The NorthStar Narrative
The NorthStar Narrative
How Life Experiences Shape Your Ministry
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Lorelei Kilmer, a former NorthStar Academy student, shares her journey from being a third culture kid to discovering her calling in campus ministry with the Navigators after college graduation.
• Spent three years at North Star Academy while her family served in Turkey
• Found valuable community and spiritual formation through NorthStar's online education
• Recently graduated college where she was deeply involved in ministry
• Describes the challenges and blessings of being a Third Culture Kid (TCK)
• Advises current students to be brave when facing transitions rather than fearful
• Will be mentoring 5-6 college women through personal relationships while leading Bible studies on campus
• Views her TCK background as an "identity gift" that helps her connect with diverse students
• Shares how discipleship creates generational impact through spiritual multiplication
Hi, this is Stephanie Shafer and you're listening to the North Star Narrative, a podcast from NorthStar Academy. I want to thank you for joining us. I hope you're encouraged, challenged and motivated by what you learned today. Enjoy the story. Hey everybody, thanks for joining us for this fun episode. It is always incredible when I get to have a previous student from NorthStar on the podcast.
Stephanie Shafer:So today we have Lorelei Kilmer joining us and just an incredible story. She was here at NorthStar for around three years or so three years plus back in 15, 16, 16, 17, those kind of years Seems like a while ago and now has graduated college and is starting a new adventure with the Navigators. And so she just touched base and reached out to us at Northstar to give us an update of what's going on. And I was like you need to come on the podcast and share your story, your journey since being here at Northstar, and tell us more about what God is doing in your life. So thank you so much for joining us today. I can't wait for everybody that's listening to get to hear about, yeah, lorelei's journey, and so let's just jump right in. All right, here we are. It's been so good talking right before we push record, yeah, I'd just love for you to tell the listeners a little bit about your journey with Northstar and, over the past decade, what's happened, and then, yeah, jumping into this new calling you have.
Lorelei Kilmer:Yeah, that's awesome. I am so excited to get to, yeah, just be here and to share. Yeah, I grew up in the oldest of four. My parents felt called into ministry when I was around nine or 10 years old, and so the Lord led them to Turkey and we kind of moved around a lot there and so for a little while I was going to different schools.
Lorelei Kilmer:Yeah, I really didn't have any kind of consistent education and a lot of ways to continue to grow and serve my faith outside of just my family, and so, through talking with another friend in Turkey, she got us connected to NorthStar and it was just such an incredible place to be, not only just for my education, but also just to be able to, yeah, have a community, be a part of an online Bible study, get to talk to other third culture kids and, I think, for the first time really in my life, get a little glimpse of oh, this is what heaven's going to look like one day, just the diversity there and also having teachers and being a part of classes where I knew I was not only cared about for how I grew in my education and my skills and could be prepared to go to college in the US one day, but also, yeah, to really be invested in my spiritual life, and so did a few years at NorthStar, eventually ended up at an international school in the city and then eventually moved back to the US to start college and I think those skills that I learned at NorthStar really translated well to college.
Lorelei Kilmer:But also just continue to grow in my spiritual walk and, yeah, some of that foundation that was built there online just continued that in college and, yeah, I just recently graduated and so that's kind of a little bit of my journey with that.
Stephanie Shafer:Yeah, so what's it feel like to be a college graduate?
Lorelei Kilmer:Yes, very strange, I think. Yeah, I've just kind of traveled and gone school to school honestly for most of my education and so to be able to be done feels really great.
Stephanie Shafer:And.
Lorelei Kilmer:I was really open to yeah, have the Lord use me, now that a lot of my time learning you know in terms of in a classroom is done. But obviously learning is part of life, so excited to see where he takes me.
Stephanie Shafer:Yeah. So thinking back over your past four years and even finishing up at high school, what advice would you give to students now that might still be in high school and looking toward college? Anything you can look back on and say I wish I had known this.
Lorelei Kilmer:Oh, that's such a good question.
Lorelei Kilmer:Yeah, I remember in high school I was extremely intimidated A to move back to the US and be a part of you know classes more in person and larger classroom and I think I was really intimidated by all of that.
Lorelei Kilmer:But I think, really leaning into like the foundation of building community and knowing like you know what it looks like to make friends and you know what it looks like to find people that not only can challenge you but can also really come alongside you and help you grow in your faith, and kind of I wish I you know as I look back, I wish it wouldn't have been so nervous because I think each new chapter of your life, especially the one from high school into college, like God has so much opportunity and good for our life and I think I wish I would have been more open at the beginning and kind of just surrender and say God, like this is a new opportunity for you to grow and to challenge me and I don't need to be so afraid because you have placed me here and you have good.
