Leadership

Jeff became Northstar's second pastor in 2009 after the retirement of founding pastor Bob Jackson. He and his family are from southeast Arkansas where he served as a campus minister at the University of Arkansas at Monticello for eight years before planting Journey Church there and serving as its founding pastor for six years.
Jeff loves coffee and is still trying to decide if he's a "runner." He's a former fantasy football champion, the author of Super Center Savior, an Apple fan boy and a teller of bad puns.

Matt was raised on a small farm outside of Gettysburg, PA. He was homeschooled K-12, but don't hold that against him. Upon graduating high school, Matt went to work in the outdoor recreation industry, which ignited a passion for the outdoors that he still carries today. He graduated from Liberty University in 2013 with a B.S. in Speech Communications and a minor in Biblical Studies and moved to Blacksburg, where he met and married his wife, Emily, and began working full-time at Northstar in 2016. He currently attends Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he is pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree. 

Julie grew up in Augusta, Georgia. She received a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University in 2004 and a Master’s degree as a Reading Specialist from Radford University in 2010. She previously worked as a classroom teacher and reading specialist in the area. 

Katie grew up in Warren, Michigan. She then moved to Orlando, Florida. While working for the mouse at the most magical place on earth, Walt Disney World, she studied Early Childhood Education. She worked as a Lead Teacher at the YMCA Child Development Center at Walt Disney World Resort and then became a professional nanny for 9 years. In 2012 Katie and her husband, Jonathan, had their first child and decided to move closer to family which led them to Blacksburg, Virginia. They have been attending Northstar Church since 2013. Katie enjoys being outdoors, reading, working out, saving money, and spending her time with her family. She has three children, Kayla, Cale, and Benjamin.

Erin grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania then attended Messiah College where she played lacrosse and earned her degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Marriage and Family Counseling. Since then she has been working in the health and fitness field in various positions.

Amy and her husband Steve moved to Blacksburg in 2019. After 30 years in Florida and Georgia, they have come “home” to Blacksburg, where they met at Virginia Tech. When Amy is not roaming the corridors of the new building, you may find her out hiking, gardening, cheering on Hokie sports, traveling or visiting their adult children in the Atlanta area.

Jessica was born and raised in State College, Pennsylvania. Her family moved to Blacksburg for her senior year of high school. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2008 with a degree in Human Development. The summer after graduation Jessica married Justin and moved to join him in North Carolina and in 2010 she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from NC State. After the birth of their first child they moved back to Blacksburg in 2012 to be closer to her family, Hokie football, and the small town they love. Jessica and Justin have two boys, Ezra and Micah, and a daughter, Abigail. They love spending time outside, Sunday drives, and visiting little old towns in the mountains.
Jessica has served on staff as Children's Ministry Assistant and coordinator of the Reserve venue in downtown Blacksburg before her current role.

Lindsey was born and raised in Roanoke, VA. She received a BS in Biology from James Madison University.  She is currently a mental health coach and working toward becoming a Christian Life Coach.

This team serves as the primary spiritual anchor of Northstar that assists the pastor and church staff in guiding and shepherding the church. Team members consist of Shane Carver, Darrell Cook, Tyler Farnsworth, Steve Lavinder, Trey Moore, Jeff Noble, Nolan Schmidt and John Shockley. This team has a formal process of membership which involves nomination by a church member. The process is defined in our membership materials.