The first ever gathering for Mars Hill Federal Way took place on Monday night.
I joined Pastor Adam Sinnett and Pastor Samuel Choi at the West Seattle campus, which hosted the event. One-hundred sixty people attended the event, representing the core group who will be sent out to establish this new work of the gospel.
The Federal Way campus will be entering new territory in a number of areas:
- First campus with a sponsoring campus other than Ballard (West Seattle)
- First campus pastor (Samuel) whose native language is not English
- First campus setting out with specific goals to start new churches in other countries
All of these characteristics relate to the unique vision for Mars Hill Federal Way: in the next ten years, the Federal Way campus hopes to increase by 10,000 people by remaining a faithful congregation of about 500.
How is that possible? Pastor Samuel explained that the big building, the robust programming, and the flashy production are a long way off—and perhaps may never come. The campus plans to send out multiple groups to start new campuses and churches in Federal Way’s surrounding cities and sister cities in South Korea and Japan.
Rather than some complicated, overwhelming ambition, however, Pastor Samuel emphasized the simplicity of the task at hand: gospel and mission. At the Federal Way campus (and throughout Mars Hill) it’s all about Jesus. Jesus will work as we follow him—in community, conversation, service, and daily life in general.
Leading by example, Pastor Samuel challenged the core group to focus on Jesus and his mission above comfort, familiarity, and self image. Those in attendance responded to the challenge with energetic singing and giving, pledging $40,000 towards the expansion effort.
The first Federal Way gathering was an incredible display of God’s ongoing work in the hearts of his people and the life of our church. Please pray with me for the new campus, and check out the Mars Hill West Seattle website for updates.
