NCC Students Activating Their Faith

 

I'm sure you've heard from your students that they had to do a little
walking at small group. I just wanted to say ...
Thanks for allowing your student to come to small group on Sunday. We (well
it was really Walter) actually listened to the sermon Sunday morning and
decided to put our faith into action like the pastor suggested. We picked
up some flowers after the service Sunday morning and tried to beautify
things a little bit at the front of our subdivision. The neighbors up there
really appreciated it.
Also, our students will be able to see them grow every time they drive in
for small group.
So, here's some pics. They're also on our student web page for those of
you who are members on there.
oh, we're trying to use those new nicknames so you might not recognize them.
Thanks, Trudy

The True Secret

The True Secret Part 4: Showing My Faith Through Action

Wade's Small Group Working Coach Pitch

 

 

 

The True Secret

The True Secret Part 3: Taking Risks by Faith

Portable Baptistry Update

We have an incredible giving Church! After last week's service people started writing checks for the new portable baptistry we need to purchase. What an encouragement and big-time surprise when we tallied the money - $920! And that money was given after the morning offering! PTL!

The total cost for the portable baptistry is $3400 so you can see we are almost 1/3 of the way there. Wouldn't it be great if we received all we needed in the next couple of weeks? We could then be baptizing at NorthStar during the morning worship sometime in May. By the way we have people waiting to be baptized and we are praying for more people to give their hearts to Christ and become fully devoted followers of Him!

Keep up the great work for the Kingdom!

Living Proof Conference...Can you see us?

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=2abd6a77908c034710a0

Above is the link to a video clip of the conference.

www.livingproofministries.blogspot.com

Beth has posted to her blog about the conference and you can also read comments left on her post.

Living Proof Conference In Columbia, S. Carolina

This weekend was awesome. We had a great time together worshiping and praising the Lord along with 17,000 other women. We set out for Columbia, South Carolina around 8 a.m. on Friday morning. Everyone was on time and ready to take off. I could feel the excitement in the van. Cracker Barrel quickly became our spot of choice for our potty stops. Let's just say lots of shopping was done. They had their big sale going on and I think we hit every Crack House between here and Columbia SC. Can't say much food was bought but lots of CB shopping bags ended up in the van. :) I will say they really all have clean bathrooms. Ok, so much for that.
I really can't write all the feelings and experiences we had on this trip. God really did move in a powerful way. It will take months to soak all the truths we heard this weekend into our lives. The sessions for the weekend were based around James Chapter 1. Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds , because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Beth talked a lot about God making us His masterpiece. We can have joy in our trials because of the effects they produce. When we become a Christian our portrait is in black and white. As we encounter these assigned trials during different seasons of our lives our portrait is completed. Every trial brings color to the picture. Our final portrait is God's masterpiece. We heard lots about prayer, courage, standing in faith against the storms of life. One quote I liked was "Every victory will TAKE courage and MAKE courage. That one really spoke to me. I deal with fear everyday of my life. I like hearing about becoming courageous. Looks like you have to exercise some courage to have some courage. Courageous perseverers are greatly rewarded. We heard a lot about being doers of the Word. Putting into practice what we know. Saturday's topic was about changing our WANT TO. Not just going through the motions of doing but really loving God with our whole hearts. I am asking the others who went to comment on what they learned. We learned about the power of WE. We can't be all God wants us to be without each other. I tried to put in italics words spoken by Beth: most are paraphrased by me. :) Below is the Commissioning Statement we said before we left.

Count it a joy, Dear One When life gets hard.God is doing something huge! He is also proving That you are NOT a fake. Be brave, Mighty Warrior.Your God is with you! When waves are crashing, Stand to your feet,Throw your head back And feel the wind of the Spirit! God is painting a masterpiece With multi-colored trials. Go forth and display Divine special effects To the great glory of God. YOU CAN DO IT!

Posted by Lana

The True Secret Part 2: Expecting the Best

The True Secret Part 2: Expexting the Best

CELEBRATE BAPTISM

Join us for the celebration of Baptism at Bethesda Baptist Church in Harris County on Sunday April 15 at 3 PM. At the time of this writing we have one candiated confirmed - BRANDON LANDREAU - and he and his family and friends are very excited! And there could be more on that day as well. Brandon received Christ a couple of weeks ago! His baptism will be a testimony to his family, friends, AWANA buddies, church and baseball team! Brandon, we are proud of you!

It is always exciting to see people baptized! There is something about watching and supporting the person standing there in the water waiting to be "dunked!" We baptize like they did in the New Testament - immerse - so we take candidates all the way under! The Greek word for baptism (baptizo) means to cover completely and we gladly "cover them completely" in the pool! Of course, I am a big splasher! It's "Surf's Up" when I baptize people!

I have been thinking how NorthStar needs a baptistry at our location. Going off campus is ok and we gladly do that, but not all the church family shows up to celebrate. If we had a baptistry in our facility then all of us together would be able to celebrate and encourage those being baptized.

Well, I found one! That's right, I found us a baptistry...a portable baptistry. It is really awesome. It can be set up and taken down in a short period of time or if needed, we can leave it up for a few weeks as long as we continue to baptize folks. And it comes with a heater!

You can see this baptistry on line at www.portablebaptistry.com They have a video link to show you how the baptistry looks and works. I also have a copy of the video coming to show to the church family.

We need $3400 to purchase this baptistry. I met with the Foundation Team and we agree that we need to present this to you, church family, and give you the opportunity to give over and above your tithe toward this purchase.

Of course, this means we will need a new Ministry Team - Baptism Team - to assist people who follow Christ through believer's baptism! Anyone interested?

I believe we can raise this money quickly and the sooner we reach our goal of $3400 the sooner we can order the baptistry and start celebrating together during our weekly worship services! Lana and I are giving the first $100 to the purchase! Who will join us? Like you we don't have it but we believe God will bless us as we give it! Some can give more and some can give less. It's not about equal amounts. It's about equal sacrifice! Let's join together and let's get this done quickly.

One day, you or one of your family members, a close friend, an associate or your neighbor will go through those baptismal waters! Won't that be exciting? This is an investment well worth the sacrifice. Just think, each time you give, whether it is a tithe, offering or special gift, it is given to invest into reaching people for Jesus and growing people in Jesus! That will be awesome!

EASTER 2007

Easter 2007 has come and gone and what a great day we had at NorthStar! God's presence was in the House as we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus! We had 166 in attendance today and the Preschool and Children's area was packed to the rim (by the way, Charitie and Krista really need your help in that area!). The Lord is blessing us with lots of kids and moms and dads.

Thanks to all who helped make this day a great success! Keep up the good work.

MEN'S GROUP

We are off to a great start with our Men's book discussion group on Thursday mornings at Chick-Fil-A. We are reading The Rest of God, Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath by Mark Buchanan. Order your copy at www.amazon.com and come join with us at 7 AM each Thursday.

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Pray for my Aunt, Alma Wolf, who is in the hospital after suffering an aneurysm Friday night. She is one of my mom's sisters. Pray for her recovery. She has paralysis on her right side and has lost her speech, but she is already showing signs of progress!

2. Pray daily for God to use NorthStar in a powerful way as we grow together in God's grace!

The True Secret

The True Secret Part 1: Discovering Friendship With God

Coach Pitch Concessions

Click on picture to enlarge
Doan/Student Small Groups

The Contender Part 5: Waiting for the Right Time

The Contender Part 5: Waiting for the Right Time