Mars Hill Church just turned thirteen years old. Thirteen years ago, I made the decision to take my very pregnant wife to Mars Hill, a brand new church plant a buddy of mine told me about. At the time, Jen and I were 3 years into a marriage that was flat and stale, the exact condition of my heart and attitude toward Jesus. I was a moral and self-righteous man but had no idea what repentance and worship was all about.

A month after God gave birth to Mars Hill, my wife gave birth to our firstborn son who was also the firstborn child of the church. We didn’t fit the profile of the rest of the crowd; we didn’t have tattoos or piercings and we had no idea what Indie Rock or Generation X meant. With no other married couples or families, no one older than us, no one else who looked “normal”, it made very little practical sense for us to make this fledgling church our new home. But for one of the first times in my life, I knew God was asking me to do something: make this church my family’s home, settle in and grow roots. And that’s what we did.

How can I truly measure God’s grace and goodness? How can I adequately describe how the Gospel transforms? Thirteen years ago, I was spiritually an infant. Today, I am a pastor. Thirteen years ago, my wife didn’t even like me. Today, I have never enjoyed my wife and marriage more. Thirteen years ago, I was a religious man. Today, I have repented of my piety. Thirteen years ago, people annoyed and bothered me. Today, with love and interest, I teach and counsel people. Thirteen years ago, I had a newborn son. Today, he will soon be a teenager and the eldest sibling to his younger brother and sister. Thirteen years ago there was no nursery for our baby. Today, a thousand children show up on a typical Sunday.

Happy Birthday to us and may God’s grace continue to abound as my son and my church enter into their teenage years.

Starting this month, the Mars Hill Ballard team of writers plans to start a series, in which men from all stages of life and in various places in their walk with God will post their stories, struggles, and suggestions.

But to better serve the men at the Ballard campus, we want to know what specific questions you have about such broad subjects as singleness, marriage, finances, career, parenthood, or other topics of interest.

So tell us what’s going on in your life and what questions you have about being a man who’s walking with Jesus. Simply email your question or story suggestion to cliffe@marshillchurch.org.

It’s All About Jesus: Glory | 9:00am, 11:15am, 5pm, 7:15pm

Luke Series September 13th On September 13th at the Ballard campus, Pastor Mark will be kicking off the new sermon series Luke’s Gospel: Investigating the Man Who is God. We will be spending a few years in the gospel of Luke, and much of the series will include video taken in Israel in the locations where Jesus ministered.

Mars Hill’s iPhone/iPod Touch Application With this application you’ll always be only a tap away from the Mars Hill Church media library and blog. You can view sermons by series and featured topics easily accessible in audio and iPhone optimized video formats, and listen to music from Mars Hill bands. Then share sermons you watch with friends via email too.  This application is free to download on iTunes.

Campus Cleanup Thursdays | 6:30pm Every Thursday at 6:30pm, Campus Cleanup prepares the Ballard campus for Sunday services. Join us for a time of studying Scripture, prayer, snacks, and cleaning & maintenance. Anyone who desires to worship Jesus, serve the church, and build community is welcome to attend. For more info, email cc@marshillchurch.org.

Preparing for Marriage Class September 20th-November 8th | 1:30-3:30pm Colossians 1 speaks of how Jesus created all things through Him and for Him, and how He alone holds all things together. By God’s grace, this even includes marriage. If you are planning on getting married in the next 6-9 months, please join Pastor Phil and his wife Jen as they walk through an 8 week long class preparing you for marriage, emphasizing how the Gospel of Jesus Christ applies to every facet of marriage. To apply for the class please contact erin@marshillchurch.org

Community Groups We were created to worship Jesus in community in the Image of our Creator, who Himself exists in community. At Mars Hill, community groups are the place where discipleship and care take place. It is also within community that we engage culture and incarnate Jesus in the nooks and crannies of our city. It is our desire to see every member of Mars Hill loved, cared for, and challenged within a thriving community. For more info, or for help in finding a community in your area, go to The City (”Find a Community”) or e-mail ballardcommunity@marshillchurch.org.

Serving Needs 9:00am service: Greeters, Facilities, Security, Ushers, Bookstore 11:15am service: Bookstore, Security, Greeters, Children’s Ministry 5:00pm service: Bookstore, Facilities, Greeters, Ushers, Security, Communion 7:15pm service: Hospitality, Ushers, Security, Facilities, Communion If you have any interest in serving in one of these areas, please email servingballard@marshillchurch.org. You can also visit the Find a Service Team page on The City or the Service Teams page on the Ballard website.

