Local Pastors together in unity for prayer and fasting

Wow!! What a week! As I sit and ponder and pray about all that happened this last week during our prayer and fasting time, I was pleasantly surprised at what it was that touched my heart the most. We had such awesome times of prayer and worship and words brought forward and people being changed. Although very good, it was not those things that made me think and smile several times a day. The Lord brought to my attention many times throughout the week as I watched several pastors from the Valley join together to organize, fascilate, encourage and fellowship with each others and those that attended the prayer times. Unity is a huge tool for breakthrough and I believe that breakthrough happened because pastors were willing to join together and provide space and times for the people to seek God's face and sit in His presence. I know we are going to see fruit from this for years to come as we saw an example of what God desires from His church. One of the aspects of this last week that I loved the most was that it was fascilated at four different churches. I loved going to my fellow believer's church and praying and worshipping at their place of worship. I want to give a huge thanks to those pastors, Thank you so much Pastor Judy Pebernat, Pastor Paul Hansen, Pastor Dave Postal and Pastor Scott Gaglardi. Know that God is so pleased and I look forward to seeing all the fruit that will be brought forward from this beautiful display of unity.

Thank You Pastors Scott & Naomi

It will have been 11 years this September that our Senior Pastors came to us. As I think back on all the years many emotions come to me. First and formost is joy. It has been such a pleasure to have these two people as our senior pastors for the last 11 years. I have learned so much from both Scott and Naomi and I am a better person because of the way they display Christ in them. The level of faith that they have in God that He will work all things for good is not just something they preach but live out in mountain tops and valley lows situations.

I love that the word of God is preached in truth and given very tangible ways of applying those truths to our everyday lives. I love that they want us to love each other like family and put that into action. I love that our church is full of people from every generation and given respect and honor no matter how old or young they are. I love that new ideas are given consideration and room to start and grow. I love that you have new vision all the time that keeps things fresh and new. I love how you honor our youth and encourage them daily to be more than what they can even imagine themselves being.

The thing that makes me see Christ in you guys the most is the level of humility that I often see. I see two people that want to see the best in people even in the tough situations. Pastor Scott I have seen you many times apologize from the pulpit for something that God has brought to your attention. Your apology is sincere and full of love and brings tears to my eyes as you have such a heart of reconciliation and want things to be right just as God's heart would want. Naomi you have such a humble heart and always show that you don't think yourself higher than anyone else. Your love and grace towards all people is very evident as I see you interact with people. You always believe the best of everyone!

I am so proud to have such great pastors for our church and love each and every year even more. I say thank you not only from me but from all of us at Northgate Foursquare, you are both dearly loved and appreciated

Love you
Sandra Naswell

Valley Idol.....and the winner is......

MATT POWELL!!!!

It has been so awesome to watch this young man's talent and calling unfold before your eyes. I have known Matt for many years and consider him just like a son as he is good friends with my son Tyler. Matt talents impress me but nothing like the character I have seen in him over the years. I have been impressed many times with Matt as I watch the love that he shares with my son Tyler. Tyler and Matt have been friends for many years now and I love watching them together. Here are a few examples of what I have seen when these two hang out. I have seen two teenagers act like 5 year olds and dress up and make movie and have a great time of laughter. I have seen Matt many times come and cheer for Tyler while playing hockey. Even when Tyler messed up on a playing Matt always would express how it was the other person's fault. Matt always encouraged Tyler in how well he played and would pick out every good play he did and talk about it with great excitement. I have watched the two of them hug and cry together as one or the other was going through a tough time. I have watched Matt express such a caring and loving heart towards my son Tyler and wants the best for him. So really what I am trying to say is....Matt I am really impressed with your talents but I am MORE impressed with your character. Keep up the good work Matt.

Jason & Kelsey...great people....become great leaders!!

