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Northern Lights: One Woman, Two Teams, and the Football Field That Changed Their Lives
Life is hard in Barrow, Alaska. Football mom Cathy Parker first caught a glimpse of this far-away reality from the comfort of her Jacksonville, Florida, living room while watching a 2006 ESPN report on the Barrow Whalers, a high school football team consisting mostly of Alaskan Inupiat Eskimo natives playing in the most difficult of conditions and trying to overcome the most unlikely of odds. These players—raised in the northernmost town in the United States, where drug abuse is rampant and the high school dropout rate is high—found themselves playing on a gravel field, using flour to draw the lines. And while the community of Barrow felt a strong pride for their boys, many felt football was not worth the investment. That is, until Cathy Parker became involved. Overcome by a surprising stirring in her soul to reach out and help, Cathy was determined to build a suitable field for the Barrow Whalers. Not fully understanding the many obstacles, both financially and logistically, that would line the path ahead, Cathy charged forward with a determined spirit and a heart for both the football team and the greater community of Barrow. She spearheaded a campaign that raised more than half-a-million dollars through people all around the country rallying around one common changing the lives of young men through football. This is not just the story of how the Barrow Whalers became the first high school above the Arctic Circle to have a football program. This is the story of how we are sometimes called to the most unlikely of causes and to believe in something a little bit bigger, changing our own lives and the lives of others for the better in the most unexpected of ways.
- GenresNonfictionSports
224 pages, Paperback
Published June 25, 2019
23 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Parker
1 book1 followerCathy Parker and her family’s lives have always revolved around athletics. She is the wife of Carl Parker, former NFL player, and current high school football coach. They have raised four children, all at the ball fields. Three of their children were blessed to play ball at the college level and their oldest went on to play professionally in the MLB. She has experienced the extreme highs and lows of raising athletes and can relate to the toll athletics can have on the family. She founded the not-for-profit, Athletes To Champions as a tool to serve others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
February 20, 2021
Non-fiction memoir from a woman living in Florida that led a project to raise money to build a football field of artificial turf for a team in Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska. This book’s blurb does not make it clear that the author adheres to a conservative Christian theology, and a good amount of narrative is dedicated to describing her family’s religious beliefs. I was expecting a story about sports, not religion, and it made me uncomfortable. I would have quit before finishing, but I received an advance reader’s copy from the publisher via NetGalley in return for a candid review, so I persevered. I applaud the author for spearheading a project to benefit others but feel the description should inform the reader that the book includes a great deal of religious content. I enjoyed the information about the Iñupiat’s culture and wish the book had focused more on their customs and traditions.
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May 8, 2019Northern Lights turned out to be a very different story than I was expecting, but I still enjoyed reading it. I am blown away how one woman woke up with an idea one morning, stuck with it because of her faith in God, and was able to pull off what she did. True, she did not do it alone, but she is the one who was able to pull all of the people and resources together again and again. She proved herself to be persistent and strong, and continued to pray and rely on her faith in God through the triumphs and obstacles until her mission was accomplished. I commend her not only for what she did, but also for writing about her experience for the world to see and read. It is such a wonderful act she did, what the communities did, for the football team in Barrow, Alaska.
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March 11, 2019Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book. I love anything to do with life in Alaska and strong women and this book caught my eye. It is a little like Blindside so if you like to read about inspiration and football I think you will enjoy this book! This story about the first high school team that is located above the Arctic Circle gets a football program, thanks to the determination of Cathy Parker, a woman from all places, Jacksonville, Florida! If these elements intrigue you then I think you will enjoy reading this book!
June 8, 2019
I received an advanced reader’s copy of the book from the publisher. I have never felt as inadequate and as lost for words! Cathy Biles Parker has written a book that will rock your world in a way that will leave you wanting to get up and get busy helping others! The manner in which she tells her story will light a fire in the depths of your heart and make you want to know God the way she knows Him!�She describes the process she went through to ensure the community of Barrow, Alaska and their young people were given a field on which they could play football. The problems she had to face and fight through would have made most businessmen and women throw in the towel time and time again. The problems involved more than just raising the money. It took faith, perseverance, and lots of stamina, strength, and willpower to see her dream through to a successful and wonderful beginning for Barrow, their youth, and their football program.�Northern Lights is a true story of a wonderful woman's dream, her willingness to get out of her comfort zone, and the awesome group of people who joined her and worked to change the lives of a community and their young people. I read the book in one afternoon because I could not put it down. I laughed, cried, and even felt the closeness of God as I read of the miracles that occurred during the fulfillment of one woman's dream. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves God, football, and supporting our young people.
June 8, 2019
I received an advanced reader copy of Northern Lights from the publisher. I couldn’t put this book down! Cathy’s journey to build a football field in Barrow and how God met her each step of the way is inspiring and encouraging. If you’re like me, you’ll need tissues!
January 3, 2019
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book was a mix of The Blind Side, Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights and Whale Talk all combined. Cathy's story is so inspiring that it is remarkable the success she has found in a sport that is dominant in her life. The lessons learned throughout the book were so motivational and inspiring that I hope it brings a movement forward in how people view the game of football and the affect it has beyond the field and the gridiron. I love to hear stories of players, coaches and parents paying it forward beyond the field. Our community a football fanatics and they are sure to love Northern Lights.