Mars Hill Church Ballard lives for Jesus as a city within the city of Seattle: knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus. For more information, visit us HERE. For information on community groups go HERE. For info on membership at MH, click HERE. For general questions, you can email us at ballard@marshillchurch.org.

Campus Cleanup Thursdays at 6:30pm Every Thursday at 6:30pm, Campus Cleanup prepares the Ballard campus for Sunday services. Join us for a time of studying Scripture, prayer, snacks, and cleaning & maintenance. Anyone who desires to worship Jesus, serve the church, and build community is welcome to attend. For more info, email cc@marshillchurch.org.

Beach Baptism and BBQ Wednesday, July 15th | 5:00pm Join us on Wednesday, July 15th at Golden Gardens Park in Ballard for some fun in the sun, BBQ, testimonies, and baptisms. We’ll provide hot grills, BBQ tools, and condiments. For those who are interested in being baptized, CLICK HERE and register today or email ballardbaptisms@marshillchurch.org for more information.

Re:Sound Rain City Hymnal Released Visit resound.org to learn more about the recent launch of Re:Sound, Resurgence Music. Re:Sound will be a consistent stream of music that’s theologically unified, stylistically diverse, and musically excellent. Visit now to sample Rain City Hymnal, the first official release, and find out more about upcoming releases.

Serving Needs 9:00am service: Greeters, Facilities, Security, Ushers, Bookstore 11:15am service: Bookstore, Security, Greeters, Children’s Ministry 5:00pm service: Facilities, Greeters, Ushers, Security, Communion 7:15pm service: Hospitality, Ushers, Security, Facilities, Communion If you have any interest in serving in one of these areas, please email servingballard@marshillchurch.org. You can also visit the Find a Service Team page on The City or the Service Teams page on the Ballard website.

Mars Hill Church Ballard lives for Jesus as a city within the city of Seattle: knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus. For more information, visit us HERE. For information on community groups go HERE. For info on membership at MH, click HERE. For general questions, you can email us at ballard@marshillchurch.org.

Wednesday Connect Night Wednesdays at 7pm through June 17th Whether you’re new to Mars Hill or just haven’t gotten connected, Connect Groups are a great way to build community at the Ballard campus. This is the last week we’re meeting before the summer, but you can still join one of the Connect Groups that are launching as Community Groups. If you’re interested in joining one, just show up and we’ll get you connected.

Proxy (Youth Ministry) Wednesdays at 7pm through June 17th Proxy is the youth ministry at Mars Hill Church, which exists to build and strengthen gospel community among young adults and to reinforce the gospel teaching in the home. Join us as we play games, worship Jesus, study the Scriptures, and participate in small group discussions. This week, Pastor Bubba is finishing a study through the book of James.

Father’s Day | Baby Dedications Sunday, June 21st The act of baby dedications is a church tradition, not a biblical mandate. At MHC we keep the church tradition of baby dedications as a way to allow parents an opportunity to publicly covenant with God, their children and their church that they are dedicated as parents to follow Jesus, model the Christian life and shepherd their children to know and love Jesus. The next opportunity for baby dedications at the Ballard campus is this Father’s Day, June 21st. To register, CLICK HERE and complete the registration form.

Beach Baptism and BBQ Wednesday, July 15th | 5:00pm Join us on Wednesday, July 15th at Golden Gardens Park in Ballard for some fun in the sun, BBQ, testimonies, and baptisms. We’ll provide hot grills, BBQ tools, and condiments. For those who are interested in being baptized, CLICK HERE and register today or email ballardbaptisms@marshillchurch.org for more information.

Serving Needs 9:00am service: Greeters, Facilities, Security, Ushers, Bookstore 11:15am service: Bookstore, Security, Greeters, Children’s Ministry 5:00pm service: Facilities, Greeters, Ushers, Security, Communion 7:15pm service: Hospitality, Ushers, Security, Facilities, Communion If you have any interest in serving in one of these areas, please email servingballard@marshillchurch.org. You can also visit the Find a Service Team page on The City or the Service Teams page on the Ballard website.

