Encouragement

The past few weeks have brought "breaths of fresh air"...not only has the weather been AWESOME (with the exception of the day of our 3v3 tournament when it SNOWED!!!), but getting back out on the soccer field with the kids and into "youth group" ministries has reminded me of why I am where I am. It is a genuine joy and privilege to get to do sports, groups, and hang out times with a lot of the kids and families who I've grown close to in my time here at NorthStar, and depth of relationships is now leading way to sharing the Word in a more intentional and planned out way.

The "organic development" of Tuesday Group and Friday Group structure this semester has been a really cool thing to watch unfold. After three semesters of purely "hang out time" at Tuesday Group, we are now still doing "fun" things, but at the end of every activity we are sitting down and learning about God being the Great "I AM" and Jesus being the "explanation" of God through His "I am..." statements in his time on earth. While it's hard to say whether or not the girls are "getting it" right now, there is no doubt in my mind that we are planting seeds and opening minds to truth as we go along. I've had a mindset of "big picture teaching," which is what I think kids definitely need in the context of learning "bible stories" and the Character of God.

Friday Group has formed this semester with the 5th graders who used to be involved with Tuesday Group. God is "one step ahead" (actually knows the whole story but has proved it in this situation) by providing a place for the 5th graders to transition into in preparation for Middle School next year. God laid it on the hearts of some volunteers from Samford to start a Middle School Youth Group. Instead of recruiting all new kids, we've transitioned the 5th graders out of Tuesday Group and into their own group, with intentions to carry it on next year with them to Middle School and become and "official" middle school youth group! We are memorizing the Beatitudes and learning/walking through each verse as we go along -- definitely a GREAT way to share the Word with the kids on a weekly basis.

While all this fruitful activity has been going on/happening, the enemy Satan has definitely tried to foil plans and productivity. Whether it be with one individual kid who has been/is being pulled away from the group or group challenges as a whole, there are definitely obstacles to overcome. But Jesus has overcome the world and all evil, therefore, we have nothing to worry about or be afraid of.

Im eager to see what the Lord does in individual lives, as well as big picture ministry this Spring...to God be ALL GLORY!

Regaining Focus

Some seasons of life call for serious re-evaluation. Others you can just walk through with confidence and evidence of fruit. The last 3 months have definitely been a time of restructuring and re-evaluation. NorthStar Soccer is becoming more and more of my sole focus here at the ministry. Not that I don't care or I'm not concerned with other areas of the ministry, but I have recently felt a strong conviction to "simplify" my life in MANY areas, especially in the context of work and ministry. Going a mile deep rather than a mile wide with my time and efforts is leading me to a clear vision of what could be effective ministry.

As I plan for the Spring season, I have taken drastic steps at NorthStar, such as:

• Step down from my role as the MARS League Administrator
• Pull out of a prominent role at Camp NorthStar
• Prayerfully plan and think through a curriculum and "theme" for NorhtStar Soccer
• Plan different ways to consistently reach current soccer kids
• Recruit both financial and volunteer support for NorthStar Soccer as a whole

It is unlike me to "back down" from something because it is more than I can handle and/or pushes me too hard. Im thankful for the strength I've been given the past few months to discern what is too much and what is not enough to find a healthy balance in work and life overall. Often, less is more, and over the past few months, I have seen the truth to this statement. This spring will hold a LOT as I move into my third season as NorthStar Soccer Club Director, co-direct the second annual 3v3 tournament, and on a personal note, plan a wedding!! It is a personal challenge to me to "Regain FOCUS" in 2011 by simplifying what is going on and move forward in a prayerful and intentional way to make the most of every opportunity while providing QUALITY soccer training and programing to the kids at NorthStar.

Pray that the Lord encourages my heart and strengthens my steps as I walk forward into the 2011 Spring Soccer season!!

Val at NorthStar - Year 1 Slideshow

Dire

Deep and Wide

Well, the end of the Fall soccer season has come. I cannot believe that it has been over a FULL YEAR since I started at NorthStar. Im learning to tackle "one thing at a time" and this season proved to be even better and more smoothly run than the past two (though there are DEFINITELY things that need to be worked on!).

