Decades ago I read a deeply inspiring biography on the life of Dawson Trotman. Though the touch of his personal influence spanned the globe, name-wise he is a bit obscure compared to his contemporaries of that generation. He was the founder of a ministry called The Navigators—their mission was to instruct believers in the basic tenets of biblical discipleship.
Concerning this man, Billy Graham spoke glowingly, “I think Daws had personally touched more lives than anybody that I have ever known.”
Billy Graham knew all of the greatest leaders of his generation. Why would the greatest evangelist of the 20th century make such a claim?
Daws, as he was affectionately called by those close to him, was passionately driven to instill in each believer a deep commitment to deepening their relationship with Christ through the Scriptures. In the 1930’s he aimed to reach teenage boys, which eventually expanded to discipling servicemen in the U.S. Navy located in Southern California.
One young sailor whom Dawson instructed in foundational principles of Christian growth was Les Spencer. Hours were spent together studying and memorizing the Scriptures coupled with time in prayer. This discipleship process had a deep impact on this young sailor. His shipmates took notice, inquiring how this transformation had occurred in his life. Spencer brought one of the fellow sailors to Trotman, “Teach him what you taught me.”
However, Trotman’s resolve to adhere to the biblical pattern, had an unexpected response that continues to ripple effectively through lives today: “You teach him!”
Whether it was a young middle schooler, a serviceman in the Navy, or a renowned leader in the spotlight, Daws taught with conviction a five step process that he instituted among his disciples:
- Hear the Word (Luke 11:28)
- Read the Word (I Timothy 4:13)
- Study the Word (2 Timothy 2:15)
- Memorize the Word (Psalm 119:11)
- Meditate on the Word (Psalm 1:1-2)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in1 the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
[…] on a recent daddy-daughter date with my youngest daughter, I read to her a post I’d written earlier that day; it highlighted the life of Dawson Trotman and his commitment to disciple young people through […]