Navigator City Co-Leaders

We exist to engage 20-somethings in the grand transitions of life, where you work, live, and play. The Kelseys can’t wait to meet you!  Some ways to be involved in OKC NAV 20s include: monthly NavNight, where we introduce you to Christian business leaders who give on the job examples of faith at work; bible discussions; regional and national conferences; one-on-one mentoring; career coaching; and lively gatherings. Also, we have opportunities for leadership development, and in some cases, even internships.

As a lay couple, Dan & Cherri for more than 40 years (since early 70’s) have been helped, encouraged, and partnered with The Navigators. Their first involvement with The Navigators was while Dan was in the Marines at Camp Lejeune, NC; then, as students when Dan & Cherri moved with The Nav’s to Greensboro engaging in student ministry. Later in life in they were involved B&P, then Metro and now are a part of NavCities.

Dan has spent 3 terms on the Nav Board as Chair of the Finance Committee, serving and contributing to Nav leadership.  In 2012-13, they ventured out to see what God would do in OKC by being part of NavCities. 

"Cherri and I individually disciple a number of men and women we encounter in the marketplace, engage strongly to help Nav20’s, lead prayer retreats, conferences and workshops.  Our priority these days is to invest in those who will themselves bear generations of disciples and disciplemakers in the greater OKC area, and hopefully into the nations.  We have asked God to accomplish 1 Chron. 12:22 in OKC." 

In 2015, they celebrated their 40th anniversary, have 3 grown children, and 10+ grandchildren that spread from Nashville to Tucson to San Francisco. They are privileged to minister with a team of well qualified disciplemakers in various collaborating missional outreaches.

Navigators 20s

Ricky Ketchum grew up in Jenks, Oklahoma. While attending Oklahoma State University, God gave him a vision for discipleship. He spent 4 years in Denver, Colorado discipling guys at the University of Denver while working toward an MDiv. A year later he heard about a new work that God was doing in Oklahoma City to grow a Nav20s community through the leadership of John & Jen Kelsey. Ricky is excited to now be a part of building that ministry alongside the Kelsey’s and looks forward to more years of helping 20-something professionals grow in Christ.

Navigator Church Ministries

Bob's interest in the Navigators began with two nine-week summer training programs in 1977 and 1978. This involvement deepened and expanded under the influence of John Crawford (2007) and John Brock (2010). He retired after thirty-nine years as a Methodist pastor, and became a Navigator associate and co-director of Metro OKC Navigator Church Ministries (NCM).

In NCM we relate to a diverse group of pastors, lay leadership, and churches. We concentrate on relationships with a few with a goal to multiply laborers, co-laborers, and raise up new NCM staff. One specialty is Life and Leadership coaching, designed to promote local church cultures of disciplemaking. 

Professionally Bob holds degrees from Asbury College (BA, History), Oral Robert University (M. Div.), and Fuller Theological Seminary (D. Min.). In his "spare time" he plugs away on a book, John Wesley Meets the Navigators: Biblical Principles of Discipleship for Every Generation, having previously published, Spontaneous Revivals: Asbury College 1905-2006, and How Tortoise Helped Jack Rabbit Win Too, a story book designed to motivate adults to read aloud with children.

Bob and Lynne –BSN OK Spine Hospital—celebrate many years of marriage, along with two children, Jonathan, an Anglican minister (ACNA) and PhD candidate at Baylor University, and Sara, a professional counselor (LPC).

Navigators 20s

Gabby and Ryan Nicklas met and married in Stillwater, OK while attending college at Oklahoma State University. It was during this time at OSU they met The Navigators and committed their lives to the vision of making disciples. 

​

After serving one year with The Navigators in Colombia, Gabby and Ryan moved to Oklahoma City to serve with The Navigators 20s mission. Gabby works full-time for The Navigators and Ryan works as the Director for the Upward Bound Program at Oklahoma City Community College.

