>>Our First Six Weeks

It seems like only yesterday that we had our first service at NorthStar, and now we are six weeks into the journey. These have been some incredible days in my life and in the lives of others at NSC. We have seen people each week give their lives to Christ and countless others whose lives have been changed. I stand in awe of the way God has put everything together and how He has made the way for what He has called us to do. For those who have been working and leading, these have been really intense days. So many have done so much in order that the building is ready each week while construction has been underway. There have not been any dull moments in anything or in any way. We have celebrated baptism twice and have had some incredible times of worship. Our children's ministry is overflowing with music, work, fun, and of course, children. God has been so faithful to provide us with chairs to sit in, though they are borrowed. We are thankful for each one of them. Both our College & Career and Student ministry has kicked off in a strong way. Ministry teams have been formed and are beginning to function. The list goes on and on. I want to thank God for making all of this possible. I want to thank all the workers who have worked tirelessly for His glory. I want to thank those who have given so much of themselves. I want to thank each person who has attended for the impact of their presence in the services. We truly have so much to be thankful for as God has multiplied His blessing immeasurably. I know the weeks to come are going to be as incredible as the previous ones. If you are new to this journey, come expecting to be blessed, used of God, and a part of something greater than ourselves.
In Him,
T

>> Launch Sunday and Beyond

The day finally came and the church officially launched. Busy doing the last minute task that had to be done before opening Sunday, the launch team worked tirelessly. The dream of this church launching Easter Sunday was about to become a reality. Easter Sunday, over 350 people gathered from the four corners of the county to worship the risen Christ. Forty nine children filed into the children's area which had been designed with children in mind. The stage was set, the lights were burning, as people gathered with the purpose of worshiping and hearing from God. The greatest thing was that God was in their midst.

NorthStar Church... a reality! NorthStar- Real people at a relevant church who connect people to a growing relationship with Christ and others to fulfill their life's purpose. It is NorthStar's desire to show God's love in such a way that people exchange ordinary living for an extraordinary life through the power of Jesus Christ. Now that the church has launched, many are asking: What now? Can I still get in on the excitement? Has the momentum died down? CanI be involved? Certainly! We've only just begun! Will you come and be a part of this community? There is room for you! Ready for a fresh start? Come join us!

>>The Word of God Will Last Forever

Wednesday night a group from NorthStar went to our new property to sign the walls of the Worship Center and Children's areas with scripture. What an experience, as we literally covered the framing with the Word of God.

Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (NIV)

Psalm 56:10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise -- (NIV)

Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (NIV)

Isaiah 2:3 Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (NIV)

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." (NIV)

John 1:1-5,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NIV)

It is incredible to know that every part of the framing of this building is covered with the Word. This church is built on the Word of God, and while some of our methods are different and innovative, the preaching of the unchanging Word remains true. May God Bless NorthStar as she reaches out to the community and world with the life changing power of the Word.

>>Prayer Walking

Thursday Evening:
As we prayerwalked in our potential building and around the property Thursday night, my heart was warmed by watching those walking around the different areas of the building. The parking lot, nursery, preschool, children's, welcome center and worship center were just a few of the areas where people prayed. It made my heart smile as I heard the audible prayers of those praying. "Lord, save people and change lives here", "Lord, bring the people to yourself", "Lord, use us to reach the unreached and unchurched.", "Lord, bless the children, the homes, the lives..." We will certainly be doing this again as we lead up to the launch and after the launch. We need to be people of prayer. Read the following words written by Sherri Ingram.

Prayerwalking is just what it sounds like — simply walking and talking to God. My church’s missions minister says if you can walk and chew gum, you can prayerwalk. You don’t have to even be especially coordinated — you just need to be able to pray. Prayerwalkers don’t make a big production about what they’re doing. In fact, you may have seen prayerwalkers in action. If you did, you probably thought they were just out walking and talking to each other.

I’ve been actively prayerwalking for over a year. My prayerwalking partner and I prayerwalk our missions sites weekly. God even sent us to Asia to prayerwalk for 10 days.
Preparation for Ministry
As we walk around a subdivision, we voice specific prayers for what we see — or don’t see. We pray for people involved in violence, for those we hear arguing, for drug dealers, and for school children. Sometimes we pray for particular people we see in the area. They don’t know us or that we are praying for them, but God does. He knows the needs in their lives better than we do.
We not only pray about the bad things we see, we praise and thank God for the good things also. We thank Him for decreased trash in a neighborhood, for better-kept homes, and especially for what He’s doing in our church’s apartment ministries.
I like to think we’re like John the Baptist. We prepare the way for ministry teams. We go into an apartment complex or a neighborhood and pray for workers and residents — usually before a ministry is ever begun in the area. Then our ministry teams come in to work in the neighborhood and find hearts already softened and ready for the gospel.
Preparation for Evangelism
Prayerwalking can lead to evangelistic opportunities. As my prayer partner and I walk, we smile or say hello to the people we pass. Sometimes God gives us the opportunity to stop and talk to someone. We explain why we are in the neighborhood. We ask them if we can pray for specific things in their lives or in their neighborhoods. Often people allow us to pray with them; if they don’t, we pray for them as we continue walking.
God does awesome things when we are obedient. At one potential mission location, my partner and I strongly felt God’s presence the first time we walked the site. We sensed that when ministry started at that apartment complex, the work would progress quickly.
Our church started a tutoring ministry there in September. By the following January, we had a church service at that complex. Within a short period of time, seven people made professions of faith in Christ. Am I saying prayerwalking did that? No! But I do believe the quick results indicate that God honored our obedient and persistent prayer.
Preparation to Be Used by God
Now you may be wondering, Why should I leave my comfortable home and sweat in the sun over mission sites I can pray for from the comfort of my living room? Prayerwalking allows God to use our eyes, ears, feet, and mouths. When we make all of our senses available to God, He uses us in ways we couldn’t imagine otherwise.
Recently while my prayer partner and I were walking, we heard an ambulance. We started praying for the ambulance driver, for traffic, and for whoever was in need of help.
The ambulance got closer and closer. We prayed harder. Soon the ambulance was on the street where we were. We continued to pray. When we looked up, the ambulance was across the street from us. We didn’t want to intrude, so we continued to walk. When we reached the end of the street, we looked back to see the ambulance leaving.
We noted the address and mentioned it to our missions minister, who suggested a visit to the home. She and I went to visit about two weeks after we had seen the ambulance. We found a teenage mother with a new baby. We were able to share the gospel and pray with the teenager and her stepfather.
We would have missed this opportunity if we had been praying from the comfort of our own homes. By allowing God to use our eyes, ears, feet, and mouths, we were able to present the gospel to this family as well as to others.
God can use anyone in the ministry of prayerwalking. Those who can walk and pray should walk and pray. Those who can’t walk for health reasons can go to a site and pray for those walking and for the people who live and work in the area.
God calls us all to intercede. I get so much more than I give when I allow God to use me. I hope you will choose to let God use you and bless you through the ministry of prayerwalking.
Sherri Ingram is a member of Florida Boulevard Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
This article is courtesy of HomeLife magazine