Impact Story: Aubree Flickema

Aubree Flickema grew up in Lombard, IL. After a time away, God led her back to her old hometown to further her theological education and deepen her spiritual formation.

“After I finished high school, I attended community college for a year and then went on to Judson University in Elgin, where I received my bachelor’s degree in Worship Arts. I graduated from Judson, got married, and started at Northern all in a three month span of time!” Aubree and husband Geoff are parents of 5 month-old son Finn.

After finishing her bachelor’s degree, Flickema knew Northern was where God was calling her next. “A few of the things that drew me to Northern was their commitment to my holistic education – Northern cared about my personal formation just as much as they cared about my biblical and theological formation. I loved that. I loved the diversity and felt it was important to receive a seminary education amongst people of variety of ages and cultures.”

She is on staff at an American Baptist Church in Geneva. “I am officially the worship arts pastor, but also run the small groups ministry, the creative arts ministry, and am launching a mom’s ministry in April,” she said. Her experience at Northern has shaped her both personally and in her role as a leader. “What I love about Northern is that it’s a place of safety for me to come, explore, sometimes cry a little, discover, and grow along the way. I love that there’s guided freedom here to seek out new ideas, be challenged, and sometimes – called out on the carpet when I am wrong.”

Her teachable spirit is a mark of the true value of a Northern education.