We will definitely consider adding this book to our Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
This book was a mix of The Blind Side, Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights and Whale Talk all combined. Cathy's story is so inspiring that it is remarkable the success she has found in a sport that is dominant in her life. The lessons learned throughout the book were so motivational and inspiring that I hope it brings a movement forward in how people view the game of football and the affect it has beyond the field and the gridiron. I love to hear stories of players, coaches and parents paying it forward beyond the field. Our community a football fanatics and they are sure to love Northern Lights.
We will definitely consider adding this book to our Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
June 10, 2019
This story will show you that mountains can indeed be moved! It’s sometimes shovel full by shovel full but Cathy explains through her book how with faith, we CAN move mountains- or football fields! So glad I was able to read the advanced publishers copy and can’t wait to get my actual copy. There is certainly rejoicing in heaven with the publication of this book!
August 3, 2019
I was drawn to this book because of two of my major research interests - arctic cultures and sports history. This seemed like it was going to be an awesome mix of the two. But it was too much about the author's faith and "saving" others. That's fine for her to write and for others who want to read that to read, but it just wasn't what I thought I was going to be reading. It was almost entirely focused on the author, her family, and the "rightness" of her idea and then how she set about to make it happen, rather than what I hoped - about the northern community, the growth in seeing and learning from others very different from yourself, sports and its role in American society, etc.. It just didn't meet my expectations and I wouldn't have picked it up if it had been billed to be the story it was.
June 29, 2019
I come from the great state of Texas who LOVES Friday Night Lights! We love the game of football and all it means to our communities. Cathy is one outstanding lady to give this gift to another state that has never experienced the joy that football can bring to a community. This book will inspire you to look for small and large ways to bless others near and far. Cathy lets everyone know that if God could use her to do such a HUGE project, He can use ANYONE to accomplish big things for this world and His kingdom. #NorthernLightsBook
August 25, 2022
What an incredible story! Highly recommend!
One Sunday morning before church in October of 2006, Cathy and her family were watching ESPN. Cathay was in the kitchen baking muffins when one of her children called her to come watch the story that was on TV.
The story was about the Barrow Whalers, a highschool football team north of the Arctic Circle, in far north Alaska, playing their first season. The story drew them in because of the school’s 50% dropout rate. The Barrow youth has high rates of depression and suicide. They surveyed students to ask what would help them engage more in school and the number 1 answer was a football team. What even surprised Cathy more was that this team did not have a football field. They were just playing on packed dirt, mud and gravel which led to many cuts and bruises. Cathay could relate to this because her family was heavily involved in sports. This story moved her emotionally.
Cathy knew she had to take action. Cathy was going to raise money for these football players in Barrow and was going to give them an artificially turf field to play on. Cathy knew that God was calling her to do this.
This story was so incredible! There were so many obstacles that she had to overcome to be able to make this happen. Cathy had to remind herself many times that if God wanted this to happen, the pieces would fall together, which they did. I loved reading about how God continued to open the doors for this to happen. Just by reading this book you could see God at work all over this project. This book was so inspiring to read and is a good reminder that when God places something on your heart you should do it because it will change our lives for the better and also change the lives of others. This is a great story of what can be accomplished when we step out in faith and say yes to God without even having everything you need to make it happen because you know that God will supply you with everything you need if he calls you to do it. A story I highly recommend!
One Sunday morning before church in October of 2006, Cathy and her family were watching ESPN. Cathay was in the kitchen baking muffins when one of her children called her to come watch the story that was on TV.
The story was about the Barrow Whalers, a highschool football team north of the Arctic Circle, in far north Alaska, playing their first season. The story drew them in because of the school’s 50% dropout rate. The Barrow youth has high rates of depression and suicide. They surveyed students to ask what would help them engage more in school and the number 1 answer was a football team. What even surprised Cathy more was that this team did not have a football field. They were just playing on packed dirt, mud and gravel which led to many cuts and bruises. Cathay could relate to this because her family was heavily involved in sports. This story moved her emotionally.
Cathy knew she had to take action. Cathy was going to raise money for these football players in Barrow and was going to give them an artificially turf field to play on. Cathy knew that God was calling her to do this.
This story was so incredible! There were so many obstacles that she had to overcome to be able to make this happen. Cathy had to remind herself many times that if God wanted this to happen, the pieces would fall together, which they did. I loved reading about how God continued to open the doors for this to happen. Just by reading this book you could see God at work all over this project. This book was so inspiring to read and is a good reminder that when God places something on your heart you should do it because it will change our lives for the better and also change the lives of others. This is a great story of what can be accomplished when we step out in faith and say yes to God without even having everything you need to make it happen because you know that God will supply you with everything you need if he calls you to do it. A story I highly recommend!
June 14, 2019
I received an advanced reader copy of Northern Lights from the publisher.
Northern Lights is the story of how Providence sneaks up on ordinary and everyday people and assigns them tasks that push them beyond their limits to make extra-ordinary impact on their culture.
More than a decade ago, along with sports fans worldwide, Cathy Parker watches an ESPN news highlight of an Alaska town trying to offer a higher path to their struggling youth. Plagued with high drop out rate of 50%, drug abuse and suicide, Barrow, Alaska attempts to offer football at their only high school. But their attempts are met with hardship as the high school makes do with feeble resources, including a field that Parker describes as "...an unsightly mix of packed dirt, mud, and gravel." The players often received cuts, bruises and sprained ankles from the rocky surface.
