NorthStar Stories

Closer '08

CLOSER ‘08 was a landmark weekend for students and our student ministry as a whole.  Our theme was OBSESSED (taken from a chapter in Crazy Love by Francis Chan), and Brad and Nick spoke all weekend on what it means to have an obsession with Christ and challenged the students to live out their faith at a different level.  Amazing worship was led by Lauren Boyd, Matt Moskal and our band.
In addition, one of the highlights of Closer every year is the bonfire and the mud course, and this year did not disappoint.

In pictures . . .

 

And in the students' own words . . .

CLOSER ’08 Testimonies

“I’m ready to give my life to God.  My small group leaders are the greatest people ever!  They have taught me so much in so little time.  They helped me find God and understand life with Him.  This retreat has changed my life.”  (Middle School girl)

 

“God has taught me that in order to run towards Him, I must first pick up my foot that I have planted in the world, so that both of my feet are in the Lord’s world.  It is impossible to run with your feet in two different places, straddling a line.” (High School girl)

 

“I want to stop being in the status quo.  I will not go back to my old ways.  I will follow God and walk the path He has given me in any way He will allow.  My life has changed because of this weekend.  I will be the change that I want to see in the world.”  (High School guy)

 

“This weekend, God mended a broken, lost friendship of mine.  He allowed us to forgive and forget.”  (High School girl)

 

“Selflessness and Trust.  These words represent what this weekend has produced in my heart.  I’m done with me.  Since I am no longer living for me, I now am, in obedience, stepping out into waters unfamiliar.  It’s scary because I am no longer in control so I have to, as a blind person, trust the One leading me.” (Adult)

 

“I have realized that I cannot live the way I want to without an intimate relationship with Christ.  When I go home, I am ready to live one life, where my life is dedicated to God.  I am ready to be outstanding in all that I do for God, not for myself.  I am ready to become completely and entirely obsessed with God.”  (High School girl)

 

“The other week I was very lonely.  I felt like I was the only person on earth.  Then God came to me and helped me realize that I’m not alone.  He said He will always be by my side, and now I don’t feel lonely.  I love you God.”  (Middle School girl)

 

“God has taught me to not be afraid of what other people think if I am obsessed with God.  This is the closest I have ever been to God in my life.”  (Middle School guy)

 

“The way we looked at Scripture this weekend was harsh and real and the way it was meant.  Christianity is about so much more than praying a prayer and believing in God.  We need a revolution in our lives, and it has to start somewhere.  This weekend was a spark, and the faith of our students can ignite a fire.”  (High School girl)

 

“Closer has impacted me in the way I will walk with God.  It has rejuvenated me, empowered me, opened my eyes to follow Him.  It has shown me that I can do so much more for Him than I am doing, that I have not given all I have to give.”  (College Student Leader)

 

“This weekend was important to me because I am ready to run.  I am picking up my shoes, and I am going to sprint.  God has truly moved me.  I am also ready to be crazy.  I don’t care what people think any more.  I’m done.  Let’s go, God.  People need to see You.  I have acted as if I am dead, but I’m awake!”  (High School guy)

 

A Life on the Mend and on a Mission

Recently, Michael Collins shared the incredible journey he has been on in the past few years. When asked if we might share his story here, this was his reply: "Go ahead and use my story.  I have used it as I speak to people.  I have had nine people come with me to church so far and five of them have been returning on Sundays since their first visit.  I have been talking to others at college about the church and I have four more people lined up that will be coming to church with me over the next two weeks.  One is another veteran that also suffers from PTSD, one is a college student from Dalton, GA that goes to KSU and just hasnt found a church yet and then my cousin and her husband from Holly Springs is going to be coming to visit the church because they are in search of a church to go to."

Praise God for His faithfulness in Michael's life and for Michael's willingness to share his faith with others.

Here is Michael's story in his own words:

I was brought up in the church and stopped going around 1997.  I went into the Marine Corps and my ways began to change.  Things that I saw and done changed my life in a manner that resulted in me pulling away from faith.  Then I got out and joined law enforcement and the stuff that I saw on the streets, I just could not believe that a god would let all of these things happen.  I worked a low income, drug infested area and one day two of my partners got killed on a domestic call.  One of them had taken the call for me and the other one I had worked side by side with in the patrol zone for two years.  They were married and I was single.  I got extremely angry at God and life because I could not understand why my partners had to die and I got to live.  Both of them were married with children. 

I now am in the medical field and work in the ER at Kennestone Hospital .  This spring I had a paramedic came in with an open head bleed.  When he got to the trauma room, he reminded me of one of my partners due to his head laying in a pool of blood, his hair cut and his mustache.  I started having flash backs from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).  I didn't tell anybody at the time and within two and a half weeks, I lost 12 pounds and had turned to drinking heavily.  I would wake up thinking I was covered in blood and would wake up screaming from the nightmares that I was having.  Kennestone Hospital and the staff there helped me by sending me to Ridgeview Institute twice for help with my PTSD.  I also went to a counselor and had a doctor that gave me a bunch of medicine.  It helped me get stablized and back on my feet. 

