The Navigators - Raleigh Durham

Phil serves as the City Leader for the Navigators Raleigh - Durham. He was born in Newport News, VA but relocated to his family home Chapel Hill, NC when he was 9. He graduated from Chapel Hill High School and went on to East Carolina University where he got involved in a Navigator Bible Study. He spent two years in the Army serving in Vietnam and then returned to ECU to finish his BA in Sociology. After graduation from college he continued on at ECU to earn his MA in Sociology.

He married Martha in 1974 and together they have one grown son, two daughters and three grandchildren. After 44 years of marriage, Martha entered larger life after a long battle with cancer.

Phil joined associate staff with the Navigators in 1973 doing collegiate ministry at ECU while working in grain sales and real estate. He went full-time with the Navigators in 1981 working with the military at Ft. Bragg and Pope AFB. He pioneered the Navigators military work at Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point from 1984 to 1989. He was the supervisor for all military staff in North and South Carolina from 1989 to 1992. Beginning in 1992, Phil served as the Deputy Director of the Navigators Military Mission overseeing all military staff serving east of the Mississippi and in Europe.

In 2010, Phil became the City Director for RDU. Phil oversees all RDU Navigator staff and works personally to make disciple makers in and around Chapel Hill as well as coaching and mentoring disciple makers all over the US.

Gary and Julia both grew up in Chesapeake, VA.  Gary served in the US Navy for four years  and graduated from Old Dominion University with a degree in Economics.  Both became followers of Jesus in their early 30’s.  They have served on Navigator staff since 1978.  They served as Collegiate Staff—at Cornell, Duke, Boston University, as well as Community staff in various places.  In 1998 they began B2G—a ministry to 20 somethings with the idea that “right where you are God is working”.  In 2004 Gary launched a movement known as VIA Affirmativa to create an international network of art makers whose desire is to “rehumanize their world through the making of art.”  In 2012 Gary formed a community of artist in North Carolina and opened Waverly Artists Group (WAG) as a gallery and studio in Cary, NC.  He served as a Vice President and on the National Leadership team of the Navigators for several years.  

To best describe Gary you would use terms like “out of the box, creative and human.”  His favorite past time is painting!  Julia is known as a woman of grace and compassion with a listening ear for all.  

Gary and Julia have been married since 1962.  They have three daughters and six grandchildren.  They lost their son, Scott, in 2000 at age 30. 

Ray was born in Graham, North Carolina and attended North Carolina State University in Architecture between 1975 and 1979. He also earned an MBA with a dual concentration in real estate and finance. He came to a saving knowledge of Christ while attending Glen Hope Baptist Church in Burlington, North Carolina as a young teen. During his freshman year at North Carolina State, he was friended by several students involved in the campus Navigator ministry. He learned how to grow in his personal relationship with Christ through the ministry at North Carolina State and caught the vision and life-long passion for multiplication through life-to-life disciplemaking.

Upon graduation, he followed the Navigator ministry to Columbia, South Carolina where he participated in a neighbors and Church ministries. He was subsequently ordained as a PCA Ruling Elder. Following leading an architecture and construction firm which he founded for 27 years and the passing of his first wife from cancer, he returned to the Raleigh area in 2017. Reconnecting with the Navigators, Phil Partin invited him to formally join the Navigator ministry as associate staff. Ray and Ellen together with Ron and Lelah Kanour lead a "Right Where You Are" ministry.

Ellen is a native of Canada and was the middle child of 5. Her father was a minister, and her mother was the daughter of missionaries to Japan. She came to Christ as a child but renewed her commitment to following Christ intimately following the passing of both her parents in 2005. She loves music, is active in her Church choir, and is a Senior Executive Coordinator with Shaklee. Ray and Ellen were married in 2018 and have 3 adult children. Ray and Ellen reside in North Raleigh.

Jesse was born in Indiana and moved around the Midwest during his elementary years.  Then spent most of middle and high school years in Kenya.  He attended Rift Valley Academy boarding school.  His family moved back to Minneapolis for Jesse’s senior year of high school.  He did his first year of university at Bethel College then took a year off to ride a motorcycle from North Africa to South Africa.  He was blessed to grow up in a Christian home, however it was while he was serving in the Marine Corps that he connected with the Navigators and began growing in his relationship with Jesus.  After his 5 years in the Marine Corps, Jesse traveled the world backpacking and rock climbing.  Shortly after this trip he returned to Jacksonville, NC to begin his next adventure in training as Navigator staff.  Jesse graduated from Campbell University and plans to be a life-long learner.  For fun Jesse loves the mountains, gardening, exercising, roasting coffee, woodworking, and anything outside.  Jesse enjoys meeting with men in one-on-one discipleship and in small groups.

