It is a joy and privilege to announce that Mutua Mahiaini has been selected as the next International President and General Director of The Navigators. After three days of deliberations bathed in prayer, our Selection Council, comprising about 40 men and women from each region of our work, unanimously chose Mutua to lead us through this next period of our history. Yesterday the Kenyan and US Navigator Boards confirmed the Selection Council’s decision.

The Selection Council’s time together was marked by honest discussion, prayerful seeking of the Lord’s guidance, and a wonderful spirit of unity. Everyone recognized that Mutua’s depth in the Word and prayer, his faith and courage, his demonstrated ability to build strong teams and develop leaders, his commitment to our Navigator CORE, and his gifting to lead from the Scriptures make him highly qualified for this role. His extensive experience and ability in functioning cross-culturally are important assets for serving in this international role.

It is difficult to convey the remarkable presence of God in the midst of our Council. God clearly guided our thinking and dialogue. He gave us an overarching sense of encouragement as we reflected on what God has done in The Navigators and will do in the future. I came away with great joy and confidence, seeing again the humility and godliness of our international leaders who walk in dependence on the Lord and His Word.

During our last session with Mutua and his wife, Stephanie, the Council members shared words of encouragement, exhortation, and commitment. Let me share a few with you.

From the Kenya Board of Directors:

No reservations! He is intelligent, a listener, led by the Word in all aspects of daily life, mature, godly, a teacher of the Word, a practical living example of what it means to live faithfully by the Word. His knowledge of Scripture and its application cannot be challenged.

May the Lord be glorified. Mutua is a great follower of Christ and a people person; he will be a blessing to the body of believers.

From members of the Selection Council:

I’m fully expecting God’s special and supernatural anointing on both of you. I’m expecting God’s favor to continue to be poured out on you. And I’m expecting God to lead you and to lead through you. Those are big expectations of God, but I sense that’s what God’s going to do and I have faith and confidence He will.

Just like Jesus called his disciples ‘friends,’ we want you to know we love you, we will be your friends, and we will pray for you. . . . You will bring a unique style of leadership. We have heard your heart. I’m excited about the leadership you will bring.

My prayer for you is from Genesis 39:2: ‘The Lord was with Joseph; therefore, he was a successful man.’ And verse 23 says, ‘. . . because the Lord was with him, whatever he did was successful.’ The secret was not in Joseph, but in God being with him. The great promise here is, whatever Joseph did, God made him successful. I pray that God will use you all over the world for His glory.

[We] love you, and we’re privileged to follow you. Some hard times will come. . . .  Remember Lamentations 3:21-23. In the darkest moments, turn to His love. Take care what you call to mind. [Jeremiah] called to mind the love, faithfulness, and grace of the Lord. We urge you to do that.

Mutua and Stephanie, I understand the Lord Jesus’ mission to be expressed in John 17:26: ‘I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.’ I desire . . . that you will continue to look to your Father, that . . . you know how much you are loved by Him . . . and that you lead us to join you.

Mutua and Stephanie are Kenyan Navigators. They are stepping into this leadership role with broad and varied experiences in Navigator ministry–not just in Kenya but throughout Africa and many other parts of the world.

• After earning a master’s degree at a university in France, Mutua joined Kenya Navigator staff in 1981.
• In the early 1980s, Mutua and Stephanie led a fruitful campus ministry at Kenyatta University.
• In 1986, Mutua became the Kenya Country Leader, taking over from American missionary Bruce van Wyk.
• In 1994, Mutua and Stephanie moved to Abidjan in French-speaking West Africa to lead the work in Côte d’Ivoire and help oversee the pioneering of Navigator ministries throughout the French-speaking countries.
• In 1998, the leaders of our African work chose Mutua to lead the Africa Region, replacing me. The Africa work grew strongly under Mutua’s leadership over the next 13 years. 
• In 2011, Mutua transitioned the Africa leadership to Nigerian Bulus Bossan. Then Mutua and Stephanie moved to Colorado Springs to join the International Executive Team.
• In the last three and a half years, Mutua and Stephanie have traveled extensively and ministered widely, building relationships of trust around our Worldwide Partnership. They have gained a good understanding of the Navigator ministries in many parts of the world.

Mutua will take office with a formal commissioning ceremony at Glen Eyrie on 18 April. I commend Mutua and Stephanie to your prayers as they prepare for this new role and phase of life.

1 Samuel 16:13 records the anointing of David: So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. . . . We trust the Lord will similarly anoint Mutua and Stephanie as they lead our Navigator family. 

With you for the advance of the Gospel,
Mike Treneer, Outgoing International President