Jim met his wife Jeri in 1958 while serving with the Navigators at Glen Eyrie. They got married in 1961 and and began serving together in student ministry and marriage counseling.
In 1967 Jim and Jeri moved to Kenya to pioneer the University ministry. From 1967 – 1973 Jim led the Navigators work in Kenya. Their love for God, His word and prayer greatly influenced many of the young men and women they discipled. Their contribution to the work significantly influenced the direction of the ministry, expansion and the outlook of the Navigators ministry in Kenya today.
Rev. Jim White went home to be with the Lord on Monday, 19th August 2024. His wife Jeri rested in 2021.
Many of the young men and women discipled by Jim and Jerri were grounded in the faith and went on to serve the lord, and make disciples, some with The Navigators as Nav reps (Field Ministry Partners) and many others in the Marketplace.
While speaking at Lenana School around 1970, Jim was approached by a student who expressed his deep desire to understand the assurance of salvation. Jim shared the Beginning with Christ verses with him. When he shared this experience with his wife, Jeri, later that day she said to him, “We need to start a ministry with high school students.” Being fully occupied with ministry at the university, Jim requested the Navigators leadership of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMA) to send a missionary to work with high school students in Kenya. This led to Ove and Anne-Marie Tingaard coming to Kenya as pioneers of the High School Ministry. The student who approached Jim at Lenana School was Mutua Mahiaini.
Esther Waruiru had walked into University that very day as a first year student and was settling into her room in the women’s hall of residence when Jeri White walked in and invited her to be attending a Navigators Bible study. With a shrug on her shoulder, she thought “Bible study, okay, I will attend.”
Sarah Mutua vividly remembers the first Nav Student Ministry retreat in the year 1972 led by Rev. Jim White. The God focus time they had and prayers claiming the promises of God remains unforgettable.
Mutua Mahiani today serves as The Navigators International President. Esther Waruiru served with Navigators International Executive team as the first woman vice-president. Sarah Mutua leads the Navigators Africa women’s desk.
The men and women discipled by Jim and Jeri were greatly impacted by their love for God and genuine love to them. The gospel has advanced, men and women continue to be discipled in high schools, universities and in the Marketplace today because of the impact Jim and Jeri had as they faithfully walked with the Lord and taught others to do the same.
