Welcome to the UWEC Navigators website!

The Navigators exist to advance the Gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of laborers living and discipling among the Lost.

UWEC Navigators Large Group

Every Thursday evening -- summers excepted -- we USUALLY meet in the Tamarack Room of Davies Center at 7 p.m. for a time of worship and Bible teaching. The meetings are open to anyone who wants to come and check out what the UWEC Navigators are all about. The atmosphere is very laid back -- it's kind of like a big family. (Of course, at first it's like being with someone else's family. But stick around and you're sure to have someone reaching out to get to know you.) By the way, we call these meetings NavNites.

UWEC Navigators Small Groups

The Navigator small groups lie at the heart of our ministry. They provide an avenue for students to meet together for prayer, worship, and Bible discussions throughout the year. They provide an outlet for people to express their frustrations and sadness, joy and victories, in the company of other people who support them, pray for them and encourage them. The vitality of our ministry to the campus of UWEC derives its life from our small groups.

Small groups are facilitated by student leaders who are equipped and supervised by Navigator staff. The groups are open to any student interested in growing in his/her relationship with Christ. No matter what material our small groups may be going through, the primary goal remains the same: to see prayer, Bible study, evangelism, and fellowship fostered in an environment of love and support.

The Navigators Distinctives

Navigator staff and students devote much of their ministry to life-on-life mentoring relationships. Whether it's helping a person examine the claims of Jesus for the first time, or helping a mature believer develop ministry skills of her own, we place a heavy ephasis on one-to-one connection.

This seemed to be Jesus' ministry strategy. Though He cared for everyone, He devoted His time primarily to twelve men who then took what they had learned and changed the world.

The Navigators Affiliation

The Navigators are not affiliated with any particular Christian denomination. We are an interdenominational, evangelical Christian ministry. Both our students and staff are actively involved in the local ministries of various churches. View The Navigators Statement of Belief.

UWEC Navigator Staff

There are currently eight staffpeople working on campus with the Navigators at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Here's a brief look at them.

Joe and Ronni Bernardy:

Joe and Ronni began the UWEC Navigator ministry in 1985, after graduating from a Navigator ministry at Minnesota State - Mankato and working with the Navs on the campuses of Michigan State and South Dakota State. Joe and Ronni have four kids ranging in age from 16-26.

Noah and Katie Haas:

Noah graduated from UWEC in 2006 and served on Edge Corps at UW-Whitewater for a year. Noah and Katie are beginning their second year on staff at UWEC.

Ryan and Amanda Kappel:

Ryan and Amanda are beginning their first year of staff at UWEC. Amanda has just finished spending two years on staff at UW Whitewater.

Todd and Jenny Sauve:

Todd and Jenny are also beginning their first year on staff at UWEC. Todd recently graduated from UWEC and Jenny is still a full-time student.