We have a lot of ministry teams at Northstar and they are all about using the talents God has given you. Listed below are some of the ministry teams that Northstar has. We would love for you to become more involved. If you are interested, please email the team leader listed under each team.
Care Team
Northstar’s Care Team exists to come alongside members and attenders who find themselves going through difficult or stressful times. If someone is in the hospital, we want to visit with them. If someone is sick, we want to provide for their needs. If someone has had a baby or welcomed a foster child into their home, we want to bring them meals.
Contact: Karen Minnick
Children’s Ministry Team
The Northstar Children’s Ministry offers full children’s ministry classes at the Sunday 9:00 a.m. service from Nursery to Elementary school aged children. We also offer childcare for 0-5 year olds at the 11:00 a.m. service.
Team Leader: Julie Jewell
College Ministry Team
Our college ministry exists to encourage students in the New River Valley area with the message of Jesus Christ. We offer a dynamic community of students learning to follow Christ, and seeking to serve their campus, their city and the world for Jesus. We have a range of students from different schools in the area, like Virginia Tech, Radford, NRCC and VCOM.
Team Leader: Erin Petersen
Community Outreach Team
This team seeks to help mobilize the people of Northstar to meet local community needs and keep us informed about opportunities and partnerships. It’s an ideal way for a small group to discover ways that they can be involved and serve.
Contact: Amy Lavinder or Lindsey Hamilton
Creative Content Team
This team seeks to assist the church in communicating news, stories, faith and inspiration in a ways that are informative and compelling. We want to encourage the body and to intrigue the community/world with the glory of God expressed through our lives. Click here for a detailed description of the team.
Contact: Lindsey Hamilton
Discipleship Ministry
D28 is our discipleship ministry at Northstar that is built upon Colossians 1:28 and Matthew 28. These groups of 2-4 people are intentional about their study of God’s Word and seek to learn more about how to be a disciple of Christ. The goal is to make disciples making disciples and have that become a way of life.
Contact: Matt Simpson
Disaster Relief Team
Northstar’s Disaster Relief Team is actually a partnership with the Southern Baptist state and national organization, FEMA, and other relief organizations to provide training and a platform for our members to respond during disasters. Once you have been through the disaster relief training, you will be able to join other believers from Virginia and other states in serving others during crisis. Disaster relief is a great way to share the love of Christ in word and action.
GAP
The Graduates and Professionals ministry, or GAP, is an active group of graduate students and young professionals in the NRV. GAP provides opportunities for social interaction through game nights, hikes, potlucks, and more! However, the overall mission of GAP is welcoming people into a community that will direct them toward Christ to experience his work in their lives, whether it be through casual conversation or more intentional means such as small groups or personal discipleship.
Contact: Matt Simpson
Grand Connect
This ministry for adults aged 50+ is a dynamic fellowship that seeks to encourage one another to mentor young adults, make an impact in the community and apply the teachings of Jesus to this unique season of life that includes grown children, grandkids, perspective and great opportunity.
Contact: Veronica Bluey
Leadership Board
This team serves as the primary spiritual anchor of Northstar that assists the pastor and church staff in guiding and shepherding the church. Team members consist of Shane Carver, Darrell Cook, Tyler Farnsworth, Steve Lavinder, Trey Moore, Jeff Noble, Nolan Schmidt and John Shockley. This team has a formal process of membership which involves nomination by a church member. The process is defined in our membership materials.
Men’s Ministry
Our Men’s Ministry hosts quarterly events to engage both men already involved in Northstar and men in the community/campus. Our men serve in a variety of ways to meet practical needs. Their main focus is the development of men as faith leaders – in the home, church, work and world.
Contact: Rob Swearingin or Brian Lindamood
Missions Team
This group assists Northstar in educating and inspiring our members to keep the task of reaching the nations at our forefront. Team members should have an interest in global missions and be willing to help lead Northstar in its partnerships overseas, mission trip opportunities, and determine financial support for mission requests.
Team email
Safety Response Team
The Safety Response Team helps keep Northstar members and regular attenders focused on worship by asking a few volunteers each Sunday to focus on responding to any emergency that might come up during church services.
Contact: Jessica Yalung
Small Groups
Small Groups at Northstar are informal gatherings that meet in the homes of members at various times during the week. Enjoy a relaxed time of Bible study, prayer and talk about life and how to serve one another and our community. Small Groups are Northstar’s primary way for people to connect with friends, build lasting relationships and grow in their relationship with Christ.
Check out our small groups page for more info.
Stephen Ministry
Our Stephen Ministry, provides high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care and support to people experiencing grief, divorce, cancer, job loss, loneliness, disability, relocation, and other life difficulties.
Contact: Matt Simpson
Sunday Serve Team
The Sunday Serve Team serves on Sundays to help make guests and members feel welcome and to prepare hearts for our worship gatherings. It trains, directs and organizes volunteers to plug into ministry and service through greeting guests, maintaining the “cafe”, and setting-up and tearing-down.
Contact: Jessica Yalung
Tech Crew
The work of coordinating the activities in the auditorium on Sunday mornings goes to the Producer/Director. Those activities include the set-up of sound, video and lighting equipment, as well as the direction of activities on stage. It also includes the Audio/Visual team which handles the work of providing sound for the band, vocalists, and pastor on Sunday morning. The team also provides video for the auditorium using ProPresenter.
Contact: Ezra Richards
Worship & Creative Arts
The Northstar Worship Team is made up of both vocalists and a band. Northstar’s musical style is contemporary/modern worship. They are always looking for musicians and singers to help lead the people of Northstar to worship the Lord.
Contact: Tanner Blankenship
Women’s Ministry Team
The women’s ministry at Northstar is a multigenerational community that is committed to equipping and encouraging women in their relationship with Jesus through authentic and intentional biblical community.
Contact: Emily Simpson or Erin Card
Youth Ministry Team
Our youth ministry has been led by dedicated volunteers who have a passion to see spiritual transformation occur and continue throughout the lives of our middle and high school students.
Contact: Lissa Brown