This is the third in a series of posts by the Mars Hill campus pastors looking at how God has moved across Mars hill Churhc during 2009. Pastor James Harleman is the campus pastor for the Lake City Campus. It’s been a year of unusual giving and unusual growth, certainly one the most interesting years I’ve ever had as part of an eleven-year history with Mars Hill Church.

Growing by Going

Some might look at numbers and note we have less attendance than last year, yet more money and missional activity; how did THAT happen? Our congregation has been growing deep as a community, which stimulates more than just invitations to Sunday services; a good chunk of our congregation answered God’s call to "go" as well as "give" this year, pioneering complementary works to fulfill Jesus’ great commission (Matthew 28:19-20) Our former Deacon Andrew Pack, was ordained as Pastor Andrew and planted Anchor Church in Wallingford, just south of us in the area my father used to teach public High School. As part of our Acts 29 Network, he and a core of great people from our campus created a neighboring endeavor to reach Seattle for Jesus. That leaves plenty of seats for new Christians in both of our congregations, more opportunities to BE the church in the areas we inhabit.

Growing by Raising up Leaders

Our worship leader Steven Mulkey was not only trained and ordained, but also sent as Pastor Steven to lead our Olympia Campus. It was a tearful joy to see a brother, friend, co-leader and pastor raised and sent from our congregation to shepherd a whole other Mars Hill campus. Other leaders were sent to help oversee the growing work in our University District Service as well. Although I relish the fervor of a packed room celebrating Christ on Sunday in song, seeing our men and women stand up to not only sing, but to be sent, is truly a godly growth that gives my heart the most joy.

Growing in Generosity

This year, less than 200 member households raised more than 200,000 dollars for our building’s balloon payment. I’ve seen fundraising campaigns with large congregations pull off amazing results, but to see a relatively faithful few surface so much sacrificial giving in a year of recession and job loss has been jaw-dropping. As we end the year with the Generous campaign to finish the building fund and bless our neighbor North Helpline (who does amazing work for the homeless, hungry, sick and struggling) it’s evident this generous heart doesn’t end with the wallet. Members are preparing welcome baskets for those moving into transitional housing and rallying to move the Helpline to its new facility in McDermott Place after New Year. Widows and orphans are being helped in their distress, which is religion we heartily get behind (James 1:27).

Growing in Hospitality

Rebooting our Community Groups was another healthy work this year, launching over a dozen missional communities that view group NOT as a weekly home assembly, but people living life together, breaking bread together, and doing the work of the gospel together in the spirit of Acts 2:42-47. Revitalized leaders looking into the lives of the men and women in the group, together looking to the needs of each other and their neighbors, are truly transforming the way people meet Jesus, seen in the lives of people outside the church building and getting converted in homes or as they work alongside one another to love our neighbor like Jesus. Bring on 2010.