Katy’s background is the opposite of Jesse’s.  She grew up just outside of Raleigh in a farming community.  All of her extended family lived as her neighbors.  She grew up competing in horse shows and learning different styles of riding.  Katy connected with the Navigators during her college years at Wake Tech Community College and NCSU.  God began to lay on her heart to come alongside women in the same way the Nav staff women had come alongside her.  She longs to be a safe place for women.  She loves to meet with women to share life and encourage them in their relationship with the Lord.  Katy enjoys animals, reading, gardening, laughing, yoga, learning, and traveling.  

Jesse and Katy ministered together at Marine Corps Base New River Air Station, before moving back to Katy’s roots in southern Wake county to minister to ROTC cadets, midshipmen, and students at NC State University and whomever God connects them with.  Jesse and Katy have two wonderful sons and a dog.  

Ralph and Jennifer came to Christ in their early years and were discipled by the Navigators in the late 60's. They married in 1973 and have served on staff with the Navs since 1975. They served at Princeton University, Richmond Community Ministry, the Glen Eyrie Leadership Development Institute, and Raleigh Community. In the 1990's they served with The CoMission in the former USSR and conducted cultural research in seven nations including Russia, China, Bulgaria and the USA.

In 2006 Jennifer cofounded JourneyMates, "a Christian soul care and spiritual transformation ministry, designed to open time and space for Christians to simply be with God and to notice and respond to Gods presence and invitation within and around them." For more see: https://journeymates.org

From 1997 to 2019 Ralph lead the Postmodern Research Project, served on the Nav's National Training Team and then with Vibrant Faith spearheading the Visual Faith Project. Ralph has authored various books and articles which can be found at: www.ralphennis.com

Ralph and Jen’s hearts' desire is to love and know The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to serve Him to the end as God prepares us for Himself and to tell the next generations about Jesus. Ralph and Jen have four married children and 15 grandchildren.

John and Jeanie live in Durham, NC, but after 43  years of Navigator staff work their ministry is scattered all over the U.S. and the world. Locally, they serve Blacknall Presbyterian, non-believing friends, a few old high school classmates, younger Navigator staff, several groups of businessmen and four grandchildren. And they are still actively involved in the lives of Duke alumni of 35 years strewn all over God’s creation. Their favorite ministry tools are Bible Reading Groups and One-on-One conversations, centered on life-experiences and Biblical themes.

Ron Kanour has served with the Navigators for over 50 year.  Ron currently serves as Navigator Representative for the RDU Navigator Disciplemaker’s For Life, “Right Where Your Are” ministry.  Ron came to know Christ as his personal savior and Lord while in the U.S. Navy and was discipled by an engineman on a Navy tug boat. He received intensive discipleship and disciple making training under the leadership of an old time Navigator Cecil Davidson.  Ron did his undergraduate and graduate work at Penn State University.  He has background and experience in the teaching profession, the business community as an assistant plant manager, ordained minister, and overseas missionary. These and many other leadership roles have proven to be of great value in connecting with every day believers who desire to walk with God and make disciples.
    

Ron has pioneered or led Navigator ministries at Lockhaven University in Pennsylvania, Penn State University, Ohio State University, Iowa State University, and pioneered the Navigator collegiate alumni ministry and enjoyed a very fruitful ministry among business men in Chicago and here in the Raleigh area for over 40 years.  His life verse is Isa. 40:31.
    

Lelah came to know the Lord as a freshman at Penn State through the love and witness of Inter-Varsity friends. She was further discipled by Navigator staff.  After graduating she taught 5th grade and lived for a year with Navigator staff Bob and Ruth Fobes for more in depth discipleship training.  She and Ron met at Penn State, fell madly in love, were married and have ministered together with The Navigators on the campuses at Penn State, Ohio State, Iowa State, and in the Chicago area.  She has also ministered as a mother, wife and as a leader of Pioneer Girls and VBS.
    

Ron and Lelah have 3 beautiful daughters and 7 grand daughters and have been a great disciple making team for over 50 years,. They reside in Apex.

Jerry is originally from Philadelphia, PA. He grew up in church, but did not know the LORD until he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He was led to Christ January 13, 1981 by another Marine. He has served in a number of ministry capacities both in the local church and parachurch organizations most recently as Senior Pastor of City of Oaks Bible Fellowship church in Youngsville, NC.  He and Alice are both Navigator Associates. He first came in contact with the Navigators in 1983 while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. He and Alice serve on the Triangle Cities Mission Leadership Team.

