National Staff Gathering
November 9-12, 2023
Irving, Texas
Heartbeat: A Vital Movement of the Gospel
“. . . be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV).
About the National Staff Gathering
NSG23 will provide a place for Navigator staff to gather and soak in the Word of God, to reflect on our Calling to advance the gospel through spiritual generations, and to envision what the Lord may have in store for our future of making multiplying disciples Life-to-Life®.
Our plan for the gathering is to bless you, our staff, with time for fellowship and interaction with peers and leaders, opportunities to be inspired through stories and the Word of God, a sustainable pace, and a chance to engage in conversations and deepen relationships with friends old and new.
Registration for NSG23 opened in mid-May. Come and be reminded of why you became a Navigator, whether it was five months ago or 50 years ago, to see a vital movement of the gospel through everyday disciplemakers next door to everywhere!
Plenary Theme: Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus
Mutua Mahiaini
International President
About Mutua
Mutua Mahiaini has served as international president of The Navigators since April 2015, overseeing our Worldwide Partnership of more than 5,300 staff serving in 112 countries.
Mutua was born in Kenya and committed his life to Christ early through the influence of his godly parents. While in high school, he made his first Navigator contact and started being discipled. Before coming to the United States to serve on the International Executive Team, Mutua’s many Navigator roles included serving 13 years as the Africa regional director and four years as a missionary to Côte d’Ivoire leading the national work and coaching leaders in other French-speaking countries.
Mutua and his wife, Stephanie, moved to Colorado Springs in April 2012. They have four adult children and three grandchildren.
Marvin Campbell
U.S. Director
About Marvin
Marvin Campbell came to faith his freshman year of high school. He met The Navigators in 1985 at the U.S. Naval Academy when a Navigator student invited Marvin to read the Bible with him. Since beginning volunteer work with The Navigators in 1994, and joining staff full-time in 2002, Marvin has served in various leadership roles in Military, Neighbors, Collegiate, 20s, Workplace, Cities, and Field ministries. He was selected to be The Navigators U.S. President in 2021.
Plenary Theme: Fueled by Prevailing Prayer
Natasha Padilla
Disciplemakers for Life
About Natasha
Natasha Padilla and her husband, Victor, have three beautiful children, Angel (Libby), Josafina (Seth) and Korban. They have four precious grandchildren; Zedekiah, Asher, Anna, and Addi. Natasha has been on staff with The Navigators for 19 years. She is currently serving as the D4L southeast division director. Her passion is to help men and women come into a loving relationship with the Lord, develop the gifts and talents that God has given them through the process of discipleship, and to focus them on glorifying God.
Plenary Theme: Flowing freely through relational networks
Alice Matagora
Train – Develop – Care
About Alice
Alice Matagora lives in Southern California with her husband, RJ, her children, Regi and Clementine, and her Daisy dog. In her free time, she enjoys sleeping, eating delicious food, being in nature, throwing sticks and rocks in the creek with her kids, silly dancing in the kitchen with her family, and nerdery (Lord of the Rings is her main jam).
Alice has worked with The Navigators in disciplemaking ministry for nearly 20 years, with experience in college ministry and cultural competency training. She currently leads the Leader Development Initiative in Train – Develop – Care that develops leaders all over the world. She is also a licensed marriage and family therapist. Combining all of her professional experience and her passion for disciplemaking, Alice’s book How to Save the World: Disciplemaking Made Simple, featuring original Barna research, seeks to equip and empower everyday people to make disciples of Jesus wherever they live, work, and play.
Plenary Theme: Out into the nations, next door to everywhere
Brad Jonswold
U.S. Field Director
About Brad
Brad Jonswold graduated from Wheaton College, where the Lord called him and his wife, Katy, as pioneering missionaries to southeast Asia with The Navigators. After seven years, they returned to the U.S. and have since served in various leadership roles within The U.S. Navigators in Colorado Springs. Brad helped launch the Global Enterprise Network–connecting missional enterprises around the world, brought leadership to the World Missions ministry, and presently serves on The U.S. Navigators National Leadership Team as the senior vice president of Field ministries.