My favorite aspect of this season was my time head coaching the U10 girls team. What a BLESSING and ORDAINED experience it was for me to coach these girls. In this team and NorthStar Soccer overall, Ive seen and faced challenges...A lot due to my mistakes and a lot due to other outside factors/issues/etc. in the picture. But we are more than conquerors (Greek: hupernikaos) through our Savior who has overcome the world. Gosh - I am more than confident that I am exactly where the Lord wants me to be even amidst challenges from within and around those who the Lord has called me to love and serve.

Through coaching this team, Ive had the opportunity to pour into the players on a regular basis. We have practice two nights a week, “Tuesday Hang Out Group,” lunch at Princeton Elementary (all but 3 of them go to school there), and games on the weekends. All of this has organically developed as I have seen my team at least 5-6 days a week on a consistent basis for the past two and a half months, which has led to TRUE life-on-life relationship building and investment. SO GREAT. Praying for continued opportunity to pour into them and show them love as I learn about myself and “ministry” through my experiences with them.

Overall, this season has been one step up from the last – both organizationally and experience-wise (and on a personal AND program standpoint). We’ve received GREAT financial support from AWSF for the 2010-2011 year…like HUGE J and the “word” about NorthStar Soccer Club is spreading around Bham. I got to represent the ministry in the Briarwood Missions Conference last weekend, sharing my personal story with how I got to NorthStar Youth Ministries, as well as my experience since starting the “job.” People have seemed encouraged…it’s God’s story, not mine, but it is MY blessing to get to live it and share it – both verbally and through life-engaging opportunities where Ive gotten to bring people “alongside me” to see and experience for themselves.

On a personal note, the Lord has truly blessed me in his refinement in my life these past few months. My community has been scattered in a way that I have not yet experienced and things that I once considered “stable” and set are seemingly unstable. Ive been forced to discern the difference between knowing truth and believing truth in order to keep an eternal mindset amidst challenges and struggles that seem to present themselves on a regular basis. The Lord is good and His Fellowship is sweet. I find that we are ALWAYS going to be in a state of wanting something else or longing to be back to the place we once were…however, the thing we/I fail to recognize is the new face of His presence in the season that I am in. “Learning the secret of being content in any and every situation” that Paul speaks of in Philippians 4:12 resounds in a new and challenging way for me. Contentment amidst challenge and instability is much easier said than done, but I sure feel the heat of refinement by fire within me as I long for contentment in being with my Lord.

So what am I going to do with my time now that the season is over?? Oh wow. Planning, restructuring, preparing and offering opportunities for off-season training and also relationship-building times. And not to mention fund-seeking on both a program and personal level. Im learning that going a mile deep rather than a mile wide is most effective (hint, look at the life of Christ – he went DEEP with his 12 and wide in his day-to-day living, while focusing on the 12).

So…what is my deep? I believe (today, at least) that it is in NorthStar SOCCER and the investment that it is leading me to do into the lives of the kids and various volunteers/people he’s put in my life through this ministry. The width comes naturally through the opportunities to share and to show the depth where the Lord is taking me in NorthStar Soccer.

Here is a slideshow video that I put together for the Briarwood Missions Conference. It's just a "glimpse" of my personal experience, but definitely shows some of the love and joy Ive experienced and shared with my "soccer friends" at NorthStar :)

Val and NorthStar Youth Ministries

Standing in the Gap

Mid-September looks much like late February/early March...SOCCER packed to the MAX. The past few weeks have seen some late nights and early mornings of scheduling logistics, season planning, email sending and spreadsheet creating. MARS League scheduling is kicking my tail, though Ive only had one and a half "breakdowns," which look nothing like last spring in the first season of that league. I still can't believe Im in that position -- 23 year old female amidst all middle-aged men on the MARS League Board with the majority of them looking to me for direction/instructions on what "I" need to make this league happen. Hilarious. If only they could see the "Samford Soccer Girl" in me -- I think they would second guess putting me in a position of leadership for MARS ;P

It feels AWESOME entering into my SECOND YEAR as Soccer Program Director at NorthStar. While there are still frustrations, glitches and days when I feel like a crazy person trying to get everything together, I feel I am better able to foresee what needs to be done and cast a vision for the direction that I need to be going. The registrations have been right around the same as last spring, and the familiar faces in both the kids and the parents are so refreshing -- the NorthStar Soccer families are truly becoming my community.

