navigators) and Sarah Mutua (in charge of the women’s desk on the Africa Regional Council) shared from God’s word.

The keynote speaker’s message on The Woman and the Nav World’ was based on the women mentioned in Romans 16. Mike underscored how women were instrumental in the early church, often playing key roles behind the scenes. Many of those present could identify with Truphena and Truphosa, who may have been sisters, given that in our Africa work today we have similar sets of sisters co-laboring faithfully to advance the Gospel.

The speaker concluded with the precious story of Mary Magdalene in John 20:1-17. Even though she was once a demon possessed woman, Mary’s affection and devotion to the Lord lead her to faithfully stand outside the tomb crying. Secondly, Jesus’ appearance to her, in the simple form of a gardener has valuable lessons for us. On the one hand we do not have to pull airs on those under us. On the other, we need to get to the level of those we seek to reach like Jesus did by asking: ‘Why are you crying?’ The Lord of the Universe, now resurrected, still gets involved in the life of a crying woman! What a powerful example!

It is to this same crying woman that Jesus gives the mandate to ‘Go to my brothers and tell them…’ As Nav women in Africa, we have this same mandate to partner with the brothers. Thanks to the Navigators Africa Women’s Day Conference, a fire has been ignited in our hearts to advance the Gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom into the nations. May the Lord bless our efforts as we carry out this noble task.