*Update, 10/5: The Mars Hill U-District campus launch is officially the biggest we've ever had. This past Sunday, the campus saw 800 people come to two services, 14 more baptisms, and one more dance party. Stay tuned and keep praying this fall as we try to keep up with how much God is growing that campus and working in people's lives in University of Washington community. What an amazing day on Sunday! We officially planted Mars Hill U-District as a church for the neighborhood and the University of Washington. After weeks and weeks of hard work to get the building ready for services, and years of tilling the soil in the U-District, God blew us away with 750 people, including 30 kids, coming out to worship Jesus and 16 people being baptized proclaiming Jesus died and rose for them! If you can believe this, after the 6 pm service, there was even a huge spontaneous dance party in the basement, at Mars Hill Church, a dance party! Here are some of the highlights and stories from around the campus:

"I felt really privileged that I was able to baptize my wife. The idea of being in the tank and asking the questions was really daunting, but when Steve Sakanashi suggested that I actually baptize her I was excited! It was kind of a revelation—I get to baptize my wife, how cool is that?! I was really happy to get to do it. It was like practicing for when I get to present Corrin before Christ." –Mike B.

"Although I had been baptized as an infant, I’ve been feeling the Holy Spirit move me towards being publicly baptized as a believer for a while. When I heard that Mars Hill U-District was holding baptisms, I signed up a few days before the service. When I told my mom who lives in Colorado I was getting baptized, she wished me well and said she was sorry she couldn’t be there. But when Sunday morning came around, I saw my mom walk in the front door of the church – she flew in 1,000 miles to see me get baptized. Neither my wife or I had any idea she was coming. Being baptized in front of my family, both by birth, marriage, and Jesus was one of the happiest days of my life." –John D.

"A Jewish high school student, with a very rough family, professed Jesus as Lord and Savior, and God as Father! He experienced a complete transformation last night. He had told me the previous week that he ‘likes to sit in the back row and not talk to anyone.’ After being baptized he was dancing the Cha Cha slide, and smiling from cheek to cheek!" –John W.

"Tonight was beyond amazing. Such a party for Jesus. To my Mars Hill U-District family … I love you all." –Emma L.

"God is doing some crazy things in the U-District. New building, 10 am service was out of seats!" –Mark P.

"Tonight I baptized people for the first time. I got to be in the tank with Steve, and watch as person after person publicly declared that Jesus is their Lord and Savior. It was amazing. With 11 baptisms in the evening service, nine of those were spontaneous: people who walked in the doors of the church with no idea that they’d be fully immersed in water, repenting of an unfulfilling lifestyle, and acknowledging Jesus as the only way to salvation. " –Deacon Alex B.

Legacy Project

We also had an amazing kickoff to the Legacy Project with 100 parents and alumni coming out for a luncheon to hear about how to partner with us in order to reach the neighborhood and the University. Be praying that many would join in monthly support of Mars Hill U-District. The church body really pulled together to start this campus. Without the gifts, talents, dollars, and hundreds of hours of serving, there is no way we would be able to have services this soon, reaching hundreds of people in the area. Thank you. We couldn’t have asked for a stronger start to what will be, by God’s grace, a Gospel-proclaiming, Jesus-centered church for generations to come! Classes start at the University of Washington today and we anticipate even more students joining us on Sundays this fall. At the same time, families and professionals are putting down roots at our campus and joining the mission, which we couldn’t be more excited about! We cannot wait to see what Jesus is going to do next!

Events this week:

• MHUD Campus Booth at UW Dawg Daze: 10:30 am - 2:30 pm Wednesday and Thursday @ Red Square
• Sunday Services: Sunday, 10 am and 6 pm (Dance Party, Round 2 after the 6)

This fall for your calendar:

• Friday, Oct. 8: Theology of the body: Why God cares about body image, exercise, and sex. A lecture with Dr. Greg Allison
• Oct. 29 - Nov. 1: College Advance (for a glimpse at what a previous advance looked like)

Pastor Matt is the U-District campus pastor. The U-District campus met for a year in University of Washington buildings before officially becoming Mars Hill's ninth and newest campus this weekend. Volunteer Elliot Suhr contributed the photos.