Parker's story highlights the oft proven reality that, if we will allow it, out of our deepest places of pain often flow our greatest gifts to the world. Her pain revolves around football. In college she married her college sweetheart, Carl, a football player who upon graduation was drafted into the NFL and ended up at the Super Bowl his first year. Through a series of circumstances, the football career that took off so quickly, began to wane. Parker details the story that leaves her saying, "I grew to resent everything about football."
Northern Lights is the redemptive story of how Cathy Parker's gift to Barrow Alaska flows from her navigation of the pains and disappointments of her past. This is a story we can all benefit from!
Northern Lights is the story of how Providence sneaks up on ordinary and everyday people and assigns them tasks that push them beyond their limits to make extra-ordinary impact on their culture.
More than a decade ago, along with sports fans worldwide, Cathy Parker watches an ESPN news highlight of an Alaska town trying to offer a higher path to their struggling youth. Plagued with high drop out rate of 50%, drug abuse and suicide, Barrow, Alaska attempts to offer football at their only high school. But their attempts are met with hardship as the high school makes do with feeble resources, including a field that Parker describes as "...an unsightly mix of packed dirt, mud, and gravel." The players often received cuts, bruises and sprained ankles from the rocky surface.
Parker's story highlights the oft proven reality that, if we will allow it, out of our deepest places of pain often flow our greatest gifts to the world. Her pain revolves around football. In college she married her college sweetheart, Carl, a football player who upon graduation was drafted into the NFL and ended up at the Super Bowl his first year. Through a series of circumstances, the football career that took off so quickly, began to wane. Parker details the story that leaves her saying, "I grew to resent everything about football."
Northern Lights is the redemptive story of how Cathy Parker's gift to Barrow Alaska flows from her navigation of the pains and disappointments of her past. This is a story we can all benefit from!
January 9, 2020
I enjoyed this true, feel-good story about a woman who follows up on a heavenly nudge to help a struggling community by building a football field for their fledgling high school football team. Plagued with a high drop-out rate, alcoholism, drugs and other community-destroying issues, the town of Barrow, Alaska, is about as far away from Jacksonville, Florida as is possible. Nevertheless, Cathy Parker, living in Jacksonville, feels a strong call of God to somehow fund and install a turf field on top of the frozen permafrost in the northernmost city of the United States, 320 miles above the arctic circle. What follows is an enjoyable account of Cathy's dogged determination to bring her dream to completion for the beleaguered team. Along the way, we learn of struggles and victories in her marriage, family, and even the logistics of her vision for the Barrow Whalers.
A delightful book which I listened to read by the author.
A delightful book which I listened to read by the author.
Currently reading
June 11, 2019At first glance you would think this is a book of fiction. A mother of four athletes watches an ESPN Documentary on the trials and tribulation of the Whalers, a high school football team in Barrow, Alaska. The team is practicing on gravel. She elbows her husband, a former NFL football player, and says "those boys need a field." Most people get worked up for a few minutes and then move on. Cathy Parker was just getting started. Her mission was to get them a field and more importantly reap the benefits from athletics and help the community. She literally became a General and raised over a half million dollars. It wasn't like everybody was on board. Some folks in Alaska thought she was intruding and tried their best to create barricades. They even called the company transporting the field via barge and told them it was cancelled. Second thoughts, sorry about that, but thanks. This book details this amazing story. She was featured on a national television network "People Who Make A Difference." Indeed. If ever there is a must read, this is it. promonorm
June 13, 2019
Cathy Parker has an extraordinary heart for helping others! This book is an incredible testimony of courage, hope, and perseverance. Cathy is a shining example of God's goodness and how walking by faith can lead to the most incredible miracles. It also demonstrates the most selfless, genuine love through complete strangers working together for the greater good of a community. God has a purpose for each and every life in this world. It is evident this book highlights how God moves mountains even when we don't think we have the ability to do so by our own power. This is a must-read that you don't want to miss! I highly encourage you to add this book to your reading list. You'll be so inspired in your own life to go out and make an impact wherever you are. Your life can and does make a difference. Let your faith be bigger than your fear!
June 14, 2019
What an awesome book! I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher. The author feels God calling her to build a football field in Barrow, Alaska. There are many obstacles that she has to overcome to try to get this to happen but she never gives up.So many people are involved in helping her. So many lives were touched. It is very apparent that God was involved in every step she made. This is a story of faith, determination and perseverance.
June 27, 2020
Favorite Quotes
• Although I am a risk-taker, I tend to envision the finished product much easier than I imagine the process of getting there. One pastor once described me as someone who fires, then aims, and then gets ready. I reluctantly admit that’s accurate. (p10)
• I had no idea of the journey ahead, or the miracles I would experience along the way. Just like I hadn’t known that the miracle that saved my family, that removed the deep-seated resentment I held toward sports, would position me to steadfastly believe that football could unify a community and change the lives of young men seemingly a world away. (p12)
• We allowed our kids to trek down a path from which there was no return. (p24)
• One day I prayed, God, I’m going to trust you and let you make my husband into who You want him to be, not who I want him to be. (p27)
• Coach Sutherland taught from a curriculum titled “Men Built for Others,” aiming to develop players who would win on and off the football field. He assigned each coach a different attribute to speak on each week. (p30)
• We believed that God had blessed each of our children with athletic ability, and we wanted them to be God-honoring in how they competed on the field. But we can see now, we had made a god out of sports. Yet God used the very thing we had placed ahead of Him to make His presence known to us. (p32)
• Coach Sutherland’s teachings began manifesting in the actions of my boys and Carl. Kyle and Collin looked for students sitting alone at lunch so they could sit beside them and befriend them. They and other boys on the team started picking up trash on campus instead of walking past it, taking responsibility for keeping their campus clean instead of viewing it as someone else’s job. (p36)
• At Bartram, football stopped being all about winning for Carl. It became his ministry, an opportunity to use his talents to impact young men. (p39)
• Money had attracted many of the newcomers to northern Alaska, and they preferred to purchase what they needed to live there instead of learning the skills that had upheld the Inupiat for generations.
