Our Team
The Navigators - Raleigh Durham
Our Team
Phil Partin
Gary & Julia Bradley
Ray & Ellen Clark
Jesse & Katy Cox
Ralph & Jen Ennis
Ken & Carmen Guynn
John & Jeannie Hamilton
Kenny and Lisa Jenkins
Ron & Lelah Kanour
Jerry & Alice Kinard
David & Rania Messiah
Austin and Katie Harper
Dave & Julie Stickel
Dean & Anne Storelli
Azmen Johnson
Who We Are
The Navigators is a community of friends of all ages who want to know God and Jesus Christ, and who want to love and encourage each other while walking through life together. There are no prerequisites or specific affiliations required to participate in Navigators activities. We encourage you to come just as you are to enjoy friendship and community with us as we seek to understand who God is and why it matters. Thanks for checking out our group. We would love to invite you to connect with us. Please check out our events or contact pages.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes... " Romans 1:16
What We Do
The Navigators ministry serves as an open door to share Jesus each year through life-on-life relationships, recreation, and discipleship. Our goal is to equip others with the skills and tools for them to advance the gospel wherever life leads.We believe that discipleship is friendship with a vision. The Navigators desire to come alongside, live life with you and to help you know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same.
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." 1 Peter 4:10
Who We Serve
We relate to you where you are at in life right now. We offer prayer groups, evangelism teams, women's and men's Bible study groups, Nav Nights (large group meetings), leadership training sessions, E-Team, Investigative Bible Conversations, outreach events (which usually include large amounts of food), and general fun activities (games, potlucks, hiking, biking, camping, baseball and football tournaments and outings, frisbee golf ,and bistro time, etc.). As we serve we want to love and encourage each other while walking through life together. There are no prerequisites or specific affiliations required to participate in Navigators activities. We encourage you to come just as you are to enjoy friendship and community with us as we seek to understand who God is and why it matters.
"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28
Why We Serve
Navigator ministries believe Jesus came so that everyone who believes in Him "may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). People need this abundant life that God offers through Jesus. The heartbeat of The Navigators is discipleship. Jesus came alongside a few ordinary people at a pivotal point in history and walked with them so that they might know Him, and make Him known. Our goal is to be amongst those we serve. We desire to show them Christ's love in a truthful and powerful way, that will change their lives forever.
"We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too." 1 Thessalonians 2:8
Phil Partin | Donate
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 & Julia Bradley | Donate
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 & Ellen Clark | Donate
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 & Katy Cox | Donate
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 & Jen Ennis | Donate
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.
Ken & Carmen Guynn | Donate
John & Jeannie Hamilton | Donate
Kenny and Lisa Jenkins
Ron & Lelah Kanour | Donate
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 & Alice Kinard | Donate
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 & Rania Messiah | Donate
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.
Austin and Katie Harper
Dave & Julie Stickel | Donate
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.