Lorelei Kilmer:And not only being able to bring my experiences from growing up overseas and all my different forms of school to college, but also being open to growing from my peers, a lot of whom just had kind of grown up in the same area, and getting to learn and grow with one another. So I think that's what comes to mind.
Stephanie Shafer:That's so good. Yeah, be brave. Just jump out there. You never know. The splash will make the impact on others, and then what friends there are to be All right. So you met a lot of friends through the Navigators. Meet All right. So you met a lot of friends through the Navigators. So for those that don't know about the Navigators, what is that organization and what was it like experiencing it in college?
Lorelei Kilmer:Yeah, yeah, I knew when I started college I wanted to, yeah, plug into a community that would not only help to be able to help me to continue to grow in my faith, but I also just wanted people that, yeah, I could really lean on and find family in, since I was far from home. And so the Navigators is a Christian organization and their primary goal is to know Christ, to make Him known and help others to do the same, and I think that message really stood out to me. I think that comes straight from, yeah, the gospel.
Lorelei Kilmer:And I think this idea of them first and foremost like as an organization wanting students to know Jesus and so, whether that was someone who grew up a Christian their whole life and is just coming into college on fire for the Lord, helping them to continue to know God, or whether that's someone that's really shaky and doesn't really have any sort of foundation of what does it really look like to follow Jesus, really have any sort of foundation of what does it really look like to follow Jesus, even to the person that's walking to class, you know, walking around campus, and just wants nothing to do with the Lord.
Lorelei Kilmer:I think that initial priority of making them yeah, like helping them to come to know who Jesus is, but also this idea of going out and making disciples, who can go help to make more disciples and go out to the nations.
Lorelei Kilmer:I had seen the impact firsthand of my parents' ministry and my peers overseas and their impact and I love this idea that the Navigators saw such a need on our campus, with students so broken and hurting and lost and moving away from their family for the first time. And how can we go out and really share about Jesus, share the gospel? I think college is a time where students are so moldable because you know they're far from home for the first time or they're trying to figure out. Wait, who am I? What do I actually believe? And so being able to be maybe the first person to ever get to share the gospel with them is so exciting. And then to see, maybe one, two, three, four years down the line, not only them come to know Jesus but then go on to share, you know, I think, on our college campuses. Yeah, I think we really want to be there for freshmen.
Lorelei Kilmer:My passion is you know for freshman girls when I was a student, I had the opportunity to, yeah, mentor a student. She had come from a really dark background. Most of her family, yeah, was just really far from the Lord, and when she even came to know Jesus, a few months before college, her parents even, you know, refused to go to her baptism, and so when I met her my sophomore- year of college no one did ever really come alongside her and said, hey, like the Lord deeply loves you, he wants to know you, and like his heart breaks even more than yours that your family doesn't know Jesus.
Lorelei Kilmer:And so we had the opportunity to meet together and read the Bible week after week, and help her grow. We committed to praying every week for the last three years for her family to come to know Jesus and for her roommate at the time, and it's been so beautiful to see the Lord working slowly but surely over the last three years. While her parents are still not very supportive and open, they're willing, slowly but surely, to have more conversations about God, and her roommate is now a Christian and is getting baptized this upcoming year. And so I have not only been blessed just to see the Lord's fruitfulness in my life through the Navigators, but it has really become a passion of mine now to want to go out and mentor and care for these girls and see them follow Jesus not only in college but for the rest of their life.
Stephanie Shafer:That's incredible. Yeah, fulfilling the Great Commission. Have you ever read Robert Coleman's book, the Master Plan of Evangelism? I'm not, no, into the 12 and then pouring more into the three and spending that time with building relationships and yeah it's just.
Stephanie Shafer:discipleship is sharing with someone what you've learned and pursuing Christ together, walking alongside. So I love your heart in that and, yeah, the mission of the, the navigators, and how they came around you and pulled you in and now you get to stay with them. So what's it going to look like now when you start? What's your official start day? Just what's a day going to look like? What's a week going to look like?
Lorelei Kilmer:Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, I think as a student I always felt like, oh, I'm involved in the Navigators, but I'm also doing my studies and I'm working, and I always wanted to meet with tons of girls and commit my time to that, but I never felt like I fully could, and so I'm just so honored and thrilled that the Lord has really put it on my heart to do this ministry full time, and yeah, I love that.
Lorelei Kilmer:You asked what a typical week looks like. I think our goal is just to be on campus all the time, be around. Students really come to them. You know. They're in these dorms, they're in sorority or fraternity houses, they're walking around campus at the local coffee shop. How can we really be there for them, whether it's really exciting for them to come to college or really terrifying, and so it is like a 40-hour work week, but those hours look different.
