Grace Teams

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

1 Peter 4:10

What is a Grace Team?

Each Grace Team is a group of church members who volunteer together to strengthen Northlands in a specific area of service. Christians have a scriptural imperative to use the grace God has given them to help out in the local church, whether it is for nurturing infants, cleaning or repairing a building, playing an instrument, or in one of many other capacities; at Northlands, Grace Teams provide opportunities for members to respond to this call.

As we exercise and express our gifts and talents as members of a Grace Team, we find that not only are our skills strengthened, but we also find great satisfaction and grow spiritually as well.  Individuals, the church body, and the community are all enriched and enlivened when Grace Teams are functioning well.

The Grace Teams at Northlands offer a welcoming place for church members to belong and to serve, to be involved and to make a difference.

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” – Ephesians 4:16

If I sign up to be on a team, am I stuck there forever?
Commitments to volunteer for Grace Teams last for one year.  This allows the team to count on members being there, and gives time for members to grow in their giftings without the commitment becoming a burden.  At the end of the year, everyone is automatically released from their previous commitment with thanks.  Volunteers can sign on for another year with the same team, or serve somewhere else for a year.  This system gives church members the opportunity to participate on various teams at different times.

Sign-ups for Grace Teams take place in August of each year. If you are interested in joining a Grace Team at other times during the year, please speak to the elder who oversees that team, or the team leader.

Can I serve on more than one team?
If you have the energy and time to commit to more than one team, and feel that serving in more than one area is something you’re willing to cheerfully do, there are very likely multiple teams that would love to have you.  However, if you are comfortable serving on just one team, we will gladly have you on that team.  One of the ideas behind the Grace Teams is that no one person or small group of people carries the burden of serving the whole church.

There are 25 Grace Teams at Northlands Church.

Age-level Grace Teams:

These teams work with age-level groups from birth through young adult. Team member requirements for working with children and youth: Background checks and specific training are required for the safety and well-being of those served and those serving. Team members are volunteers, and the elders reserve the right to select workers who will best serve the young people and their parents.

• Little Lambs: 0-18 months This team cares for babies and toddlers up to 18 months of age. They are loving adults and older teenagers who are available during the Sunday morning service. Little Lambs team members nurture and play with the youngest of the children at Northlands, giving parents the opportunity to enjoy the service without concern or distraction.
• J.A.M. Club: 18 months – 5 years The J.A.M. Club (Jesus and Me Club) team creates an exciting, safe, and interactive environment where children learn about Jesus and begin to build relationships with him. Team members teach short, bible-based lessons reinforced by crafts, music, and games.
• RiverZone: 6-11 years The RiverZone Team is passionate about ministering an exciting children’s program on Sunday mornings. Through engaging games, worship times, and small group interaction, this team is dedicated to serving the spiritual hunger in children at Northlands.
• Axis: Middle School This is a dynamic and interactive group that meets weekly to celebrate their own style and music. The youth worship team “Transparent” leads the worship.
• Amped: High School This high school group runs a diverse and fun-filled program. Their calendar is filled with worship encounters, age-related teaching, outreaches, social outings, and discipleship opportunities.
• College & Career This team focuses on young adults in college or starting careers. The team aims to provide need-specific events with ministry and strive to cultivate enriching friendships among the young adults in this group.

Audio-Visual Grace Teams:

These teams work to produce the highest possible quality of music, sound, visual effects, and communications for Northlands Church. Specific skills are required to serve on some teams, and prospective volunteers may be interviewed to discover suitability and skill levels.

• Worship Team Loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength calls for the best and most sincere worship possible. This team of skilled musicians has the honor and responsibility of preparing and leading worship during services and special events.
• Sound Team This team provides support to the worship team and the preaching staff. They participate in practice with the worship team on Wednesday nights and arrive early on Sunday to prepare for the service. They also regularly record and post messages online.
• Media Team This team creatively serves the church by overseeing all aspects of the production, operation, capture, and duplication of media before, during, and after all services. They create media presentations that aid the announcements and the message.
• Communications Team These skilled people serve both Northlands and the community by communicating the calling and mission of Northlands in a relevant and appealing way. They conceive and implement ideas for building the relationship between Northlands and the community, as well as creatively and effectively expressing compelling reasons for people to visit Northlands.

Special-Focus Grace Teams:

The following teams serve and bless everyone at Northlands as well as reaching out to the community in some instances. Their contribution makes living in this community of believers a joyful experience.

• Men’s Ministry These men coordinate ministry events and activities unique to the needs of the men at Northlands. The team aims to establish and maintain a band of pure brothers. Focus on developing godly traits in young men takes place through a ministry called “Tribe.”
• Women’s Ministry This team coordinates ladies’ events, ministry, and meetings. The team focuses on ministering to the specific needs of women, and make themselves available to help young women become godly, scripturally honorable women.
• Welcome Team The welcome team greets people as they arrive on Sunday mornings at Northlands. The first impression made at Northlands is generally made by someone on the Welcome Team. They serve an important function by making guests feel at home. They also host a “welcome party” for guests at the end of the service.
• Usher Team Ushers serve by making people more comfortable in the building and helping them to settle in the service. They have many areas of service that include collecting the offerings during the service and serving communion.
• Testimony Team Understanding the power of testimonies motivates this team to record and make available to the congregation the stories of what Jesus is doing among us.
• Ministry Team During or after Sunday services, this trained team is available to pray for and minister to needs that emerge as well as any requests for prayer or ministry people may have. They spend time waiting on the Lord for any specific areas He may identify for the service or for individuals.
• Intercession Team This is a team of prayer warriors who are faithful in prayer and convinced of its power. At weekly prayer meetings and as led by the Holy Spirit, they spend time in prayer for burdens and requests. They are one of the key groups God uses to speak to the church.
• Intercession for Elders Team This team prays specifically for the elders and church leadership. They often pray for the elders personally, ask for specific requests, and share encouraging feedback with the elders.
• Hospitality Team Many events at Northlands include refreshments. The Hospitality Team graciously coordinates and serves food and beverages. They also provide appropriate decorations at special events. Their efforts add to the family atmosphere at Northlands Church.
• Events Team People with aptitude for running and organizing successful events can be found on this team. They bring various skills to bear on events of varied size and purpose.
• Food Pantry Team This team is involved in organizing and maintaining a food pantry as a service to needy families in the community. This is a team where organizational skills and compassion are valuable.
• Maintenance Team This dedicated team serves by maintaining the physical building where meetings are held. They watch over the building, serving as needed and coordinating efforts where specialists or professionals are used.
• Gardening Team The goal of this team is to enhance the outside of the Northlands property. Green thumbs and gardening creativity are welcome here.
• Finance Team The finance team consists of experts and highly qualified individuals who manage the financial systems of the church and provide advice to the elders. This team does not make financial allocation decisions – that is done by the elders of the church.
• PASSPORT Team This team runs the program developed at Northlands Church to help people through a process of discovering their giftings and interests in life and ministry. The PASSPORT program helps people find their most effective place of service in the church. PASSPORT stands for assessments of Personality, Abilities, Spiritual Gifts, Seasons, Passions, Obedience, Revelation, and Release. This team equips every other team with happy, dedicated volunteers, which in turn makes service a blessing both given and received.