Counseling in Community

As the church, Christians are to take the primary role in serving each other and their cities, helping each other grow to be more like Jesus, and caring for the hurting and injured members of the body. In a large church like ours, Community Groups are the best and primary way in which we do this.
If you are in need of biblical counseling, we encourage you to speak with your Community Group leader. Our leaders are trained and coached by our ministry staff and pastors to help. If you’re not in a Community Group, we encourage you to join one. Learn More About Community Groups

Pastoral Counseling

While the primary way in which to receive biblical counseling at Mars Hill is through Community Groups, there are certain situations where it may become necessary for a trained counselor in the church to be involved in the counseling process. If you are a member of Mars Hill Church, and feel the need to speak with a trained counselor regarding biblical counseling, please contact your local Mars Hill church. They will help determine the best course of counseling for you.
Want to volunteer? The Biblical Counseling ministry relies on faithful volunteers to serve those desiring counseling in our church. If you’re interested in volunteering as a counselor, please contact your local Mars Hill church to start the process. [campusdrop]
What to expect
Generally, pastoral counseling lasts for one to three sessions, and most of the time you will meet with a volunteer counselor who has been trained by our Biblical Counseling ministry on how to show you that the gospel is relevant to your issue and help you begin the path to healing through Jesus. All sessions are confidential, and for all counseling we involve an advocate to help you in your healing process. When you come in, discussions will be centered around identifying key issues in your life that cause the need for counseling and offering direction on how to start making progress in the right direction. Ultimately, the goal for pastoral counseling is to help you begin the healing process and to get you involved in a Community Group where the leaders and members of that group will help you continue in that process.

Pre-marriage

A healthy marriage requires a healthy foundation. At Mars Hill, we’re passionate about healthy marriages that are centered on Jesus, bring glory to God, and are a lifelong friendship that grow every year. For those who are dating and considering marriage, or who are engaged, we have a great pre-marriage program that includes counseling, classes, opportunities to get to know yourself and your potential spouse better to make sure you are a good fit, and to help in planning your wedding.
For more information on our pre-marital programs, contact your local Mars Hill church.
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Redemption Groups

The majority of biblical counseling at Mars Hill is done through Community Groups and occasionally through pastoral counseling. There are some issues and struggles with habitual sin, however, that require a more concentrated and extended interaction. For those needing this type of help, there are Redemption Groups. Redemption Groups are intense small groups that dig deep into difficult and seldom-discussed areas of life, such as abuse, addiction, and trials of all sorts. These groups are highly participatory and seek to show that the gospel is relevant to all troubles in life, even the most serious of troubles.
Far beyond a Bible study, Redemption Groups are about life study—your life connecting with Jesus’ life. Participants challenge one another, and the Word reveals hearts. It’s not uncommon to hear comments like, “I thought I would take that secret to my grave.” A Redemption Group is only the beginning—or a way station—in a lifelong journey. Groups are brief and get right to work, meeting only about ten weeks. Participants leave groups armed with new ways of seeing God and themselves, and tools for working it out over time in community.
What to expect
Redemption Groups meet for about ten weeks and are highly participatory. Because we believe the gospel applies to all of life’s struggles, Redemption Groups are made up of people dealing with a variety of issues rather than segregating those dealing with a specific issue to a single group focused on that issue. In a Redemption Group, you’ll share your story and listen to the stories of others and learn how the gospel applies to all struggles.
Before beginning a Redemption Group, you’ll identify an advocate to help you walk through the healing process. Through God’s grace and the help of your advocate and the group, you’ll begin the journey from pain and sin to hope and victory in Jesus. At the conclusion of a Redemption Group, you’ll be encouraged to join a Community Group and to continue your healing process with the help of the members and leaders of that group.
How to join a Redemption Group If you’re Mars Hill member, and are interested in learning more about Redemption Groups or joining one, please contact your local Mars Hill church.
Want to volunteer? Redemption Groups rely on faithful volunteers to serve those desiring counseling in our church. If you’re interested in volunteering to be a Redemption Group leader, please contact your local Mars Hill church to start the process.
Redemption Groups at your church A number of churches outside of Mars Hill are using the Redemption Group system to help bring healing to the hurting. If you’re interested in learning more about Redemption Groups or starting Redemption Groups at your church, please visit redemptiongroups.com.