Over the course of the next year, we plan to launch at least three new Mars Hill locations. With many more in the works, there’s a good chance a lot of you will be called at some point to join one of these core groups and help plant a Mars Hill Church. Where we decide to go next as a church is based in part on what’s available, what’s strategic, and what’s possible, but most of all what the Holy Spirit is doing. His direction doesn’t always make sense at first (Ballard? Albuquerque?), but all our work proceeds from him and follows the same general life cycle:

God…

We follow him to new cities and neighborhoods for the sake of Jesus’ name, not Mars Hill.

God calls a leader…

Every Mars Hill location needs a leader to organize, build, and shepherd. Pastor Tim Smith and Pastor Nick Bogardus are leaving Seattle to bring the gospel to Portland and Orange County, respectively. The Everett campus will begin as an extension of Shoreline, led by Pastor Steve Tompkins.

God calls a leader to start a church…

The Bible tells us that the church is the body of Jesus (Col. 1:24). It is the means through which we are to care for one another, share the gospel, and fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19).

God calls a leader to start a church where more people meet Jesus…

Preaching the gospel exposes sin and presents God’s grace as the solution (Mark 1:15). More churches mean more opportunities for more people to hear the gospel and be saved.

God calls a leader to start a church where more people meet Jesus and participate in the mission of God.

More churches also provide more opportunities for more people to grow as disciples of Jesus, evangelizing, serving, repenting, giving, and enjoying new life in Jesus.

Repeat.

Our mission is to make disciples and plant churches until Jesus returns.

We’re All Sent

Is God sending you to a new city? Pray about it. Ask him. Examine your motives. Maybe he will send you to a different place or maybe he would have you serve faithfully where you’re at for years to come. Either way, we’re all sent to be on mission, and all of us have a role to play right now:

• All of us can pray for more people to meet Jesus.
• All of us can tell more people about Jesus.
• All of us can participate as a member of Jesus’ church.
• All of us can give so that we can reach and shepherd more people for Jesus.

More info is available online for anyone interested in being a part of Mars Hill Church in Everett, Portland, or Orange County. As we head into our next season and continue on mission, we have one more week to reach our target for our budget year. You can give online, in person on Sunday, or via mail (postage paid envelopes available). You can connect with Pastor Jamie on Facebook and Twitter.