Navigators OSU-Campus Directors

The Presswoods joined The Navigators approximately 8 years ago, moving from Sunset, LA (just north of Lafayette) to Stillwater, OK.  Before joining the Navigators, Steve worked at a chemical manufacturing company called Cabot Corp.  Cindy was a homemaker and just finishing home-schooling the last of their two children. Their ministry at OSU involves directing the weekly large group meetings (called NavNite), direct­ing the weekly Bible studies, meeting one-to-one with students (both Steve and Cindy) and having two students live with in their home.  "During our 8 years at OSU, we have served alongside the Moores who led the ministry for the first 7 years.  We have seen the ministry grow from approximately 12 students to 70 students today."

Additional responsibilities include helping the region with summer training programs (I have served as director once and as a team leader trainer twice). Our focus is on developing young men and women to become mature, reproducing disciple-laborers.

Navigators OSU-Staff Trainers

Mitch and Jaylene Williamson joined the OSU Navigators staff in 2018. One of their roles is training staff in the mission of The Navigators which is To know Christ, to make Him known, and to help others do the same. Mitch became a Christian his Freshman year of college by the combination of reading the Bible with a Navigator and watching his close friend live out faith in Jesus. Jaylene was raised in a Christian home with the orientation of loving God and helping others. Mitch and Jaylene met at a Texas school during Jaylene’s last semester of college and Mitch’s first year of a Navigator internship. Both wanted the full package of what being a Navigator staff person entailed: personal and professional development, as well as the opportunities to invest in college students. Before coming to OSU they ministered as campus directors for nine years since joining staff in 2004.

They have three children: Joshua (May 2011), Rebekah (April 2013), and Ezra (July 2016).

Navigators OU-Collegiate Staff

Adam and Taryn joined The Navigators in the summer of 2016. While in college at OSU, they became captivated with the vision to make disciples of all nations. Adam and Taryn both knew they wanted to give their lives to this calling -- to raising up spiritual generations of laborers in the Kingdom of God.

​

Navigators OU-Campus Directors

Bryce Bouchard came to Christ at 18 and his life radically changed.  Compelled to reach college students with the Gospel, he left his full-time job in the workplace after college and has been reaching and discipling students ever since. He has been working with the Navigators for the last 20 years  Bryce met his wife, Susan at Glen Eyrie at a staff conference (the same place her parents met 30 years before!) Together, they have worked reaching Greeks, Athletes, and students in the dorms at Virginia Tech, Penn State, University of Arizona, University California Davis, and recently moved to Norman, Oklahoma to pioneer a ministry among the Sooners.

They have four children, Simeon, Lydia, Siley, and Elsie. Bryce’s personal mission statement is, “I recruit, inspire, and equip spiritual revolutionaries that reproduce reproducers who reach those without Christ and help instigate worldwide revival.” He enjoys restoring old cars, hanging with Susan and the kids, and chasing down a small percentage of the hundreds of new ideas he has on any given day. His life verse is Acts 13:22b “…I have found David, son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”

Navigators Church Discipleship

I have a very unique opportunity as it relates to discipleship. While my goal is to reach everyone, my primary focus is on the urban community. As the pastor of Power House Church, I minister within a church discipleship context. As the Founder and Principal of Destiny Urban Academy, I have the opportunity to mentor/disciple mid-high school students. Also, as a pastor, I have the privilege to coach/disciple other pastors, encouraging them to become disciple-makers within their sphere of influence. I am building a team of co-laborers in the ministry. The team consists of Amos Wamble, Ryan Moore, Marcus Paulden, and Billy Gaston. Our vision is to reach churches, the college campus (Langston University), families, and the inner city.

Navigators I:58

Karen originally from Eagle Butte, SD. Met Christ and The Navigators at S Dakota St University in early 70’s. Doug born and raised in Honolulu, HI. Met Christ and The Navigators in late 70’s while stationed in San Antonio, TX in the Air Force. They have four children — Grace Holley (husband Seth), first grandchild (Sterling Ridge Holley) is due Feb. 21, 2016; David, who works for Grant Thornton in OKC as an accountant; Jonathan, who still lives at home and is looking for work; and Danielle, who just graduated as nursing student at OU Nursing School in OKC.

