Blog
NPC Elementary STEM Teacher
Rows Toward the Impossible
Julie Bennett, our elementary STEM teacher, has been enjoying the sport rowing for just over 15 years. This summer, she is taking on a slightly bigger challenge than The Grand River offers; she is rowing across the Pacific Ocean!
Under the guidance of The World’s Toughest Row, her 4-woman team will be rowing, unassisted, 2,800 miles from Monterey, California to Kauai, Hawaii (view map below). Launch date is tentatively set for Saturday, June 6.
As you can imagine, this is both a physical and mental endeavor. Julie shares that, above all else, she wants to be spiritually ready. The months leading up to the row are filled with deep spiritual training. From the onset of this, God has been showing her the purpose that He has for her as part of this team. He is continually showing her ways that she can be a Godly, humble servant, an encourager, and someone who speaks Truth into the lives of those she comes in contact with.
No person or team can do this alone. That is the reason for their name: Moar Than US. Besides having her NPC coworkers, families, and students as a support group, she is also an active member of Ada Bible Church, has a Small Group, and a Women’s Bible Study group all praying for her and keeping her accountable. Her students are actively helping her memorize Bible passages so she can always carry God’s Word in her heart and her head. There are going to be very dark nights and rough seas when the Word is going to be the only soothing balm for her mind and her soul.
There has been such an outpouring of support both in continued prayer and in financial assistance. This endeavor costs about $25k per rower, and Julie has been humbled and overwhelmed at the support from her NPC family, her Grand Rapids community, as well has her “hometown” area of Leelanau County. Donations can be made through the team’s website or directly to Julie’s Venmo team account. The team has a FB page and Instagram you can follow @moarthanus. As the launch date nears, supporters can follow her boat on the free YB Races app.