The unseen price tag was the Inupiats’ heritage. (p53)
• I needed help to successfully run this.
I called my mentor, Kathy Cope. Kathy was an amazing businesswoman who had served in the military and could be appropriately direct. (p58-59)
• Kathy’s willingness to help following my hesitation to ask helped me realize that if I was going to take on a project this big, I had to stop worrying that I might offend someone. Even if it made me uncomfortable, I had to open my mouth and ask for help. I couldn’t assume that if people heard me talk about what Barrow needed, they would jump on board. They needed to be asked to help. (p60)
• The roster of people who would become key players in the project continued to systematically appear, as though their arrivals were being orchestrated.
I have the tendency to start moving and then become oblivious to the steps I’m taking. But God was about to slow me down so I would notice the importance of what I was doing (p60)
• The banker told me a story that redirected my day. Her son had dealt with depression and had taken his own life. She told me that the only time she remembered him being happy was when he was part of a team playing ball.
It struck me that with each person who came on board, there would be a story. There’d be a reason he or she was called to action--a reason compelling enough to share that person’s time, resources, and talents. (p61)
• Carl and I have experienced numerous times when we’ve prayed for a word from the Lord and the Holy Spirit would bring to mind a verse or passage that we’ve read. (p68)
• I had my own occasional doubts about whether what I felt I should do was truly God wanting me to lead this project of just something I wanted. But I did know that if this project was God’s doing, He would make everything happen. If not, then it would fail and I would bring embarrassment on the family. (p69)
• I was gradually chipping away at my need to make everyone happy. If we were going to step out and take on a project bigger than ourselves, we should have to leave behind some people who didn’t see the good in serving the Barrow team. I didn’t want to leave anyone behind, but it’s a fact of leadership that when you move forward, not everyone decides to go with you. (p85)
• It became important to me that we give as many people as we could an opportunity to belong to the group that would help change lives in Barrow. (p89)
• My nature is to avoid conflict at all cost, but Kathy handled conflict well. Lafayette had had corporate experience in human relations and operations, and he could diplomatically respond to criticism with a nice, but clear, email. Like this: “On behalf of Cathy Parker, we would like to thank you for your interest in Project Alaska. Although we appreciate your concerns, we are moving forward with the project and would appreciate your support.” And when people told us, in their opinion, what we should be giving the people of Barrow instead of a football field, Kathry replied with her matter-of-fact delivery, “If God has placed that on your heart for the people of Barrow, we encourage you to move forward with it. As for us, we are giving them a football field.” (p89)
• The Whalers had won just one game the previous season, but it wasn’t because of a lack of effort. Their players clearly wanted to become a good team--they had the potential to become a good team--and they were willing to work hard to accomplish it. (p114)
• There weren’t enough good options for the time the young people had on their hands. (p122)
• I can get so busy with responsibilities that I end up looking back on events and wishing I had enjoyed them more. (p124)
• “You’ve done the best you can,” he tenderly told me. “You had the team here. You made a huge impact. It’s not your fault. At some point, you have to realize you’ve done all you can do, and that this was an impossible project. There are some things we don’t have control over and we can’t do. It’s okay. It’s okay to say you gave your best effort.” (p135)
• God had given me that vision, and where He gives vision He also gives the faith to see the work through.
• My hope made no sense on the surface. I understood that as I expressed it. But I still had hope. (p138)
• Brad and Jim knew every box that needed to be checked. Except I wasn’t working off of knowledge; I was working off of faith. I had gone through all the emotions of the previous night after my phone call with Ike and then awakened to unyielding faith. God has given me tha vision and the faith to see the project through to the end. I understood what Brad and Jim were trying to persuade me of, and I knew they wouldn’t understand what I had to say. The conversation had grown uncomfortable for me, and I couldn’t see any improvement soon. (p139)
• With previous issues--and there had been plenty--I’d made only a tight circle of people aware of what we were facing. This time was different. This time, I was desperate and didn’t care how many people knew. We needed all the help we could get to solve this problem. We needed a miracle. I wanted everyone who knew how to pray to be praying.
• On the way out of the radio station, I noticed a box of partially eaten bags of potato chips. A handwritten sign on the box read, “Take as you need.” Our group ate several meals at events related to the game. AFter meals, uneaten food wasn’t taken off the dishes and thrown into the trash. Instead, the leftovers were saved for anyone who would know to come to where we had gathered and eat what remained. (p164)
o How can we do this? Change legislation? Change social norms? Change stigmas?