After returning from Brazil, I noticed how the Lord has me in the exact place Ive been praying to be in "overseas." Inner city Birmingham is so different and unfamiliar to me culturally, and my efforts, investment and intentions here are coming from my heart to eventually do that "over there." For the time-being, I am here and there is no where else I would rather be. Living in Park Place has been a good experience outwardly, though I don't feel like I have "neighbored" and/or invested into the community as I first intentioned to do so. One of my soccer moms who almost moved there asked me how I like living there and when I suggested that I wish we were neighbors, she herself said, "Coach Val -- youre NEVER HOME!" -- so true...living in and among a culturally different community requires actually being there in order to be effective. Needing some direction with how to adjust to that specific realm of life...

Then there's NorthStar Soccer growing in strength and presence in and among the teams in the MARS League. As MARS League Administrator and also the "go to person" for any complaints within to against NorthStar Soccer, Im seeing more and more the challenge that comes with cross-cultural integration. Teams/players/parents who sign up for recreational soccer in Birmingham aren't necessarily signing up for a cross-cultural experience...though when they play NorthStar, that is what they're getting. Even my players have asked why they don't play teams "like them." God, help us to see each other the way you see us!!! It hurts so badly to "stand in the gap" (thanks for the terminology, Paul) of families who I continually grow so close to and the issues that are surrounding games/circumstances with the differences in culture and background. I want so badly to see life and people through the lens of God, and of course want that for everyone else as well.

NorthStar Soccer will continue to grow strong -- you would think that I could anticipate when amazing things of the Lord are about to happen because recently they've been prefaced with situations of "attack" and challenging circumstances that I know the enemy delights in throwing on my life. God is good and if He is for us, then who can be against?

Got to share NorthStar and all that the Lord is doing with the program at the AWSF Board meeting last weekend. It wasn't with eloquent speech or words but was sheer truth of the hand of God at work in inner city Birmingham and NorthStar Soccer Club. What a blessing and privilege it is to get to share the Lord's story -- this is NOT mine, but I will carry it and proclaim it for the sake of His Holy Name. AWSF couldn't help but be on board with the program because HE is in it!

Here's to a great season of NorthStar Soccer....

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." - Ephesians 6:12-13

Year Close Out

I am just 9 days short of reaching my first complete year at NorthStar, though activity-wise I've already made it! I cannot believe its been ONE YEAR!!! On one hand, time has flown by so fast; but on the other, I feel like I've had 5 years of experience in just 365 days.

After a crazy-hard 6 weeks of Camp NorthStar, I hopped on a plane with 8 high school soccer players from Briarwood Soccer Club and flew down to Brazil for 10 days of a life-changing and ministry-perspective adjusting experience. While unsure of exactly what role I was to play with those girls and on the trip overall, I knew the Lord had aligned everything "just right" for me to go. Earlier this summer, I was asking, "What is effective ministry?" While that question can never be answered in its entirety because it cannot be measured according to human standards, I do believe that I have been given a glimpse of where to begin with the answer.

It took me flying down to Brazil to be able to step back and reflect on NorthStar and ministry life in Birmingham. First of all, the missionaries, Comunidade Horizonte church leadership and CO workers down there are doing the same things I am doing - we are giving our lives to our cities in the context of what will "meet them there" in order to share our lives and essentially the Gospel with the people we interact with. "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." - Ephesians 4:4-6

We are One in our labor for the Lord, and making friends in the Brazilians and seeing their intentional ministry was so encouraging for me as I reflected on my friends, community and ministry calling in Birmingham.

The other thing about their "ministry" was how prayerfully thought out every action, relationship and activity was. The team had arranged on itinerary for us months ago thinking it would be the most effective, but after logistics fell through and more time was spent in prayer, our group was led to playing soccer games against the American School, who CH did not have any contact with prior to our coming/playing of games against them.

Overall, we did less actual "ministry work" than I was expecting, but the time spent at the orphanage, with the American School girls, and "partying" with students in the community was all gearing attention and direction toward the Church, which will be longer-lasting than the impact we can have in one week.

Prayerful, well-planned and intentional ministry is effective. We did not bite off more than we could chew this week, but took each day one at a time and tackled it in prayer first, relationship second, and more prayer third.

