We live in a day and age when people are little more than consumers, and as ministers, we can be tempted to provide religious services for religious consumers. But we are not called to consumption; rather we are called to a commission.

The pandemic seems to have dug its tentacles into every thread of our lives, obviously healthcare being at the forefront. As one of our local missions partnerships, Victory Health Partners has certainly felt the effects of the past year.

From the way, sermons are prepared and the way, the service is structured to how activities are planned, having in mind every member’s inclusion and integral discipleship. I’m so thankful for the opportunity I was given to be a part of and learn from this wonderful and unique community that you have at Mars Hill, and I look forward to hearing about the great things that you’ll continue to accomplish for God’s kingdom.

What a joy to celebrate Sarah Jacobs today and reflect upon her service to the Lord as Director of Mars Kids- Mobile! Anyone who has ever had a conversation with Sarah about kids ministry can attest to her unwavering passion for engaging those little hearts for Christ.

To forge means to construct, establish, build-up, and mold, which all so easily translates to the faith-filled walk of a Christian man. Being a dedicated husband, father, son, and provider takes so much work- none of it comes easy. Authentic community is vital for men which is why it was so important for Mars Hill to start this new gathering called FORGE. The night was filled with worship, prayer, fellowship, and real conversations.

God used Steve to show me my own heart on more than one occasion. Many times, my generosity was much more about me than Steve. And I am thankful to God for letting me see that. I am trusting that God is making that new in my heart, along with many other things.

Letters of encouragement from the people of Mars Hill Church while being separated during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Letters of encouragement from the people of Mars Hill Church while being separated during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Letters of encouragement from the people of Mars Hill Church while being separated during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Letters of encouragement from the people of Mars Hill Church while being separated during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Letters of encouragement from the people of Mars Hill Church while being separated during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Letters of encouragement from the people of Mars Hill Church while being separated during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Hamburgers. Hot Dogs. Ten Trillion Cookies. Inflatables. Bubbles. Cornhole. Cake Walk. Conversations. NINJA WARRIOR.

It was a fun time. Thanks to everyone who came out!

Just like a loud, clear musical note played into the strings of a piano, the correlating strings begin to vibrate showing the note played is in tune. The melody ringing in my soul has transformed into this thought of "being present" so that when another note is played nearby in tune with that, it resonates within me.

On the one hand, what Scripture tells us about God’s sovereignty is comforting. As a believer I rest in passages like Romans 8:28 that promise that all of life’s circumstances providentially work together for my good because all things that occur, occur because they were within God’s Will. But on the other hand, in my flesh, I’m troubled by that same thought.

Have you ever walked out of a Sunday gathering longing for something more? What you are longing for though is difficult to explain.

Maybe you, like many others I have talked to, have devoured the biblical teaching at Mars Hill for a while, but still don't feel connected. Maybe you long to meet new people and get involved with the ministries of the church. Perhaps you don't know where to start.

Mars Hill college students had the opportunity to engage LDS students with the gospel on the campuses of BYI and UT this Spring. Read about the trip here.

Overall, I felt like this weekend was a success on many levels… I saw people accept Christ as their Savior; I saw students grow closer to Jesus and turn away from sins; I saw the group grow closer as a whole and encourage one another; and I saw them have a great time doing all these things. I couldn’t have done it without such a great supporting cast of volunteers and leaders and, most of all, the Spirit at work in all our lives.

Our initial plan was to find one homeless person in a park downtown, get him some dinner, listen to his story, and share the love of Christ with him any way we could. And that is what we did. At the end of the night we asked if we could return the next week and our new friend said yes. None of us had ever done anything like that before. We had stepped way out of our comfort zones in an attempt to do good works for God.