• [from speech by Delbert Rexford, foreman of the football field installation project]
“What you see here today is not just a football field--it is a field of dreams for our youth, our children, and to inspire them to build character. It is a dream that one day will nourish and inspire greatness in our children. In the words of Joe Namath, “Football is an honest game. It’s true to life. It’s a game about sharing. So is life.” Nothing could be truer today because our community shared their resources together to build this football field. (p170)
• The elder opened the prayer by asking God to forgive the community for allowing drugs and alcohol to come into their land and harm their youth. Then he thanked God for providing a beautiful day for the youth to enjoy. (p175)
• The Whalers players and coaches had won because of what they possessed inside of them. They had earned the victory not because of what they had done, but because of who they were. (p182)
• But I needed to stop letting the opposition bother me. Where I lacked understanding, I needed to display grace and compassion by choosing to honor the people who opposed us. (p187)
• Because of all that Larry had done for the state and his inclusion in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he couldn have shown up to that fund-raiser and said, “Hi, everybody,” and he would have had everyone's undivided attention. But through the heartfelt manner with which he talked about the game and his relationship with Barrow’s football program, Larry had the crowd eating out of his hands. (p187)
• Their stories would vary, but I had seen many times for audiences in Florida the same look of wanting to be part of something that would make a difference in others’ lives. (p189)
• The attention from outsiders who wanted to understand Barrow’s culture ignited a belief among the youth that their culture was cool. Football helped bridge the gap between natives and non-natives. (p195)
• I’m a “What’s next?” type of person. (196)
• ...the mission statement for a new nonprofit: “EQUIP communities with the resources necessary to assist athletic programs, INSPIRE coaches and leaders to become mentors of youth athletes, and DEVELOP character in young athletes, enroucating them to share their God-given talents.” (p196)
• But once again, I have found myself with a vision much bigger than logic. Oh, how I wished we could have money in the bank! And how I wished God preferred to tell me what He wanted me to do with money I’d already raised instead of telling me what He wanted me to do before I raised the money.
But where is the faith in that? (198)
• I always want to be obedient to His calling, discovering each next step for following Him as I go. (p200)
• I’ve worked with youth organizations for over a decade, and I have observed that when a community pours into its youth, the future improves, often rapidly. (p206)
• I’ll never meet all the people who were a part of the project. I’ll never even know who they are. But God does. (p208)
• If I am proof of anything, it’s that God works through those who are willing to heed His call. (p208)
• I mean this with all sincerity and humility: if God can write an amazing story through me, He can do the same through you.
He wants to.
If you feel as if God has told you to do something and you can’t shake it, if it’s the first thing that comes to your mind in the morning and the last thing on your mind when you go to bed, it’s probably because you are the person He has called to do it.
It’s you.
Don’t try to give it away to someone else. Don’t think it’s impossible.
Perhaps the reason God has tapped you on the shoulder is because He wants you to do something you’ve never done before, that you’re not capable of doing without Him, that will stretch you further than you’ve ever been stretched. You also will grow closer to HIm than you’ve ever been.
And you’ll be amazed by what God will do. (p208-209)
• Although I am a risk-taker, I tend to envision the finished product much easier than I imagine the process of getting there. One pastor once described me as someone who fires, then aims, and then gets ready. I reluctantly admit that’s accurate. (p10)
• I had no idea of the journey ahead, or the miracles I would experience along the way. Just like I hadn’t known that the miracle that saved my family, that removed the deep-seated resentment I held toward sports, would position me to steadfastly believe that football could unify a community and change the lives of young men seemingly a world away. (p12)
• We allowed our kids to trek down a path from which there was no return. (p24)
• One day I prayed, God, I’m going to trust you and let you make my husband into who You want him to be, not who I want him to be. (p27)
• Coach Sutherland taught from a curriculum titled “Men Built for Others,” aiming to develop players who would win on and off the football field. He assigned each coach a different attribute to speak on each week. (p30)
• We believed that God had blessed each of our children with athletic ability, and we wanted them to be God-honoring in how they competed on the field. But we can see now, we had made a god out of sports. Yet God used the very thing we had placed ahead of Him to make His presence known to us. (p32)
• Coach Sutherland’s teachings began manifesting in the actions of my boys and Carl. Kyle and Collin looked for students sitting alone at lunch so they could sit beside them and befriend them. They and other boys on the team started picking up trash on campus instead of walking past it, taking responsibility for keeping their campus clean instead of viewing it as someone else’s job. (p36)
• At Bartram, football stopped being all about winning for Carl. It became his ministry, an opportunity to use his talents to impact young men. (p39)
• Money had attracted many of the newcomers to northern Alaska, and they preferred to purchase what they needed to live there instead of learning the skills that had upheld the Inupiat for generations.
The unseen price tag was the Inupiats’ heritage. (p53)
• I needed help to successfully run this.
I called my mentor, Kathy Cope. Kathy was an amazing businesswoman who had served in the military and could be appropriately direct. (p58-59)
• Kathy’s willingness to help following my hesitation to ask helped me realize that if I was going to take on a project this big, I had to stop worrying that I might offend someone. Even if it made me uncomfortable, I had to open my mouth and ask for help. I couldn’t assume that if people heard me talk about what Barrow needed, they would jump on board. They needed to be asked to help. (p60)
• The roster of people who would become key players in the project continued to systematically appear, as though their arrivals were being orchestrated.
I have the tendency to start moving and then become oblivious to the steps I’m taking. But God was about to slow me down so I would notice the importance of what I was doing (p60)
• The banker told me a story that redirected my day. Her son had dealt with depression and had taken his own life. She told me that the only time she remembered him being happy was when he was part of a team playing ball.
