November and December Recap
As our schedules begin to wind down for Christmas, let’s take a moment to look back on all the ways we came together as a church family in recent weeks. There is just so much going on in the life of our church! Whether donating items, gathering for fun and fellowship, or serving locally and also thousands of miles away, the Lord used Mars Hill Church in a variety of exciting ways.
November kicked off with Fairhope’s Fall Family Day. The Ninja Inflatable was such a hit that it will be making its debut at Mobile’s Family Day coming up in February. The evening really was such a treat. Kids loooooooved the dessert table with platter after platter of cookies and brownies (OK, I DID TOO). They played, adults got to chat and get to know each other, and my six-year old’s stubborn loose tooth was knocked out by The Ninja, so it was a successful Family Day by all accounts.
Both campuses held Mars Hill Orientation classes recently. It was a great chance for people to learn more about the core aspects of our faith, but also the Three Pillars of Mars Hill and our Milestones process. Several more Orientation classes will be offered in 2020, so be sure to go to one soon!
We also launched Ecclesia Academy in the hopes to better equip Christians with Biblical and theological training for discipleship and church leadership. Exceptional applications came in and the founding classes will begin this January.
Our most recent trip to Masatepe, Nicaragua was extremely encouraging. If you haven’t read Brian Argo’s recap yet, go ahead and read it now. The work that the local missionaries are doing is intentional, proactive, and laser-focused on empowering the community. Lives are absolutely being transformed and it is such a neat thing to be a part of this!
We came together to send Christmas around the world by filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child then we turned around and did it again for children living in foster care right here at home in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Not long after that, so many old electronic items were brought in for the Ransom Recycling Electronics Drive that their dump bin was filled.
In recent weeks, Friends of Internationals Church has consistently been meeting Sunday nights at 5pm on our Mars Hill Mobile campus. The Mars Kids Volunteer team serves these families during each gathering so that parents are able to learn and grow in Christ while also knowing their kids are receiving the same truths.
Speaking of the Mars Kids Team, both Hollie and Sarah have done incredible work, particularly during this holiday season, to focus kids’ hearts on the Lord. Their passion for children trusting Christ as their Savior is so naturally flows out of them in every decision they make regarding even the simplest of children’s activities. And their volunteers are no different- the entire team loves on these kids so well. Man, we are so very blessed to have such a devoted group. No coal in their stocking for them! Give them all the chocolate.
The Women’s Community is in a transitional period which has been covered in prayer and thoughtfulness on how to best walk alongside the amazing women in our church family. A small group of women came together for a weekend of prayer specifically for the Women’s Community, which led us to conduct a survey in order to get more insights on the needs of women in our church.
In early December, several couples in all stages of life and marriage embarked on the Mars Hill Summit on the Seas, a.k.a. Marriage Cruise. Couples spent time enjoying Cruise Life while also doing a marriage workshop. Another Marriage Cruise will be planned for next Fall, so there will be another opportunity to take to the High Seas with your spouse.
Our College and Youth ministries all had their own Thanksgiving Feasts and Christmas Parties. The tacky Christmas sweaters were as abundant as the holiday goodies. Mars Hill Staff got into the Christmas spirit at our yearly party. Dirty Santa swap included socks with Mark Powell’s face on them. If you see Mark Rudd, check his socks- he’s been wearing them nonstop.
Next up is our Christmas Eve Service on both campuses at 5:30pm (Fairhope also has a 4pm service). We’re looking forward to a sweet time of unity and worship and looking ahead to the New Year full of hope and anticipation for all the Lord has in store.