About Navigate
What is Navigate?
What's Navigate?
Navigate is a co-learning gathering that brings together ministry leaders to confront the rapid pace of technological change and its implications for the Kingdom of God. It provides a unique space for Christian leaders to collectively explore, discern, and strategize how to harness emerging technologies for the advancement of the Gospel. Through expert insights, diverse perspectives, and spiritual reflection, Navigate equips participants to lead with wisdom in an increasingly complex digital landscape, fostering unity and innovation in pursuit of the Great Commission.
Purpose and Activities
Navigate is designed as a pressure-free environment for ministry leaders to engage in topics involving the rapidly evolving technological landscape and its impact on advancing the Kingdom. Participants can expect thought-provoking discussions, expert presentations, and ample opportunities for peer-to-peer learning. The event emphasizes open dialogue and spiritual discernment, without pushing for specific actions or alignments.
Approach and Experience
While providing valuable content on technological trends, Navigate also offers space for prayer, reflection, and relationship-building. Attendees are encouraged to approach the experience with an open mind, ready to explore how technology can be leveraged for Kingdom purposes, but without any obligation to adopt particular strategies or join formal coalitions.
Theme of Navigate 2024
Phygital
Blurring Boundaries: Navigating the Convergence of Digital and Physical Realities
The digital and physical spaces in our lives have become increasingly intertwined, creating a complex and dynamic ecosystem where the boundaries between online and offline experiences blur. Our daily routines seamlessly integrate digital interactions - from smartphone notifications and video calls to social media engagement and online shopping - with physical world activities. This convergence has reshaped how we work, communicate, learn, and even how we perceive reality. Augmented reality applications overlay digital information onto our physical surroundings, while IoT devices connect our homes and cities to the digital realm. This hybrid existence means that our digital identities and actions have tangible impacts on our physical lives, and vice versa, creating a rich tapestry of experiences that define modern living.
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Phygital Ministry: Expanding Faith's Reach in a Hybrid World
In this hybrid physical-digital landscape, ministries find new avenues for outreach and engagement. Virtual services, online small groups, and digital resources complement traditional gatherings, while livestreaming and social media extend global reach. Data analytics help tailor spiritual support, and interactive digital tools enhance physical ministry experiences. This phygital approach allows for more personalized, accessible, and immersive faith experiences that resonate with modern believers.
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Beyond the Familiar: Unlocking the Transformative Potential of Digital-Native Ministry
The current applications of phygital ministry only scratch the surface of what's possible, particularly when we consider the spectrum from skeuomorphic to digital-native innovations. Skeuomorphic approaches, which digitally replicate familiar physical experiences, might include virtual church buildings where avatars "attend" services, or digital prayer walls that mimic physical ones. While these can ease the transition to digital spaces, the true transformative potential lies in digital-native innovations that reimagine ministry without physical world constraints. These could include AI-powered personalized spiritual growth plans, blockchain-based systems for transparent resource allocation, or virtual reality spaces for collective spiritual experiences that transcend physical limitations. As we move beyond skeuomorphic designs, we open up unprecedented possibilities for community building, discipleship, and evangelism in the digital realm. The challenge and opportunity for forward-thinking ministry leaders is to balance the familiar with the revolutionary, creating new paradigms for sharing and living out the Gospel in our interconnected world.
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Schedule
Schedule is subject to change, but this will be the basic structure of the gathering:
Wednesday, November 13
Attendees arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
(Optional) Networking Dinner at a Local Restaurant (not provided by Navigate)
(Optional) Networking Dinner at a Local Restaurant (not provided by Navigate)
Thursday, November 14
- 8 a.m. Continental Breakfast (provided by Navigate)
- 9 a.m. Morning Sessions
- 12 p.m. Lunch (provided by Navigate)
- 1 p.m. Afternoon Sessions
- (Optional) Networking Dinner at a Local Restaurant (not provided by Navigate)
Friday, November 15
- 8 a.m. Continental Breakfast (provided by Navigate)
- 9 a.m. Morning Sessions
- 12 p.m. Lunch (provided by Navigate)
- 1 p.m. Adjourn
- (Optional) Everglades Adventure - ride an airboat, see an alligator (not provided by Navigate)
Speakers
Registration
Travel Information
Location: The Forum, 600 SW 3rd Street, Pompano Beach, FL 33060
Closest Airport: Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Alternate Airports: Miami (MIA) or West Palm Beach (PBI)
Recommended Lodging
Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport Marriott Hotel
The Westin Fort Lauderdale
La Quinta Inn & Suites Ft Lauderdale Cypress Creek
Sheraton Suites Fort Lauderdale at Cypress Creek
Please note that Navigate will only cover the costs of breakfast and lunch on Thursday and Friday. All other travel costs (e.g., airfare, ground transportation, lodging, dinners, activities, etc.) will be the responsibility of attendees.
Travel Scholarship Application
While our expectation is that each technology leader will be willing to invest the travel cost in attending this gathering, we understand that sometimes willingness is not enough. We don’t want finances to prevent a ministry leader from being a part of these conversations. Therefore, we are offering limited scholarships to offset some of the travel costs for a few individuals.