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.

Things are picking up again now, and if it feels like the past month was jam-packed with events… well, it was! I think we are collectively breathing relief that we are all BACK and can fellowship together. It is so sweet to be together as a church family.

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.

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.

Looking back over all the pictures coming out of “A Call to Arms: an honest conversation about manhood and the gospel” the word power just keeps coming to mind. I mean, just look at all those fighter jets! You can close your eyes and imagine the roar of the powerful engines as the plane crosses the sky. These jets served as the perfect backdrop for an event focused on a powerful issue: safeguarding our minds against sexual sin.

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.

Ransom Recycling was born out of the need to provide steady work for men who have completed Ransom ReProgram.

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!

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.

October always seems action-packed for families, and it certainly seemed that way for our church family this month! Even though it’s a busy time of year, we strive to provide opportunities for the church body to grow through AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY, FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP, and BIBLICAL TEACHING. Here’s a recap of some of the events that help our church family engage in those three things.

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.

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.