It struck me that with each person who came on board, there would be a story. There’d be a reason he or she was called to action--a reason compelling enough to share that person’s time, resources, and talents. (p61)
• Carl and I have experienced numerous times when we’ve prayed for a word from the Lord and the Holy Spirit would bring to mind a verse or passage that we’ve read. (p68)
• I had my own occasional doubts about whether what I felt I should do was truly God wanting me to lead this project of just something I wanted. But I did know that if this project was God’s doing, He would make everything happen. If not, then it would fail and I would bring embarrassment on the family. (p69)
• I was gradually chipping away at my need to make everyone happy. If we were going to step out and take on a project bigger than ourselves, we should have to leave behind some people who didn’t see the good in serving the Barrow team. I didn’t want to leave anyone behind, but it’s a fact of leadership that when you move forward, not everyone decides to go with you. (p85)
• It became important to me that we give as many people as we could an opportunity to belong to the group that would help change lives in Barrow. (p89)
• My nature is to avoid conflict at all cost, but Kathy handled conflict well. Lafayette had had corporate experience in human relations and operations, and he could diplomatically respond to criticism with a nice, but clear, email. Like this: “On behalf of Cathy Parker, we would like to thank you for your interest in Project Alaska. Although we appreciate your concerns, we are moving forward with the project and would appreciate your support.” And when people told us, in their opinion, what we should be giving the people of Barrow instead of a football field, Kathry replied with her matter-of-fact delivery, “If God has placed that on your heart for the people of Barrow, we encourage you to move forward with it. As for us, we are giving them a football field.” (p89)
• The Whalers had won just one game the previous season, but it wasn’t because of a lack of effort. Their players clearly wanted to become a good team--they had the potential to become a good team--and they were willing to work hard to accomplish it. (p114)
• There weren’t enough good options for the time the young people had on their hands. (p122)
• I can get so busy with responsibilities that I end up looking back on events and wishing I had enjoyed them more. (p124)
• “You’ve done the best you can,” he tenderly told me. “You had the team here. You made a huge impact. It’s not your fault. At some point, you have to realize you’ve done all you can do, and that this was an impossible project. There are some things we don’t have control over and we can’t do. It’s okay. It’s okay to say you gave your best effort.” (p135)
• God had given me that vision, and where He gives vision He also gives the faith to see the work through.
• My hope made no sense on the surface. I understood that as I expressed it. But I still had hope. (p138)
• Brad and Jim knew every box that needed to be checked. Except I wasn’t working off of knowledge; I was working off of faith. I had gone through all the emotions of the previous night after my phone call with Ike and then awakened to unyielding faith. God has given me tha vision and the faith to see the project through to the end. I understood what Brad and Jim were trying to persuade me of, and I knew they wouldn’t understand what I had to say. The conversation had grown uncomfortable for me, and I couldn’t see any improvement soon. (p139)
• With previous issues--and there had been plenty--I’d made only a tight circle of people aware of what we were facing. This time was different. This time, I was desperate and didn’t care how many people knew. We needed all the help we could get to solve this problem. We needed a miracle. I wanted everyone who knew how to pray to be praying.
• On the way out of the radio station, I noticed a box of partially eaten bags of potato chips. A handwritten sign on the box read, “Take as you need.” Our group ate several meals at events related to the game. AFter meals, uneaten food wasn’t taken off the dishes and thrown into the trash. Instead, the leftovers were saved for anyone who would know to come to where we had gathered and eat what remained. (p164)
o How can we do this? Change legislation? Change social norms? Change stigmas?
• [from speech by Delbert Rexford, foreman of the football field installation project]
“What you see here today is not just a football field--it is a field of dreams for our youth, our children, and to inspire them to build character. It is a dream that one day will nourish and inspire greatness in our children. In the words of Joe Namath, “Football is an honest game. It’s true to life. It’s a game about sharing. So is life.” Nothing could be truer today because our community shared their resources together to build this football field. (p170)
• The elder opened the prayer by asking God to forgive the community for allowing drugs and alcohol to come into their land and harm their youth. Then he thanked God for providing a beautiful day for the youth to enjoy. (p175)
• The Whalers players and coaches had won because of what they possessed inside of them. They had earned the victory not because of what they had done, but because of who they were. (p182)
• But I needed to stop letting the opposition bother me. Where I lacked understanding, I needed to display grace and compassion by choosing to honor the people who opposed us. (p187)
• Because of all that Larry had done for the state and his inclusion in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he couldn have shown up to that fund-raiser and said, “Hi, everybody,” and he would have had everyone's undivided attention. But through the heartfelt manner with which he talked about the game and his relationship with Barrow’s football program, Larry had the crowd eating out of his hands. (p187)
• Their stories would vary, but I had seen many times for audiences in Florida the same look of wanting to be part of something that would make a difference in others’ lives. (p189)
• The attention from outsiders who wanted to understand Barrow’s culture ignited a belief among the youth that their culture was cool. Football helped bridge the gap between natives and non-natives. (p195)
• I’m a “What’s next?” type of person. (196)
• ...the mission statement for a new nonprofit: “EQUIP communities with the resources necessary to assist athletic programs, INSPIRE coaches and leaders to become mentors of youth athletes, and DEVELOP character in young athletes, enroucating them to share their God-given talents.” (p196)
• But once again, I have found myself with a vision much bigger than logic. Oh, how I wished we could have money in the bank! And how I wished God preferred to tell me what He wanted me to do with money I’d already raised instead of telling me what He wanted me to do before I raised the money.