Lorelei Kilmer:A lot of evenings are spent leading Bible studies, not only with students that have never read the Bible, but getting to really help facilitate with students who really want to grow in their skills and help them steward the gifts that God has given them. So if they really feel like I want to help you lead this Bible study or hey, I want to help plan a large group in the evening, and so really helping them with that and also day-to-day also just being on campus and walking around and beginning to be a familiar face is really important. You know there's always that girl that sits in that seat in that corner. I've seen her here a few weeks. How can I go over there and maybe engage with her? She seems really lonely or isolated. Being a familiar face is really huge too.
Lorelei Kilmer:And then another part of my week will be, yeah, meeting with about five to six girls individually and just really pouring into them and meeting them where they're at, in their walk, whether they've never read through the gospel before or whether they're like I'm on fire for Jesus. How do I go and share this with my classmates or with my roommate? And I think what's beautiful is, yeah, I'm so excited and expectantly waiting, like who God has for me, like what six to seven girls he has, and where they're at getting to to me and encourage them. And so, yeah, in order for me to reach these girls, and like the one I mentioned in my story, um, yeah, our start date is September 1st. That's when our school year begins, Um, and when students start to come to this campus, and so I'm excited to get to be with them.
Stephanie Shafer:That's so great and I love the way you're explaining it Just being being on the campus, being with people, looking for people, and that's such an impact for the kingdom and how you know. Jesus just said as we're going, as we're going, as you're walking the campus as you're having lunch as you're living out your life, Um yeah, who's God gonna bring your way? Who can you shine the light to?
Lorelei Kilmer:And so it's so fun.
Stephanie Shafer:What a fun, uh, ministry job that you're have to look forward to. Um, okay, so how do the navigators do the funding? How do you get paid? What's that going to look like?
Lorelei Kilmer:Yeah, that great question. Very important aspect. Yeah, navigators staff. So I'm a part of a staff team of around six individuals, who?
Lorelei Kilmer:are in all different stages of life too, which I think is really wonderful. Our director's been on this campus for about 20 years, so they've kind of seen the change and the impact. But this year I'm part of a team of three of us that we just graduated, so we actually know what it is to be a college student on this campus and so we get to bring that. And so, yeah, we as a team are entirely supported by individuals and churches who partner with us with monthly gifts ranging from $75 to $300 per month. For me, specifically, I am praying that the Lord would provide 28 partners who would give at $200 per month.
Lorelei Kilmer:Yeah, I believe that the Lord has so much to do and I'm just honored that he has given me this opportunity and chosen me to be His vessel. You know, as I think you mentioned earlier, he believed in the 12 disciples, that in him they would go out and bring the gospel to the nations, and I have so much confidence and hope that the Lord is going to continue to do this. You know, if I think about if I meet with six girls and those six girls, you know, meet with one to two girls that already goes on and that multiplies and that's incredible how many they can meet. And to think about four generations from now, of how you know. I may not even know that person, but the gospel will be what's known even then.
Stephanie Shafer:Yeah, and the seeds we get to plant Might be somebody else watering behind us. But yeah, and I remember so I've been involved in a lot of discipleship and sometimes you know you're have a relationship, you're pouring into people and sometimes they just walk away. Yeah, like you know, everyone doesn't stay all the time when it gets super serious, deep relationship with Christ. You know things sometimes have to change and so sometimes people are like, yep, this isn't for me, and I remember being really upset about that early on. But a lady that was discipling me just said hey, stephanie, you've given them more than anybody else. Like you've given them seeds, you've given them Christ and they know.
Stephanie Shafer:And so it's not up to us to convince someone to come to Christ or to change anybody, and so I think that's so important in discipleship but to just love people with His love, walk alongside them and it's messy. Discipleship is messy because we're messy, people are messy, but that's the fun of it, when you dive in and you just do life together. That's how my husband describes discipleship just doing life together.
Lorelei Kilmer:I love that.
Stephanie Shafer:Yeah, okay, what about going back a little bit, growing up as a TCK, what was that like? Because at Northstar, you know Northstar was founded for Wycliffe Missionaries and we have lots of mission organizations that we still serve. So we have a lot of TCKs, MKs, and we love them and love to support them. So tell us a little bit about your journey as a TCK. What has that meant in your life? What does that mean now? Maybe some advice you might give to our current students that are listening.
