What happens when you have to leave a church you really love? What do you do when there just isn't another church that's the same? Below is a letter from Linda, who wrote us about what happened after she left Mars Hill to move back to her hometown in western Pennsylvania and was met directly with a lot of old school religious attitudes–and one tragedy. Dear Mars Hill Church, About two years ago, I felt God calling me back to my hometown in western Pennsylvania. At the time, I was attending Mars Hill, living with three wonderful roommates, and hosting a Community Group. It nearly broke my heart to leave because my Community Group and roommates had become my family, but I obeyed and moved. At first, I planned to find a church like Mars Hill, but I quickly discovered that there weren’t any. At least, there were none within 50 miles of where I lived, and most churches closer to me seemed stagnant. Soon, I realized my only option, and the direction God wanted me to go, was back to the church I attended as a child.

"Most troubling was a deep fear I sensed in other people at church."

The first six months were especially difficult, as the church and the surrounding area are very religious. I vaguely remembered it being that way while I was growing up, but to experience it again after living in Seattle was shocking. Most troubling was a deep fear I sensed in other people at church. Because they had been raised to believe that how you act is what makes you acceptable to God, they were scared of letting their hearts show too much. Every time I tried to pursue relationship that went deeper than surface level, it was like running into a brick wall. Frustrated, I ended up talking to the pastor, Todd. I had known him since I was 19 and a new Christian, and he’d kept track of me during the 11 years I was away. He knew I’d attended a large church in Seattle, and we ended up talking about Mars Hill. I told him all about Community Groups, how much I’d grown in them, and how much God had healed me through those relationships. I told him that while this church had some good ministries, there was no place for people to build deeper relationships with each other, and they needed that. I needed that! From this conversation, I ended up working with him to build a structure for small groups at the church. Within about six months, the church had its first two small groups (we call them Life Groups), basically modeled after Mars Hill’s, but with a few alterations to adapt them to our church and local area. The church has been cautious about the Life Groups, but today we have about 30 people who regularly attend. The relationships that have developed and the healing I’ve seen and heard about are tremendous, but the true value of the groups has become apparent recently because of something very tragic. Last week, Pastor Todd, who was only 45 years old, passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He was standing in his kitchen, ready to leave for work, when he collapsed. Death was instantaneous, and there were no warning signs.

"They are starting to know Jesus in a deeper way because of the relationships formed."

It is during this time that the Life Groups have become a great blessing to the church. Group members have been praying for and caring for each other, helping behind the scenes, and also reaching out to the rest of the church in love. One group met the day of the viewing, and that time became an opening to share memories of Pastor Todd, to grieve together, and to rejoice as well. This past week, I have heard so many people express how grateful they are for the small groups, and how they are starting to know Jesus in a deeper way because of the relationships formed. One of the hosts said that at first he and his wife agreed to host because they thought the Life Group needed their home. Now he realizes how much he and his wife need community, especially during a time like this. So I wanted to thank you, Mars Hill, for not only teaching me about community, but for showing me how to live out that teaching. I want you to know that what you have taught me is now doing tremendous good in a small church in western Pennsylvania. We are learning to go deeper with Jesus and each other. We will work together through the grief of losing a good pastor and man of God. I am so grateful for your teaching. Thank you isn’t really enough, but … thank you. Linda