Jerry’s passion is counseling and discipling men and married couples. He and Alice have three adult children and five grandchildren.  He currently works as a Senior Clinical Research Associate for a pharmaceutical company in Morrisville, NC where he is responsible for overseeing the monitoring of clinical trials.  He has a BS in Management from Park University, an MS in Clinical Research Administration from Walden University and a DrPH in Health Advocacy and Leadership from Capella University. He is currently enrolled in Birmingham Theological Seminary pursuing an MA in Biblical Counseling.  One of his favorite Bible verses is James 2:13 “Mercy triumphs over judgement.” He enjoys reading, long walks, playing chess, and all things Philadelphia Eagles.

Alice is a Navy veteran. She was born and raised in Maple Hill, NC. She attended St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church #1 where she was on the choir and served as a Sunday School delegate. She came to know the Lord at North Carolina A&T State University after learning of the sudden death of her beloved father in March 1980. She served as church secretary for several churches throughout the years. She loves to serve in ministry behind the scenes. She first encountered the Navigators in 1995 when her family was stationed in Beaufort, SC.

Alice’s passion is 1:1 discipleship. Over the years, she has discipled women of all ages and enjoys doing life with them. “It’s amazing what God can do over a cup of coffee.”  She loves her family and enjoys seeing them all together for times of fun, food and laughter.  She currently works for an IT company as their Office Manager on a part-time basis.  She also enjoys sharing what she knows with others about Natural Health.  She is a Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP) and a Certified Natural Wellness Coach (CNWC) from Trinity School of Natural Health. She loves cycling, walking, and cooking.  Her favorite Bible verse is II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Jerry and Alice reside in Raleigh.

David and Rania were both born in south of Egypt. They grew up in the same church and both got saved at the age of 14. David had his own pharmacy in Egypt and Rania worked as a pharmacist.
David was trained and volunteered with the Navigators in Egypt. Then later,  they attended together a mission school for a year. David went to Syria and Tunisia in short mission trips.

They moved to the United States in 2011 as immigrants and lived in Raleigh, NC. They reach out to Arabic speaking population in Raleigh-Durham area; mainly to refugees. They also minister to Arabic speaking Christians in the area.

They joined the Navigators in 2016 to be in Nations Within ministry. David and Rania were married in 2005 and have one son.

David was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and grew up there until he started High School.  Then the family moved to the foothills of North Carolina where he got his start playing basketball due to his height...6’9”!  This led to being recruited to go to UNC Asheville on a basketball scholarship where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Art.  He then spent two years in Nairobi, Kenya with the Southern Baptist Journeyman program, coaching and teaching.  After he returned to the US, he participated in the Leadership Development Institute for 2 years at the Navigators HQ, Glen Eyrie.  Here he met Julie, who was assisting George Sanchez as he led the Navigator work outside of the US.  They were married in the Rose Arbor at Glen Eyrie in 1987.  Right after that they moved to Norman, OK to help open the work to internationals with Jim & Jeri White.  After 4 years of ministry in Norman they moved back to NC to develop an outreach to Asian scholars.  It has been a blessing to be close to their parents in NC for 30 years.  David continues to paint watercolors professionally and has developed a national, as well as international, reputation for his highly-detailed work.   www.davidstickel.com

Julie grew up in Iowa and moved with her family to NC when her father became a history professor at Winston-Salem State.  She and David joke that they had lived 2 miles from each other and never met until 15 years later in Colorado Springs.  Julie committed her heart to Christ her first month in college, (Univ. of Iowa) got involved with The Navigators and wanted to minister overseas as she was obtaining French and German degrees.  The opportunity opened up, but the leader of the ministry in France “loaned” her to George Sanchez to get experience serving at HQ in administration.  George convinced her she wasn’t mature enough to last on the field, so she was still there 8 years later when David arrived.  She was apparently now mature enough for marriage and then to homeschool the 5 children they have, the 5th adopted from China!  Their children, now young adults, have all done very well with their educational pursuits and launching their careers.  She especially loves one on one discipling women.

Dean has been one staff with the Navigators since 1990. He has served in Japan, the Duke campus ministry, and the 20s (formerly b2g). He also teaches writing and presentation at Duke' Sanford School of Public Policy. He is married to Anne and has three adult children. Dean and Anne reside in Durham.

Azmen Johnson grew up in Durham, NC. In 2007, she graduated from UNCC with a BA in Sociology and has been involved with Urban Hope ever since. She has served as a camp counselor, adult facilitator for Bible Jump Off, mentor, and year round volunteer. Azmen continues to invest in the next generation to equip and empower young people to overcome whatever obstacles they may face. Beyond her contributions to Urban Hope, Azmen works in the Durham community including educator for Durham Public Schools and serves as case facilitator and leadership team member for Restorative Justice Durham.