Northgate Christian Community

Pastor Jon invited Carl Hempel from CRU to share their vision for college students and how his life has personally been impacted by their ministry. Carl mentioned that college can be a difficult and challenging place for young adults and it can be a time filled with loneliness. This tied perfectly into Pastor Jon’s message. Pastor Jon offered encouragement to us by referencing Exodus 3:1-3 and the story of Moses and the burning bush. He described how God is still with us when we find ourselves in lonely places like Moses did. He added that there is nothing that we can do to make God love us any more than He already does and that we don’t need to struggle in an attempt to earn our Father’s love. Pastor Jon also told the story of Davis and Goliath, concluding that the only way David was able to claim the victory over Goliath was by being both a worshipper and a warrior. He concluded his message with a call for the congregation to be intentional about making our lives less busy over the coming weeks and to use t

Pastor Jon speaks about all the changes at Northgate and our partnerships with InterVarsity and other churches in the area. As God filled the empty vessels for the woman in 2 Kings 4, so He will fill up the empty vessels in Buffalo who need His love.

Chris Sullivan served as a guest speaker for the church on Sunday and posed an interesting question: what are we created for? He offered scripture from Psalms that explained how all of creation worships the Lord. He showed a compelling video that portrayed the importance of our work as a form of worship. Chris added that many humans work with the goal of having time off (the weekend, vacation, retirement). However, he mentioned that Jesus worked and had a full time job for the majority of his life on earth. He also offered encouragement to those in the congregation that are having difficulty in their work, whether it is at school or in our careers. Chris explained that our jobs and tasks in the renewed world will be the best jobs of our lives. He concluded his message by explaining the fact that worship is that which cares for and cultivates God’s creation, as He is the Creator.

Pastor Jon speaks about why we need Christmas and the uniqueness of the gift we have in Jesus. 

Pastor Jon speaks from the book of Esther on our role in history today. We were created with a destiny before we were born that, should we choose to follow God's lead, we will be able to accomplish great things and change the world in ways we could not even imagine. 

A pledge of friendship with the People of Praise, the dedication of the building, and Pastor Jerry Gillis. Pastor Jerry speaks about true vision and how we can seek after it.

Bishop Tommy Reid joins us in the early portion of the Building Dedication Service to remember the legacy of the leaders before us. 

Pastor Jon and Yolanda speak today on God's faithfulness to Northgate even in the midst of all the challenges in construction. From promised loans to steel supports provided decades prior, God has been faithful in his provision for Northgate. Scripture: Hebrews 11 and 12, Psalm 40.

Pastor Jon speaks this week with guests Elene Sandoval and Julie Hasselbeck about overcoming the stress and difficulties in life to be a part of God's Kingdom. Just because we are under great stress doesn't mean we can't be used, but by contrast God works in our weakness in greater ways than we would be able to do ourselves. 

Pastor Jon invited guest pastors Al and Debbie Warner to preach on the fact that we serve a God that goes beyond generations. They both illustrated the generational concept by explaining how beautiful old church buildings would be started by a grandfather and may not be completed until after his death by his grandson. Al mentioned that the most dangerous aspect of a building expansion project is when it becomes more about drywall and bricks than reaching people. He also wove in many uplifting stories about all of the expansion that is taking place around the city of Buffalo. However, Al warned us that just like the story of Nehemiah, there will always be someone mocking the vision that God has given us. He concluded his message with a challenge, proclaiming that the goal that we have at Northgate is not to complete the building expansion project, the goal is to reach out to a community.

Pastor Jon talks about how life can sometimes overwhelm us with its responsibilities and challenges, but when we truly see God like Abraham (Gen 22), Isaiah (Isaiah 6), and the Disciples did we will be overwhelmed by his enormity.