Posts Tagged ‘volunteers’
BY BRIAN SHOTTON
“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” – Martin Luther
Early in 2013, Northview Church began including a miracle service once a month—because God still works miracles and answers prayers every day. In July of 2013, at Northview’s Volunteer Expo, over 45 people joined the prayer ministry. Rick Thompson, Administrative and Prayer Pastor, was amazed. “We typically see around 25 people express interest at the expo. Our Tuesday team of intercessory prayer folks has grown from eight to over 20 people.”
The prayer ministry prays over the requests of church staff and ministry leaders throughout the week. Requests are divided up in various ways. Thompson explained that it is about the timing of the request, “Many times there is an urgency to the request. I will send requests for prayer out to the volunteers once or twice a week via email. In cases where the requests are urgent, they are immediately sent out to the Tuesday Prayer team.”
Excitedly, Thompson continued, “We are on the cusp of really branching out. We have volunteers praying in the chapel after services each weekend, the Tuesday night team focusing on community and global ministries, and our email groups that pray over staff requests and ministry leaders.”
Thompson believes that Northview Church is becoming a true house of prayer as mentioned in Matthew 21:13 (NIV), “…My house will be called a house of prayer.” “Choosing to hold miracle prayer services once a month has really put prayer on people’s radar. God faithfully shows up each week and those that come for prayer are sharing how their lives are being changed through the power of prayer.”
Having led the prayer ministry for close to four years, Thompson has a different perspective than most. “Prayers are always answered. The timing is in God’s hands…I have lost count of how many breakthroughs, healings, reconciliations and changed lives I personally have witnessed. I see the power of prayer produce miraculous outcomes on a weekly basis.”
God honors people willing to step out and seek Him through prayer. Challenges, trials, and heartaches are simply opportunities to grow closer to an incredible, present and loving God.
There are myriad opportunities for people to get involved in prayer at Northview Church. Anyone wanting to experience the power of prayer can come to the chapel on Tuesday nights between 7 and 8:30 p.m. Recently, Northview celebrated the International Day of Prayer by praying for the persecuted church.
Thompson’s call to action was clear, “From the moment a person steps into the chapel on Tuesday nights or comes forward at a miracle prayer weekend, the answer to their prayer is set in motion. And as we know, our responsibility is to stand with one another and, as [Lead Pastor] Steve often teaches us, keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keeping on knocking.”
Prayer requests can be sent to prayerministry@northviewchurch.us or sent through Northview Church’s Facebook page.
BY HEATHER GOBLE-SORRELLS
Imagine yourself walking into church, but it’s been transformed from the weekend service format into a venue for learning, worship or fun. When the event begins, you are suddenly surrounded by thousands of people looking at a stage with bright, colorful lights and big screens showing close-ups of your favorite author, speaker or singer. The amazing acoustics make you feel like you are the only one in the audience, like the show was being put on specifically for you. Now think about all the work that goes into setting up events, all the time invested to prepare, and all the behind-the-scenes things attendees don’t even notice.
Chris Tomlin performed at Northview November 2011 (photo by Kurt Hostetler)
God has gifted Northview’s Carmel campus with the perfect auditorium for hosting conferences and they are approached to host events on a regular basis. Some events have happened at North Beach as well. “Word has gotten out about the incredible facilities, video screen, etc., so there’s a lot of interest,” says Greg Wallace, Northview’s Creative Arts Pastor. On average, Northview hosts one or two conferences a year in addition to other events, which are typically sold out. These events are single day, but “that day is jam packed with an incredible lineup of speakers!” says Wallace.
With the mindset that church comes first, Wallace says they make sure the regular worship services are not hindered by a conference coming to Northview and that it’s a win-win situation for both Northview and the conference.
Northview has hosted numerous events including concerts, children’s events and women’s ministry events. Back in 2010, many families enjoyed the “Sing Yourself Silly” Veggie Tales Live event which was full of kids having a blast. In 2012, Casting Crowns was attended by many who didn’t attend Northview, but thought the auditorium was astounding.