Doug & Karen have ministered with The Navigators in Brookings SD, Minneapolis, San Antonio, Austin, Lubbock, and now Norman for the past 16 years. Doug currently ministers to prison inmates at Lexington Assessment & Reception Center, Joseph Harp Corrections Center, and El Reno Federal Institution. Together, Doug & Karen lead a Sunday School class at Trinity Bapt. Church Norman called, “Growing In Our Devotion To Christ” (using the Wheel Illus. as a class outline). Karen meets one-to-one with several women from this class, and works part-time as the church and pre-school cook. She will take care of Sterling Ridge beginning in April when our daughter goes back to work.

Navigators I:58

​

Navigators International Student Ministry

Born May 18, 1939 in Skedee, Oklahoma, Pawnee, County. Myrna trusted Christ as her Savior in 1960. Mother of 3 living children and 13 grandchildren, two of which are great grand children. 

Associate Staff with the Navigators since 1970’s, Stacy Rinhart and Jim White made the original introduction to the Navs. Ministering to Community Couples and then in 1979 they were called to minister to the International Students (ISM). Community couples and Internationals continue discipling here and in their country and other countries around them. Now there are 3rd and 4th generations of disciples. Many have come to know the Lord. 

"My calling to the ISM was based on Isaiah 60:1-9. 'The wealth of the nations is their people who come to know Jesus.' I serve with the Navigators because we are of like heart and mind. I serve because God has called me to do so, If I do not I am in disobedience to God.  Each one is questioned and listened carefully too so that I know they know Jesus. I start with the basics, including written and presented testimonies and teach from there. This semester I am teaching “Practicing the Presence of God” and Ephesians 6:10 and following. 

Pray that God will continue sending International women to me to disciple who will wholeheartedly serve Him.  Pray that my health remain steadily well. Jeremiah 30:17 'But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord.'

Navigators Encore

John came to Christ through the Navigators on November 3, 1975 at Dover A.F.B.. John was discipled by Danny Sullivan. Nell came to Christ at the age of eight in a Baptist Church and met the Navigators in college. "We were married in 1987. We have two children, Michael and Hannah. Michael is a Composer, and you can find his music on YouTube. Hannah is an assistant band director."

​

John joined the Navigators 10 years ago as associate staff.Their ministry has been primarily one-to-one discipleship. They have led high school and college bible studies in their home, and taught in 4th grade and adult Sunday school. Nell and John meet with some individuals during the week for one-to-one discipleship, and both meet with someone for their own accountability and encouragement.
"Our mission to establish and equip believers who will do likewise with other believers."

Navigators Encore

Mike came to faith in Christ while in high school, Marilyn early in their marriage.  Their first contact with the Navigator movement through a "Studies in Christian Living" group.  Three years later they moved to San Antonio for “Couples Training."  For the next eight years, they were part of the Navigator movement in south Texas and Tidewater, Virginia.  They relocated back to western Oklahoma and spent the decade of the 1980’s caring for a grandparent and using Master Life in a discipling ministry. 

The Thomases reconnected with the Navigator movement through John Crawford in 1991 and moved to the Oklahoma City Metro in 2004 to become part of the Navigator ministry.  At that time they were encouraged to become associate staff.  When they retired from teaching in 2011, they initiated the process of becoming a Navigator Representative and Mike was commissioned at the 2015 National Conference.  "We minister one-to-one and also mentor couples as well as co-lead the young married couples group at Covenant Community Church.  We have three married children and eleven grandchildren."

Navigators Encore

Judy and I have been part of Navigator ministries since 1970. We have been in multiple Navigator ministries including Military, Church, Collegiate and KMI Conference ministries. We live in Yukon, OK, and are now part of the Oklahoma City team. Our gifting allows us to help advance the gospel of Jesus Christ and His kingdom throughout the OKC area. We have two children, Shannon and Shiloh as well as ten grandchildren.