Jeff Noble
Lead Pastor
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.
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 Simpson
Discipleship and Small Groups Minister
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 Jewell
Children’s Minister
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.

Lydia Ilardo
Children’s Ministry Assistant
Lydia was born and raised on a little hobby farm in Floyd County. She was homeschooled K-12; you CAN hold that against her. She spent her freshman year at Liberty University before moving back home and continuing her pursuit of a nursing degree at NRCC while working at Cookout where she met her husband Marcus. They got married in 2018 and have two children, Lorilynn (Lori) and Judah. Lydia and her family started coming to Northstar in 2021 and became members last summer. Since then she has enjoyed serving as a teacher in the toddlers and 4-5 year olds and loves serving the Lord and her Northstar family in this roll.
Jessica Yalung
Financial Secretary
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.
Philip Beaver
Youth Minister
Philip was raised in rural Wythe County VA as one of five homeschooled boys. Throughout his teenage years, he worked for his family businesses in lawn care, electrical work, and managing a local horse camp. Philip was active in youth group and the worship team at his home church during high school. He also met his now-wife, Emma, in youth. After graduating, Philip helped lead the youth group at his home church while studying business and finance at Wytheville Community College and Radford University before he became a real estate agent full-time. Philip and his wife Emma got married and moved to Christiansburg in early 2020 and got plugged into Northstar quickly, where his passion for the worship team, youth ministry and BEing the local church grew.
Tanner Blankenship
Worship Leader
Tanner is a New River Valley Native, a musician, a businessperson, a motorcycle rider and a wannabe world traveler. In 2011 he earned his master’s degree in Philosophical Apologetics at Biola University. Tanner is an adrenaline junkie and enjoys just about any outdoor adventure. He's attended Northstar since 2012 and is proud to serve with the music team as our volunteer worship leader.
Carri Drake
Administrative Assistant & Events Coordinator
Carri was raised in Allentown, PA. Her gymnastics took her to West Virginia University earning a BS in Exercise Physiology. Carri met her now husband Josh through BCM. After spending one year at home in PA coaching gymnastics, she moved back to Morgantown, WV, married Josh and pursued a degree to become a Physical Therapist Assistant. After having their first son, Liam, Carri and Josh moved to CO, while Josh completed his PhD. After having their second son, Eli, they found themselves in Charlottesville, VA. Josh accepted a position at VT which brought their family to Blacksburg, VA in January of 2020. Carri enjoys exploring the mountains, hot yoga, reading, attempting to train their GSP puppy, Kenai, and digging into God's word with a friend and a good cup of tea.

Micah Paddock
Interim Volunteer Coordinator
Micah grew up the third of four girls in Fort Worth, TX. After high school, she ditched the heat and city for a small college in the mountains in southwest Colorado. In 2006 Micah received a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from Western State College of Colorado. Tristan and Micah welcomed their first child in 2012 and made the decision to move to a smaller, family-friendly community in 2014 - which brought them to Blacksburg. Micah and her family have been attending Northstar since the summer of 2021. When not at church, you will most likely find Micah somewhere outside - out running, obsessing (just slightly) over her chickens, desperately trying to be a gardener in a yard surrounded by trees, riding bikes with her kids, out on a hike, or just walking and enjoying the view.
Aaron George
Intern & College Ministry Leader
Aaron is currently a grad student at Virginia Tech studying Business Analytics. He has previously been a leader with Cru, a college ministry group. Aaron enjoys the outdoors, playing guitar, and hiking. You can also find Aaron working at the local Virginia Tech bookstore. Aaron is excited serve the church & grow in his relationship with the Lord through interning at Northstar!

Brooke Barlow
Intern
Brooke is from Charlotte, North Carolina and moved to Lynchburg, Virginia in 2017. She is currently a senior at Virginia Tech studying Early Childhood Pre-Education. She has been involved with Cru at Virginia Tech and is excited to serve in the church and grow in her relationship with the Lord through interning! In her free time she likes to workout and play Just Dance with her friends, all while enjoying a sparkling orange flavored Celsius.
Matthew Franco
Intern
Matthew is from sunny Phoenix, Arizona and moved with his family to Virginia in 2020. He is currently a student at New River Community College to complete an Associates in Business Administration. Matthew is a member of Northstar’s worship team, internship program, and youth leadership. He is also an intern for a local international business Turnkey Product Solutions. In his free time, Matthew loves to cook, make music, and enjoys hanging out with friends.
Leadership Board
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 Darrell Cook, Josh Drake, Chris Gaines, Steve Lavinder, Jeff Noble, Ben Price, Nolan Schmidt, Kevin Seaton 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.