Veggie Tales Live came to Northview November 2010
Northview also hosts events for schools, community organizations and private corporations. “Working with some of the corporate groups and schools is especially rewarding because folks who may have been away from church for years, or may never have been, can come in and see the building—especially our incredible children’s areas—and perhaps be encouraged to visit for a service,” says Wallace.
Northview has a “fantastic staff team who organize and prep events, but it’s our volunteers who make it all happen,” says Wallace. These volunteers help behind the scenes for the weekend services as well as usher, provide security, handle technology and take tickets for events. Wallace says, “Northview is a church of great people who make the great events possible!”
America’s Best Hope corporate workshop will be held at Northview’s Carmel campus on Friday, November 15, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The purpose of this one-day conference is to build godly leaders. World-class speakers such as Francis Chan, Henry Blackaby and Patrick Lencioni will be featured throughout the day. For tickets, go to itickets.com.
Recently, Northview hosted Stephen Curtis Chapman’s concert, which was a huge hit. Stay tuned to your church bulletin since Northview is going to announce the first 2014 concert very soon!
Steven Curtis Chapman performed at Northview this past October (photo by Shayre Rivotto)
Ultimately, the reason for Northview bringing in conferences? “God has blessed us with so much, so we want to be a blessing,” says Wallace.
Wordless Wednesday
Posted on: October 30, 2013
Leave us a comment! What comes to mind when you see this picture?
Northview ministers through meals
Posted on: October 3, 2013
BY HEATHER GOBLE-SORRELLS
Chicken Pot Pie (Photo credit: Michael Kappel)
In times of sickness, the death of a loved one or even the birth of a new baby, something as simple as preparing meals can become an unattainable task for many families. Not knowing where the next meal is going to come from can have a devastating effect on a family’s life. Thankfully, Northview has an answer to families in crisis through their meal ministries.
The meal ministries generally hear about a family in need from a pastor who has learned of a Northview attendee’s illness, accident or death of a loved one. These ministries set up what is referred to as a meal train—the process of organizing meals for families in need. Meals are based on dietary requirements of the families and ability of the volunteers.
The funeral meal ministry has been serving meals for Northview affiliated funerals since the 1980’s. Loy Wiesert, Funeral Meal Coordinator, and her team provide the side dishes and desserts to go along with the meal and drinks provided by Northview. It’s a way to “come together after the service and have a good meal and time to talk and remember their loved one’s life,” says Wiesert.
The volunteers set-up, decorate, serve and clean-up after these gatherings. Wiesert describes each family as having different requests in this time of need and says “we listen to what the family wants and we try to meet that goal.” Since these types of crises arise without much notice, the number of meals provided fluctuates month-to-month which creates a need for flexible volunteers.
Until about a year ago, there was no formal meal ministry at Northview, besides the funeral ministry. Angelia Quinn, Meal Ministry Coordinator, being a grateful recipient of donated meals when she was unable to make them after the birth of her son, led the charge to get the meal ministry started in 2012. Currently there are around 100 volunteers who sign-up to make meals at their own home and deliver them to families in need.
Sometimes the volunteers do more than deliver meals. They also bring games for the families’ children and really come alongside the families. At most there are six to seven families receiving meals each month. “I love how it meets a basic need. Jesus said if you see someone in need, give it to them, feed them,” says Quinn.
The Greater Lafayette Campus meal ministry began this past spring and wants “to reach out within our church family and meet a need or just show encouragement and love,” says Holli Wolfe, Meal Ministry Coordinator. Like Quinn, Wolfe also experienced the love of Northview through women from MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) bringing her meals after the birth of her second son. “With that came fellowship, friendship and a feeling of just being loved on by another momma. It was such a blessing not only to not have to worry about dinner, but also to feel like I was part of a big, extended family,” says Wolfe. Currently, the greater Lafayette campus is serving three families.