But where is the faith in that? (198)
• I always want to be obedient to His calling, discovering each next step for following Him as I go. (p200)
• I’ve worked with youth organizations for over a decade, and I have observed that when a community pours into its youth, the future improves, often rapidly. (p206)
• I’ll never meet all the people who were a part of the project. I’ll never even know who they are. But God does. (p208)
• If I am proof of anything, it’s that God works through those who are willing to heed His call. (p208)
• I mean this with all sincerity and humility: if God can write an amazing story through me, He can do the same through you.
He wants to.
If you feel as if God has told you to do something and you can’t shake it, if it’s the first thing that comes to your mind in the morning and the last thing on your mind when you go to bed, it’s probably because you are the person He has called to do it.
It’s you.
Don’t try to give it away to someone else. Don’t think it’s impossible.
Perhaps the reason God has tapped you on the shoulder is because He wants you to do something you’ve never done before, that you’re not capable of doing without Him, that will stretch you further than you’ve ever been stretched. You also will grow closer to HIm than you’ve ever been.
And you’ll be amazed by what God will do. (p208-209)
June 14, 2019
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher. In this inspiring account, author Cathy Biles Parker shares a powerful testimony of faith against impossible odds! I read the entire book in one day! Although I've never accomplished such an incredible task, I felt I could relate to Cathy's personal demons....how satan would rather we just give up. But with God...all things are possible if we put our trust in Him!
This story left me with renewed faithfulness and a desire to seek His will for my life. It serves as a reminder to Pray. About. Everything. And then, to listen and wait for God's response!!
This story left me with renewed faithfulness and a desire to seek His will for my life. It serves as a reminder to Pray. About. Everything. And then, to listen and wait for God's response!!
June 11, 2019
What an amazing story of perseverance, determination and faith! I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher and could not put it down. Cathy followed her heart in what God was calling her to do to help the football team in Barrow, Alaska get a football field! How this journey not only provided that, but how lives were touched and changed for the better in the process. There were many obstacles along the way, but it’s apparent that God’s hand was in it every step of the way! An inspirational story for sure!
June 12, 2019
Mrs Parker’s book reinforces there still is hope for humanity it’s just finding the right person to lead the charge like Cathy did for the town of Barrow. You can tell by her writing that she’s a dream weaver. She was able to encapsulate others to help make a a dream become reality. Northern Lights was a quick read but inspirational.
June 18, 2019
I received a advance copy from the publisher. Great read. Amazing story of doing what’s right when you are call to help. Sometimes it takes to get a story out in order to get the help you need. This book inspires and challenges you to motivate a community in investing in our future. Young athletes striving to succeed.
June 12, 2019
Currently reading and so excited to learn about the journey God had in store for all involved!
June 11, 2019
What a great read! It’s nice to read about someone helping others in a world full of selfishness. I cannot wait to read the entire book!
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May 30, 2019Is currently reading it!
August 28, 2019
This book caught my eye at the library when it was displayed with some other memoirs. I love sports and from the cover thought it sounded interested. Let's just say I'm a bit disappointed. It's great that this lady wanted to do something nice for a community in Alaska, and impressive that she motivated lots of people from her city and around the country - including the Jacksonville Jaguars - to be part of it all, but there was definitely a bit of an underlying "white savior" complex. Like this wealthy white lady felt "called" because of a segment she saw on ESPN about the Barrow football team, and she just had to do something. She wasn't from the community, didn't know the history or culture or societal norms or issues that locals face or anything. She also developed most of her plan and had her heart set on doing the project before she even contacted anyone in Barrow. She also didn't seem to think of how a turf field could potentially negatively impact the community. The story included the 2007 Barrow team, so I'd be interested in hearing how those boys are doing now, over a decade later, and whether or not this field "saved their lives".
December 31, 2019
I first heard of this book through the radio personality Delilah on her Facebook page. I then found the book on NetGalley and decided to give it a try. This book was the first I had heard of this effort to give the town of Barrow a football field which in turn would hopefully give the failing town a better future. The book is interesting. I enjoyed learning about the effort that provided Barrow with the much needed football field and all the miracles God granted to bring it to fruition. It certainly is mind boggling when you consider the amount of difficulties it took for this to happen. Cathy presents the story well and it’s a quick and easy heartwarming read. If you enjoy football, faith and a feel good story, give this one a try!
I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
June 18, 2019
Full disclosure ,I am Cathy's oldest brother and I was involved with the project. I joined the Marines when Cathy was 5 ,and over the years we rarely saw each other. I am a business sales executive ,and Cathy came to me asking for advice for her project . My job was to give her advice than did not work.
Nothing went as planned. Insurmountable obstacles were daily occurrences. At one really low point ,I told my wife," You know they say God always has a plan: well as plans go this one really sucks!".Then the miracles started happening. It was almost like watching the hand of God moving the chess peices. Cathy went through pure hell to get this done, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching the "it just so happened" moments where out of nowhere someone or something showed up to make the problem vanish.For example,there was a time when Cathy had to tell a volunteer that the kid she had agreed to host was autistic, Cathy was expecting a rejection,but what she heard was "Cathy you don't know me but I teach special ed and autism is my specialty,I absolutely want to keep that child! " There were hundreds of those types of moments,and those are what make the story worth reading.
