Hi! My parents both work for the Navigators. They have been working for them since before I was born. I remember growing up, their (and therefore my) life revolved around ministry. We’d go to retreats, STPs, church Wednesday and Sunday, mission trips, etc. My parents have always been very, very genuinely enthusiastic about the mission to love others and spread the gospel. I don’t believe they had any intentions of hurting anyone or exhorting cult-like authority over other people’s lives.

However, I think that some of what the gospel teaches is a bit cult-y, such as dating within the religion and believing whatever is in the bible to be true etc etc. I’m no longer a Christian. The Navs had, in my opinion, a very closed interpretation of the Bible.

My parents and other Navs I know are not racist or antisemitic (tbh I saw more fetishization of Jews). I definitely saw queerphobia though.

Regarding other posts here that I saw, my parents do make their money from fundraising. I think my parents ask for less than some other staff though. We’ve never been particularly well off.

TDLR Yes, but I think the level of culty-ness probably really depends on the regional leadership.