The response from the families served is an overwhelming appreciation and confession that they could not have made their own meals during their time of crisis without these ministries. The meal ministry teams are always looking to enlarge their pool of volunteers. If you are interested in making and taking meals to folks or helping with the funeral meal ministry, please sign up at the information desk during the weekend service or contact the parties below:
Funeral Meal Ministry: Loy Wiesert – loy.wiesert@northviewchurch.us
Meal Ministry: Angelia Quinn – meals@northviewchurch.us
Greater Lafayette: Holli Wolfe – holli@thirtyfive.io
BY DRAKE D’AMBRA
Northview Church added Karen Crull to its staff as the Children’s Ministry Director for Northview Kids.
Karen is responsible for leading the children’s ministry staff, training and recruiting volunteers, creating and maintaining safe environments for children, providing positive family experiences, organizing the ministry’s curriculum, and other duties.
“I believe she will be a huge blessing to our church because she will encourage volunteers, lead parents and love on our children,” Northview’s Family Ministry Pastor Kurt Brodbeck said.
Karen’s past experience includes working with Campus Crusade for Christ’s campus ministry (now known as Cru) and Family Life for eight years. She stepped away from that when she and her husband, Northview’s Executive Pastor Mark Crull, had children.
While raising four children, Karen also volunteered in children’s ministry, including time at Northview Kids.
“I think my experience as a parent will help me in this new role, but also my experience as a volunteer in children’s ministry over the past 20 years, 10 at Northview,” Karen said.
Throughout her 10 years of volunteering at Northview, Karen learned the ins and outs of the children’s ministry.
“I have loved serving in Northview Kids over the years, so that passion will remain the same in my new role,” she said.
Karen doesn’t plan to overhaul the children’s ministry. “I think that many things in Northview Kids are done with excellence,” she said.
One area that Karen does want to focus on is the connectedness between volunteers.
“We have amazing volunteers in Northview Kids. Working with those volunteers excited me the most because I have worked alongside many of them for years,” she said. “I would love for our volunteers to be more connected to one another as we serve together.”
Northview is working to improve its family oriented focus. As part of that, Northview changed the position of Kurt Brodbeck from Student Ministry Pastor to Family Ministry Pastor. The Family Ministry oversees Northview Kids.
“I know that bringing in Karen will be exciting for our families. I believe she will help parents effectively lead their families to know and love the Lord,” Brodbeck said.
Karen and Mark have raised four children. David, 21, is a senior at Ball State and a small group leader in Ball State’s Cru. Aaron, 19, is a sophomore at Taylor University. Katie, 18, is entering her first year at Ball State and Emily, 16, is a junior at Carmel High School.
“It’s good to have everyone home this summer. I’m looking forward to spending a lot of time together,” Karen said.
Karen grew up in Muncie, Indiana and earned a business degree from Indiana University.
She describes herself as someone who loves her family, laughs a lot, and talks too much. She is a people person and well-organized.
When Karen finds time to herself, she loves to complete puzzles – crosswords, jigsaws and Sudoku. She also enjoys taking walks with her twin sister a few times each week.
“I’m excited about working with the Northview Kids current staff and also the new direction the children’s ministry is taking – to a family ministry,” Karen said.
BY PATTY PERKINS
The disc golf course at Northview Church’s Carmel campus keeps getting better. Six new concrete launching pads have been added. Adam Hoernschemeyer, a senior at Fishers High School, added the platforms last fall for his Eagle Scout project.
Hoernschemeyer spent about three weeks coordinating the project and got everyone together. Grounds Manager Marcia Schwartz was the staff liaison for the project.
“I enjoy working with Eagle Scouts,” Schwartz said. “They are very responsible teens who have many adults rooting for them to obtain their Eagle rank. I am involved with initial meetings with the scouts and their parents and give them options of several projects they can choose from…I am aware of every aspect of the project but now rely on Mark Rosenberger’s expertise to advise each scout.”
Rosenberger, a member of Northview’s Carmel campus, has a construction background and helped coordinate and carry out the project.
Hoernschemeyer found coordinating the project challenging. He was surprised with how technical everything had to be. He was also surprised with how many people were required. Completing the project took 30 people and four days.
Volunteers work oon six new concrete launching pads for the disc golf course at Northview’s Carmel campus.
At preliminary meetings, details of the project were marked out and equipment and supplies noted. Resources were pulled together and they discussed how to get the needed items or services.