Lorelei Kilmer:Yeah, that's huge, I think, yeah, being a TCK has been one of the hardest things about my identity, but also one of the greatest blessings, I think. For me, it kind of was like several transitions over the years. When I moved to Turkey when I was about nine years old, familiar with who I was as an American, and my parents, you know, moved to Turkey, did their best, I think, to really continue that, as we were even in a different country. But as I got really plugged into Turkish schools and the culture, I realized like, oh, I really love this and I feel like this is what I identify with. And so I think over the years I lost a lot of what it meant to be American and so my identity kind of fell all over the place for a little while. But when I joined NorthStar and then started to get to begin to have more conversations with people who speak English or have a similar background, realizing like, oh, it's beautiful to get to embrace both of these cultures, I don't fully feel like I fit in with my American peers before and I don't fully feel like I fit in with my American peers before and I don't fully feel like I fit in with, yeah, my Turkish peers. How do I begin to embrace this? It's almost like an identity gift that the Lord has given me. He's chosen this for me. How do I begin to embrace both of those aspects? And I think, honestly, it was my fellow TCKs that really aspects and I think, honestly, it was my fellow TCKs that really encouraged me in that, and through mentors, I think what's been so encouraging for me is to hear from, yeah, college students that were a few years ahead of me, that were TCKs, or even adults that had then gone back overseas and getting to see, like, wow, like you understand that aspect of my identity, but, yeah, it's so unique and different in itself.
Lorelei Kilmer:And so when I moved on to come to the U S in college, um, I was around most people who had never met a TCK or never could really understand that part of me, and so I really struggled originally. It's like God, I, I'm missing home. I feel like Turkey is where I really feel like I belong. What do you have for me here at UC Davis? How can I bring something of being a TCK and, I think, realizing like I can, in a lot of ways, relate to all different types of people I think I could relate to the international students that are on this campus. I could relate to my friends that come from a Christian background.
Lorelei Kilmer:I could relate to even those maybe that weren't TCKs but that had really struggled in ways with their identity, and I think the Lord has used that, and I've now seen it less as a weakness or a struggle and more just like wow, lord, like this is a gift that I'm so grateful that you've given me, and I think my favorite thing, though, is making connections with people from all around the world.
Lorelei Kilmer:Oh, I also grew up somewhere different than I was born in or later in life, and those are the best connections, because I think it's just a true reflection of how we currently live now on earth as believers in the Lord, like we know that our true home is in heaven, and so here on this earth, even though we might feel attached to some things, we know that this isn't permanent, and one day we're going to be reunited with how we're supposed to be, how we were created and to be with our creator, and so I think being a tck gives me a little glimpse into to what that's like, and so to get to share that with others is it's really wonderful I love that.
Stephanie Shafer:I think that's the most beautiful description that I've heard around TCKs. We've talked to a lot of people and everybody has a cool journey. But I love how, yeah, identity gift. I really like how you said that, because everyone struggles with their identity throughout life and so learning who we are in Christ matters so much. But, yeah, getting to have a taste of what heaven will be like with so many people, and I love that. Thinking about that, god's given you a gift to articulate really well, um, his world, his ministry, his um, yeah, what he's doing all around. And he's giving you the gift of being super relational, like him, building community. And, yeah, he's giving you bravery and courage to step into the unknown. It takes a lot to walk up to somebody and meet them and love people.
Stephanie Shafer:And you know everybody doesn't have that gift and so that's a cool gift he's given you. But everybody can do it, even if it's hard.
Lorelei Kilmer:Yes, yes, they can, it's so rewarding, so rewarding to do that.
Stephanie Shafer:I know it's hard sometimes but, yeah, so much joy is found in that. I'm so glad that you reached out to us and got to see you and, yeah, just hear about the incredible journey God has you on. Is there anything else you might want to tell our students or anybody listening? Just something you've learned anything more of what God's doing? Or you just see a thread that he's been pulling through your life? Thinking back on the story, the chronological Bible story that we did a decade ago, yeah, just the beautiful threads that he pulls through his story, through our lives, yeah, I love that.
Lorelei Kilmer:Yeah, I'm just so grateful and I think, yeah, stay open, stay, yeah, allow the Lord to surprise you and stay flexible. I think that's been the story of my life. It has never been one cookie cutter way and I think maybe a lot of you listening can maybe relate to that. I'm doing NorthStar right now, but right before this I was doing something else and I have something new on the way that I have no idea what that is.
Lorelei Kilmer:Yeah, allow the Lord to move in that. That is actually, I think, the most wonderful place to be fully dependent on him and just open to see what he's going to do.
Stephanie Shafer:Yeah, love it, love talking to you and getting to hear Wow. Big adventure, so many things coming, so many lives you're going to impact. Yeah, just being you and Jesus's light shining through you. So thanks for doing that, thanks for being on the journey with Jesus and with all of us for incredible kingdom impact.
Lorelei Kilmer:Yes, thank you for listening and praying and thinking of you all.
Stephanie Shafer:Thank you so much for listening today. If you have any questions for our guest or would like information about Northstar, please email us. At podcast at nsaschool, we love having guests on our show and getting to hear their stories. If you have anyone in mind that you think would be a great guest to feature, please email us and let us know. And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on upcoming stories.