Cathy didn't just build a field,she built Cathy.
I watched her grow from a demure coaches wife,into a fearless sales person in about six months. There was no one too big or too powerful that she didn't pitch if she needed their help.
Her cell phone has personal cell numbers of more high power executives than I have ,and I have been in sales for 40 years.
This is a Faith based book, but it should be in the self help section. I think God gave Cathy this task and created the story to teach us that the answers; the solutions we seek just might standing right next to us in the elevator,the grocery store, the Pew and every other place where we interact. If we just ask , take what we need and give what we can,there is no limit to what we can accomplish.
Nothing went as planned. Insurmountable obstacles were daily occurrences. At one really low point ,I told my wife," You know they say God always has a plan: well as plans go this one really sucks!".Then the miracles started happening. It was almost like watching the hand of God moving the chess peices. Cathy went through pure hell to get this done, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching the "it just so happened" moments where out of nowhere someone or something showed up to make the problem vanish.For example,there was a time when Cathy had to tell a volunteer that the kid she had agreed to host was autistic, Cathy was expecting a rejection,but what she heard was "Cathy you don't know me but I teach special ed and autism is my specialty,I absolutely want to keep that child! " There were hundreds of those types of moments,and those are what make the story worth reading.
Cathy didn't just build a field,she built Cathy.
I watched her grow from a demure coaches wife,into a fearless sales person in about six months. There was no one too big or too powerful that she didn't pitch if she needed their help.
Her cell phone has personal cell numbers of more high power executives than I have ,and I have been in sales for 40 years.
This is a Faith based book, but it should be in the self help section. I think God gave Cathy this task and created the story to teach us that the answers; the solutions we seek just might standing right next to us in the elevator,the grocery store, the Pew and every other place where we interact. If we just ask , take what we need and give what we can,there is no limit to what we can accomplish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2019
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
Cathy Parker was hit by love and inspiration as she watched the news about an Alaskan school starting a football program: she was going to help them get a football field. The idea seemed crazy -- even as Parker gained more help and support, the trials and challenges piled up to make the project seem impossible. But with God all things are possible, and Parker knew that He would make it all work out.
Parker gives readers lots of information as she prepares to tell her story of the Alaskan football field. While several of the stories and memories she shares are funny and highlight the miracles of everything coming together with hard work and prayer, I felt that Parker often gave too much information. I got lost in the details as Parker mentioned something that seemed like foreshadowing but ended up being irrelevant and wanted to relive entire thought processes again. The information overload made this book one that I lost my excitement about reading the longer I read, even though I had initially been excited about the story. If you can get through all the details, Parker shares a heart-warming story of hard work, generosity, and miracles.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Cathy Parker was hit by love and inspiration as she watched the news about an Alaskan school starting a football program: she was going to help them get a football field. The idea seemed crazy -- even as Parker gained more help and support, the trials and challenges piled up to make the project seem impossible. But with God all things are possible, and Parker knew that He would make it all work out.
Parker gives readers lots of information as she prepares to tell her story of the Alaskan football field. While several of the stories and memories she shares are funny and highlight the miracles of everything coming together with hard work and prayer, I felt that Parker often gave too much information. I got lost in the details as Parker mentioned something that seemed like foreshadowing but ended up being irrelevant and wanted to relive entire thought processes again. The information overload made this book one that I lost my excitement about reading the longer I read, even though I had initially been excited about the story. If you can get through all the details, Parker shares a heart-warming story of hard work, generosity, and miracles.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
June 17, 2019
I received an ARC of Mrs. Parker’s book, Northern Lights. While the tale is timeless - someone helping someone, this book goes beyond. Seeing someone allow God to not only use them, but to grow them is inspiring and challenging! I don’t have the “salesmanship gift” Mrs. Parker apparently has, but I have my own talents God has commanded me to use. This book reminded me to use them! NL also is not just inspirational it is informative. I never would have guessed all that went into building a field - anywhere - much less a place like the Arctic Circle. The book is an easy read and yet isn’t - if you actually stop to listen to what God is leading you to do through the insights provided. It is not just how God uses us to share His love to bless others, but how doing so blesses our lives as well. Being obedient in one area, sparks obedience in many.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2019
Thanks to #netgalley for providing a copy of #northernlights for review purposes. When most of watch a news story, we tend to listen and move on. But when Cathy Parker heard about the conditions of an Alaskan football field, she felt compelled to take action. Although the book rambled and was a bit repetitive near the beginning, I had give this book a 5 star writing because the story was so inspiring. Although I was fairly sure that the football field was going to be finished in Alaska, there were enough moments of uncertainty noted by the author that I did wonder at times if her mission was going to happen. I loved all of the lessons of teamwork and character presented as well! I would classify this book as inspirational non-fiction. Although there are definite Christian overtones, I think that almost anyone would be encouraged by this true story.
June 25, 2019
This is an very inspirational book built on hope and dreams. It's like if you believe in something so strong and stand on the word of God with Faith , it can happen. Just like it did for Cathy Parker. What an outstanding job with telling us how in a bitter cold park of Alaska God granted her with putting together this wonderful gift to the town of Barrow. Cathy felt the blessing of God calling her to build them a much needed football field. This book teaches you how hope Faith and trusting God can open many of doors for you . I was so Blessed to have received an ARC from the publisher to give my honest review. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who need thereabouts on Faith and Believe in the higher power.
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