This summer was hard. I do believe I was somewhat "spiritually burnt out" going into my week in Brazil. Not to say that everything is all of a sudden better, but I do know and believe that the Lord pulled me outside of my immediate work to show me where my focus has been somewhat off. I've had good intentions of investing into the counselors from camp, pouring myself out to the campers and their families, and planning for all "big things" we'll do at NorthStar. However, the reality is that my focus has been on the ministry work, rather than the One who I am working for. I've seemed to let my eyes slip from the prize, that is, Christ Himself, and I have let them wander off to things, plans and actions that I can control, measure and develop.

"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord..." - Philippians 3:7-8

Knowing Christ and following Him will lead to intentional and effective ministry. I fall into the lie that if I let myself rest/have any downtime, Im not being effective/am wasting time. While that concept needs to be balanced with truth in efficiency, I pray that the Lord would lead me into this next year of ministry through prayer and intentional planning. I want to be relational and go after the "one," knowing that the life impact had on one or two individuals with care can be "more effective" than broad and impersonal reaching of the many.

There is so much more to be said and added from both Camp and Brazil, but knowing that Birmingham is exactly where the Lord has me and feeling excitement and anticipation for what comes next leads me to believe that ministry in year 2 will be effective as longs as its deeply rooted in the Lord.

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." - Phil. 2:13

Positive Focus

At this point in the summer, being just over the half-way mark of Camp, all I have is my hope in Christ...everything I have is my hope in Christ. Ive heard, seen and experienced a variety of situations and conversations that further confirm the Fall of Man (as if I didn't know/see it already) and the brokenness that we experience in so much of this world. One of the groups at camp is having a hard time getting along, and Jewels and Adam are working with them to help them focus on the positives of each day. As humans, it often takes 10 positives to make up for every 1 negative. However, that is for the mind without/not focused on Christ. We must focus on looking at the positives of what is before us at camp (and in life in general, of course). Mom always thanks Jesus for our many blessings before meals at home in ATL ...yes, we have many blessings. But our ultimate blessing is Christ Himself; so when campers disregard authority, counselors get burned out, and discipline issue after discipline issue occurs, I want to be able to see all the above as blessings and then move forward to see what is good around me as well:

- our awesome elementary and middle school coordinators (and the fact that one of them is a roommate and close sister in Christ with whom I can share this experience)

- the fact that all of camp is on one campus

- our amazing swim instructor AND photographer (both in one person - check out our facebook page for her great pics :)

- counselors whose hearts are fully in it and are working their tail ends off for the kids and ultimately the Kingdom

- every individual high-five and hug from a camper

- 5 and 6-year olds dancing to Justin "Beaver"

- running into camp kids and their families at Walmart during after-hours

- and even the hard disciplinary conversations with campers and their parents....

I believe I've blogged on this next concept once before, but over half-way through Camp, I can't help but reflect on discipline and how it leads to stronger, deeper and more real relationships with each camper who has to be corrected. Hebrews 12:4-11 tells us that the Father who loves disciplines His children. Though it's not pleasant at the time (neither for the one being disciplined or the discipliner) it produces a "harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." God disciplines us "so that we may share in His holiness." Therefore I do believe in Psalm 139 when it reads that God knows each day we live and each word we speak before one of them comes to be - mistake or not...Good or Bad... He knows. We learn, grow and become holy as He is holy all through the process of correction and discipline.

Yet an additional thought/aspect to add to this: the kids who I have had to discipline the most/strongest, are the ones who are the most friendly with me after-the-fact. They are the ones saying hi in the halls, giving me hugs and high-fives and going out of their way to call out "Coach Val!" every time they see me. Why on earth!?! I was just "coming down hard on them" the day before, and now I am those kids' "best friend"

...makes no sense... to the world.

...makes all sense... by the standards of the Kingdom.

God disciplines us so that we can share in His holiness - us sharing in His holiness allows for us to be close to Him. He is love and therefore we experience true love and life when we are near Him (disciplined and purified of our sin/"bad" actions through our relationship with Christ). So when we discipline children the way God disciplines us, we are cleansing them of what is not right and allowing for the relationship from leader to child to be restored, and therefore made stronger.

We were born to be directed in the right way. We need direction. Praise God that the slogan of NorthStar Youth Ministries is "Helping Youth Find Their Direction." We are a relational ministry and seek to give kids the best life-direction possible.

Discipline and correction --> Relationship --> Gospel opportunity. Yes. Good plan.