It is amusingly appropriate that the chief engineer in building the Mars Hill Church Community Group framework is a structures engineer by training, and still keeps a graphing calculator at his desk at the Ballard campus. Moreover, Pastor Brad House’s lead collaborator in this effort is an architect by training, Deacon Adam Christiansen. Hence, the work of building an ambitious, logical, relentless community group program is an idea that is hardly alien to Pastor Brad and his team as they oversee over 400 community groups in the greater Seattle and Albuquerque areas that include about three out of every five Mars Hill attendees. While still working as an engineer in Bellevue, Pastor Brad first started leading a CG in 2001, became a pastor in 2005, working with CGs at every step along the way. He recently sat down with MH Blog to talk about where community groups have come from and where they’re going tomorrow. MH Blog:  What is the main purpose of a Mars Hill community group? BH: To glorify Jesus.  Most people think of CG participation in terms of what we get out of it, friendship, belonging, accountability, fellowship…and these things are great.  But they are fruit from lives lived to the glory of God.  If we make the fruit the purpose it will end in idolatry.  Jesus is the point.  Always. MHB:  Whatever induced you to make this jump in life roles, from engineer, to Pastor? BH: The simple answer is the Holy Spirit.  I had a pretty strong sense of conviction that I would be in full time ministry when I moved to Seattle in 1998.  I just didn’t expect it to take so long.  Even though things were going great at my company, I had no doubt that this was what God was calling me to and I have never looked back. MHB:  What keeps some people from joining CGs? BH: The reasons people give for choosing to not be in community are varied.  Most of us grew up on a steady diet of individualism and autonomy, so community becomes an optional part of our lives.  We take or leave community based on convenience and what we get out of it.  So when we have an experience in a CG that doesn’t meet our expectations, or our calendar gets full and it is no longer convenient, we jettison it.  … One of the purposes of community is the sanctification of the church and some people are not willing to walk in confession and repentance.  Many folks have never experienced a community of grace and they fear condemnation. MHB:  A big part of the future of the CG groups, particularly from a "loving the city" standpoint, would seem to be the MicroMissions.  Describe your vision for the MicroMissions. BH: The basic principle is that we can help more people by letting our members, through CGs, use MicroMission funds to bless people in our neighborhoods. This not only blesses the city, but also builds relationship and bridges to the gospel.  We have been blessed with much and we want to share that with our city. MHB:  How do you think things are going so far with the MicroMissions? BH: I have been excited to see CGs get involved with blessing the city and the creativity that they have displayed in doing so.  With that said, I would love to see more groups take advantage of the opportunity.  We have plenty of funds still available and our goal is to use it.  If you have any ideas, your CG leader can help you fill out an application. It’s pretty painless. MHB:  What is the one thing you’ve learned from this experience as CG leader and pastor that stands out? BH: That, as image bearers of God, we have been created for community.  Community is not something we add to our Christian walk. … It is essential. MHB:  Given the backgrounds of Adam and yourself, do you two ever find yourselves having to resist the drive when you see a new Mars Hill building project to pull out the calculators and CAD programs, and "get things built"? BH: Actually, we have a nice plan for updating the courtyard at Ballard sketched on a napkin if we ever get some funds.