Hoernschemeyer coordinated donations. Sunbelt donated an excavator and a Georgia Buggy, which is a powered wheelbarrow. Becker Landscaping provided gravel. Family and friends gave time and finances.
The second day of the project was the toughest. Rosenberger operated the excavator to dig the holes and Hoernschemeyer led a group that was building forms for the concrete. Stone was delivered and spread into the holes. Day two stretched into 10 hours.
On day three, the concrete arrived. Concrete trucks are not allowed to drive off the paved road on Northview Church’s property. Concrete was transported from the trucks to the platform sites via the Georgia Buggy, driven by Hoernschemeyer’s dad.
A parent from Hoernschemeyer’s troop with construction experience knows how to do professional concrete finishing. He, along with volunteers, did the finishing work on the concrete.
On the fourth day, the forms were taken off. Top soil was replaced and graded, and then grass seed and straw were placed around the platforms. The platforms had to set for a few weeks before they could be used.
Volunteers rejoice after the completed project.
“They turned out really well,” Rosenberger said. Northview’s disc golf course has become more of an official course. The platforms were made by the Disc Golf Association’s code book.
“This not only allows for a better game for the players but provides a cleaner look for the property,” Schwartz shared.
In 2017 the National Disc Golf Championship is coming to Indianapolis. If all the launch pads are put in, Northview could be considered to be used for the tournament.
“We’ve all cut our teeth on that first project,” Rosenberger said. “Adam broke ground.”
Thank you, Adam Hoernschemeyer, for a job well done. Congratulations on earning Eagle Scout!
BY SALLY WEBB AMSTUTZ
This summer saw the worst drought in more than half a century devastate about 62 percent of the United States including the rich farmland of Indiana. Add to that the oppressive heat, and the drought provided great challenges for farmers, groundskeepers and gardeners alike as crops, trees and landscape were scorched and stressed by temperatures in the 90s & 100s.
Marcia Schwartz, grounds manager at Northview Church’s Carmel campus, shared that this was a very hard summer with all of the challenges that the drought caused.
“Everything was three weeks early including mowing in the spring,” she said. “The drought really started the end of May.”
Since Northview Church has no in ground irrigation, the trees, flowers and shrubs had to be protected and hand watered by many volunteers all summer. Several ladies helped water the entrance and the prayer garden, which is the highest point in Hamilton County. Many high school and college students were put behind a hose as well.
The young trees on our property had to be given a lot of TLC; tree water bags helped to save the day. The water bags were placed around the tree, zipped up tightly, and filled with 20 gallons of water. The water then slowly dripped on the tree for about nine hours. They would then be refilled the next day. A member generously donated tree saver bags that helped them survive the drought. Despite this effort, about four trees were lost; one of them was planted seven years ago.
“It won’t be until next summer that we will see the total effects of this year’s drought,” Schwartz said.
A drought of this magnitude can put a lot of stress on older trees too.
Even though the beautiful grasses that usually surround Northview were brown and seemed dead, they were simply dormant. Now, after some good soaking rains, the grounds have revived themselves. That reminds me of the Resurrection Ferns that grow on the branches of the magnificent live oak trees in the South. When there is rain, the fern turns brown, curls up and appears to be dead. When a rain does fall again, they seem to come to life and grace the enormous branches with a lush green adornment.
“No one waters like God does,” Schwartz said. “It’s steady, even and perfect!”
The rains totally revitalized the grasses. At the recent Carmel Classic cross-country meet, participants were surprised at the great condition of the course.
Despite the stress of the drought, Schwartz said, “God draws us closer to Him when challenges come. He uses conditions, even weather conditions, to bring His people nearer to His heart.”
Jeremiah 17: 7-8 (The Living Bible) says, “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence. He is like a tree planted along a riverbank, with its root reaching deep into the water – a tree not bothered by the heat nor worried by long months of drought. Its leaves stay green and it goes right on producing all its luscious fruit.”
Interested in volunteering with Northview’s Groundskeeping/Maintenance team? Check out http://www.nvcl.org/volunteer.
thenorthviewblog.wordpress.com 