Was at church tonight for a going away party that the youth had for our youth leaders Jason & Kelsey Eliason. I have been going to this church for 17 years and Jason & Kelsey were already there when I got there....although much younger...lol. I have had the privilege of watching them grow through their teen years into to the leaders they have become. I have watched them be encouraged by many in our church when they needed some direction and love and and now I see them doing that with the youth we have now. I have also had the incredible privilege of hearing my three teenagers come home from youth night and youth events and talk about how incredible Jason & Kelsey were that night. My son especially has a close bond with Jason and feels like he can share anything with him and Jason has encouraged him to do things he wouldn't normally do if not encouraged by Jason. They have alot of fun together especially when it comes to hockey and golf. My son also said that he had grown closer to Kelsey when he went away to youth camp and really had a good opportunity to get to know Kelsey in a more personal way and had alot of fun chatting with her on the way back in the van. Jason & Kelsey have set such a great example of what great leaders look like and it is by just being real. My kids love that about them!! We are all going to miss them and from a mothers heart I can not thank you guys enough for all you have poured into my kids and have encouraged them to become what God wants them to be.Jason & Kelsey...you are great people that have become great leaders. I will be forever thankful for you both!! We all love you, The Naswell Family

Having joy at Christmas time.....

The other day I had God reveal something to me that I had not realized before. Let me tell you the story. My mother has been passed away since 1995 and what God had revealed to me was something I had stopped doing ever since then. When my mother was alive, her, my sister and I would every year be in competition to see who could get their tree up and decorated the fastest. We had only one rule and that was we had to wait until Nov 11 @ noon before we could start. So at noon on that day we would all start frantically decorating our own homes, while calling each other to see how far the others were in the race to be first. It was alot of fun and being a competitive person, I was always up for the challenge. We had alot of laughs together. Another thing we would do is put little bells on our shoelaces so that when we went out you would hear our bells ringing on our shoes as we went shopping. My mom was so much fun and did not mind being silly to have fun. I have alot of fond memories about Christmas time and how silly and how much fun we would have together. It was just the other day that I had come to realize that since her passing away I have not acted or been exciting about decorating since then. It is not something I did intentionally but I did. As God revealed this to me I realized although I am happy I have not been excited about decorating. So today I got the tree out fluffed it and and decorated it all by myself. It was a fabulous day! Many great memories were brought to mind as I decorated the tree and in a time that you might think I might feel sadness I felt the exact opposite. I had a great day today doing the tree and thinking about all the fun I had at Christmas time with my mom.

My mom, dad and my stepdad are all long passed away now but I am reminded about all the fun and good memories I had with them and realize that there are many ways I want to be like my mom but mostly I want to live with that joy that makes life fun.

I realize for many that Christmas time can be painful because of lost ones and I pray that you may be comforted and that God will give you the peace that passes all understanding. I am now a mom with three children and I want my kids to remember how fun it was around Christmas time because of the joy and silliness that goes on in our everyday life just like my mom! Having a relationship with Jesus is my main source of joy and I am so happy that even after 14 years God will still reveal things to me that will produce a change in my mindset and even more healing would be brought into my life.

Sorry about the long story but I feel really good today and wanted to share with you the healing that happened today that I didn't even know I needed. I love God so much!!

What a weekend!!!

Wow!!! What a weekend that was! How much fun to watch 170 plus youth, young adults and youth pastors passionately worship Jesus. We had a band called Revolution Band that came and lead worship on Friday night and Saturday morning. They were amazing and played exactly what the youth loved to hear, music rocked and loud!! I have heard testimonies about this Consumed Conference from one person that said, that was not what she expected at all....it was SO much better. She saw people were healed, people saved and new friends were made. Another girl gave testimony that Justin Rymer, one of the speakers over the weekend, spoke into her life so much and has never felt such peace about her health issues. Others had God give them direction, encouragement and brought forth dreams and desires that have died and brought forth life again and strength to try again and not give up on the dreams that God had put in them. I loved being there and watching such passionate people that love Jesus. I know that these ones are going to change this world for the better.

I want to thank the church body for spending so much time in prayer regarding this conference! It is prayer that moves the hand of God and it was so great to be apart of such a large group that prayed for this next generation of youth to go forward in all God has for them.

Thanks to our whole church leadership that believes so much in the youth and the call on their lives!!

In 2 days our youth will be attending our annual youth conference. Each and every year I have heard amazing stories of transformation in the hearts and minds of our youth. God has called, healed, set free, directed and encouraged them. I ask all the people who love to pray to join me in upholding this event in prayer. The youth are our future! They are simply amazing people with such a passion to change this world for the better. The conference starts this Friday night @ 7pm and then continues on Saturday morning and Saturday night. I am so excited as to what God is going to do this time. Thank you so much Jason and Kelsey and the whole leadership team that is preparing and organizing everything for this event. Bless you all and we are praying for you!