We worshipped together, prayed together, were silly together, and learned more about each other and the God we serve. The foundation of our house feels stronger and there are clearer paths on which we need to hone in on.

It was a really fun day and my son has been asking hourly when we get to go back.

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.

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.

It was a sad time when the weekend was over and we all said goodbye. I heard many people either talk about how they wished it was longer, or there would be another one soon. I too will miss everything about the weekend. But in conclusion, I learned that simply hearing the message is not enough, we need to practice it.

I hope that my testimony encourages parents who have done everything they could to surround their kids and grow them up in the truth of the gospel. I’m sure to my parents my story was looking a little bleak, but their efforts had a huge impact in the way I came to submit my life to Christ.

Last weekend was the Mars Hill Youth Retreat, and we really made a push to cover our teens in prayer. While an in-depth recap to share on the blog is currently in the works by one of our youth, I wanted to let you guys in on some of the responses we received from the retreat.

What is Ecclesia Academy? A year-long, seminary-level training course for those in the church to dive deep into the Bible, theology, discipleship, and leadership development.

In an email interview, David shares about his family, his hobbies, and his faith. It’s our hope that by getting to know David, we will be reminded of the call we have as a church body to work with kids in our flock.

Have you ever felt really young inside? Like, in one moment, your internal experience is closer to that of a much younger self. This could be in response to a regrettable incident with your spouse, an instance of immaturity and course joking, or a scenario where you have felt immense shame or overwhelming anger. Many of us, especially men, wrestle with these feelings and are driven to put on a mask and avoid authenticity and transparency in an effort to uphold cultural expectations of what men are supposed to be. However, this does not give us the opportunity to become curious, explore these uninitiated parts of ourselves and to begin a process of masculine initiation.

What does it look like for ordinary Christian people to live out their faith in day to day life? It can be challenging to know just what serving God looks like outside of Sunday.

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.

We are busy. Families, work, finances, friends, church, kids, sports, science projects, homework, and the list goes on and on.

With so much happening in our lives, how do we evaluate where we are?

Has the church misunderstood Matthew 18 in light of church discipline?  How do we desire holiness in the church while also pursuing the unbeliever?