My boss told me about Northstar Church and I made my first visit in July.  I have been going every Sunday since and my life has truly been turned around.  My faith in God has been restored and my outlook on life has changed.  I no longer have the craving to consume alcohol and my need for the PTSD drugs have went away.  I no longer have any graphic nightmares and my anxiety has deminished.  I am currently attending KSU and am a psychology student.  I am reaching out to military veterans on campus that suffer from PTSD and am working with the student center to help establish awareness of PTSD and its symptoms as well as resources to help people recover from it. 

Northstar Church is the place that helped me recover and has helped me to feel like I have regained control of my life and to reidentify my mission in life.  I feel that my mission in life is to help serve and comfort others through the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.   

A glimpse into the fun . . .

of NorthStar Satellite groups! Open to all high-schoolers. Join them Sunday nights at True North from 6:00 to 7:30.

Nick at Night . . . changing diapers

Congratulations to Nick and Laura Person who welcomed their new baby girl, Eva Grace Person, to the world on Thursday, 9/11. As Middle School Pastor, Nick invests in the lives of many of NorthStar's youth. We rejoice with him and Laura as they begin their journey as parents!

Satellite Groups Now in Orbit

Our High School Satellite Groups kicked off last night with a HUGE bang!  The 80-or-so in attendance spent their evening hanging with friends, snacking (milkshakes!), watching a captivating video, and discussing what God’s standard is for the choices we make.  Our leaders left feeling very encouraged and excited about this semester in our Satellite Groups.  Anyone can come at any point and join up! Join us Sunday nights at True North from 6:00 to 7:30. -- Brad Parkhurst

Getting things done in the Community!

Here are some things that NorthStar did last month in the community:

• Provided 70 + back to school bags for the teachers at Belmont Hills Elementary
• Provided and delivered 1200 lunches for the children on the MUST Summer lunch program
• Provided breakfast for 40 shelter guests at MUST
• Provided over 200 school supply packets for the Jamaican mission trip
• Accepted clothing donations for the Clothesline coming this month
• Washed clothes overnight for the MUST shelter guests
• Clothed 4 kids in need through Project P.A.N.T.S.
• Filled 4 barrels with food for MUST

If you'd like to get involved with the community, check out the NorthStar in the Community site!

The Blessings of MUST Strike Again

Read the story of yet another NorthStar volunteer who has been eternally touched by taking a chance and showing God's love.

After serving in the MUST summer lunch delivery, Sherry writes . . .

Wow. You were exactly right. That was an AMAZING experience. "Miss Carol" was as sweet as they come. I was all talk until we started delivering lunches and then, I became overwhelmed and tongue tied. It was such an eye opening experience. Would you believe, I felt ashamed for all the things I worry about? It's hard to describe to someone. First of all, it's hard to believe there are people and children living this way, just miles down the street from us. It's almost like entering a different world. That some can have so much and others have to rely so much on the help of others to even have a meal for that day.

There was one trailer park we went to where all the kids were waiting with what appeared to be lavendar. Each one of those kids, boys and girls, exchanged a flower for a lunch. And that some of them were wearing such beautiful smiles on their faces, despite their situation. I cried throughout the short time I was with her and she did too. There wasn't a Kleenex anywhere, so the next time you prep someone tell them in addition to water, bring plenty of Kleenex!!!:)

Carol was so appreciative of the all the communities that support MUST, and I expressed our appreciation for her as well. She shared so many wonderful stories with me. One child had told Carol "how special his sack lunch was yesterday" and when she asked "why," he said "because I shared it with a friend." Another boy hadn't eaten cereal in six months. So Carol brought him a big box of cereal. The next day, he called her into his trailer where he had six cups on a table and he told her that he was sharing his cereal with six of his friends that hadn't eaten cereal either . . . Choking back the tears, aren't you? . . .

My heart was warmed and saddened at the same time. I am truly blessed and grateful I was able to share in helping those children, all 400 of them!!!
You will be hearing much more from me on the volunteer front, I am HOOKED!

NorthStar Picnic and Baptism

NorthStar, being a young church, has relatively few church-wide traditions.  But the annual church picnic and baptism at the lake continues to be a crowd pleaser.  On Sunday, over 600 people came out to Dallas Landing at Lake Allatoona to be a part of the summer shenanigans.  The dinner and dessert were incredible, but the real icing on the cake came after the picnic, as nearly 100 people publicly professed their faith in Jesus Christ by being baptized in the lake. And, THAT is something worth celebrating!

 

NorthStar Baseball is looking for a few good boys . . .

It's not too late to make the team! NorthStar has three teams in the Noonday Association Boys Baseball League and, according to Coach Stan Kirk, all three teams are still in need of players. Boys from NorthStar, the community, and area boys' clubs comprise the teams. Games are played at Perry Parham Park in Marietta on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights, and the season will continue through August 7. Age groups for teams are by grade just completed: 1-3 grade, 4-6 grade, and 7-9 grade. If you or someone you know would like to get in on the last few days of summer baseball, please contact Stan Kirk at 770-427-3071.

40 on the field!

We collected over $5400 through the "Extraordinary Giving" urns on Sunday which enabled us to sponsor 40 players to FCA Camp. Thank you NorthStar for investing in the lives of young people!