Fremont & Wallingford

We hear it at Mars Hill Church every week: “get plugged in,” “find a community group,” “God calls us to fellowship.” This summer, the community groups in the Fremont and Wallingford area decided to bring the community group to Seattle by hosting weekly barbecues at Gas Works Park. The goal was not only to encourage people to find a group in their area, but to show people who happened to stop by what Mars Hill was about, and why we loved Jesus. One woman learned that we are more than just “a church where all those young kids with tattoos go.”

Each week everyone brought their own main dish. Community groups provided side dishes, dessert, drinks and utensils for all attendees. After an hour of eating and visiting, one of the group leaders welcomed everyone and gave a brief introduction to the chapter of Ephesians we were to discuss that evening. We divided into smaller groups, led by a community group leader or apprentice.

The discussion and prayer groups were a memorable experience. God showed me his grace during these times by creating an atmosphere where people felt comfortable sharing their thoughts on the chapter and personal prayer requests. Week after week, strangers prayed for each other for everything from finding a job to the inner peace of a loved one who was facing the death penalty. Gas Works was fellowship at its best, where people stepped out of their comfort zones for the purpose of getting to know each other and glorifying Jesus.

These weekly gatherings are just one example of Mars Hill’s mission of “living for Jesus as a city within the city — knowing culture, loving people and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus.” The reality is that we cannot walk alone. We need one another for accountability, encouragement and to challenge each other. The barbecues are definitely an event worth organizing year after year.

~Alison