Mars Hill Church Ballard lives for Jesus as a city within the city of Seattle: knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus. For more information, visit us HERE. For information on community groups go HERE. For info on membership at MH, click HERE. For general questions, you can email us at ballard@marshillchurch.org.

When did Jesus change your life?

Early in my life, Jesus was just a sort of legend, a good man, maybe God even, but I didn’t care. I gave my life to him as the real living God of my life when I was 17. God began to draw me mainly through my now wife, Amy. She went to church, so I went to church; she was interested in God, so I became interested and open to God because I was into her.

But then “all hell broke loose” in my family and I didn’t have the luxury of a “hypothetical God.” My dad became a Christian and was asking me to consider the truths of the Gospel. After processing things for a while, I still did not want to submit to the truth of the Gospel–that I was really jacked up and God’s plan for my life was different (and better) than mine. But after hearing the Gospel preached again, specifically about the cost of forgiveness of sin through the crucifixion of Jesus, I was destroyed by the weight of my sin, and given a new heart that believed he died for my sin, and was my Lord. But I didn’t understand how it exactly happened.

How has your life changed since meeting Jesus?

The biggest change in my life was conviction from the Holy Spirit. Some things changed instantly, but most things changed slowly as God led me to true repentance and transformation. To my shame, I was a really terrible boyfriend to Amy and led her into sexual sin before I was a Christian, and we struggled with finding comfort and identity in each other for a good bit after I was born again. This was the big deal when I was saved, and our relationship was one of the biggest idols in my life at that point. Praise Jesus He didn’t leave us there and continues to change us.

If Jesus hadn’t grabbed me by the neck, I really can’t imagine what I’d be doing right now. I think I’d be a workaholic in one miserable relationship after another and banking on the things of the world for happiness.

How long have you been a member of MHC?

Two years.

When were you called to serve Jesus at MHC?

God called Amy and me in October of 2006 to move to Seattle from Florida so I could do an internship with Acts 29. The way God called me into “full-time ministry” was through Matthew 6:19  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

What ministry are you currently serving in?

Currently I lead the College Mission out of the Ballard campus.

What is your biggest challenge in this ministry?

Sin…Idolatry. Sounds obvious but students have been told to fix themselves, and believe in themselves, and that’s pride. Jesus is their hope and savior, not their giftedness, girlfriend, their roommates, or their major.

The best part about ministry is that you can’t lead where you’re not willing to go. And God doesn’t let me speak to anyone about sin and repentance without showing me how jacked up I am, and how much I need the same Gospel I am preaching to students.  I mentioned that college students are prideful; well so am I, so Jesus is transforming me in this as I minster, not before.

What is your greatest joy while serving in this ministry?

Seeing students “get” the Gospel and worship Jesus. He gives joy and freedom–things most college students don’t really have.

What are you looking forward to seeing God do in this ministry?

I’m looking forward to when the students involved now are equipped and seeing their friends meet Jesus, and those friends lead other people to Jesus. That’s what I’m in this for.

What do you and your wife do for fun?

Amy and I love going out to eat, and walking around the parks in Seattle; Florida’s parks weren’t so great. But, contrary to what the world tells me, I don’t have much time for hobbies, which is why I’m glad I love what I do. I tell people that I feel like I’m on permanent recess working at Mars Hill. We work super hard, but I love it.

What’s playing in your iPod right now?

I’m pretty easy to please, music-wise. I usually just start up Pandora and let it run. But Lecrae’s most recent album is pretty sick.

SUN 6/14

Trial: 8 Witnesses from 1 & 2 Peter | 9:00am, 11:15am, 5pm, 7:15pm

Wednesday Connect Night Wednesdays at 7pm through June 17th Whether you’re new to Mars Hill or just haven’t gotten connected, Connect Groups are a great way to build community at the Ballard campus. Each week, you can simply show up and learn what it means to be in community, while working through a study of Proverbs (taught by Pastor Mark and Pastor Bubba). Our hope is that at the end of the quarter, these groups will launch into the Ballard neighborhood as Community Groups to be on mission for Jesus.

Redemption Night Wednesdays at 7pm through June 17th For those facing difficult and seldom-discussed struggles, like abuse, addiction, and trials of all sorts, Redemption Groups offer a time for growing in knowledge of how God changes our lives by the gospel. The main teaching session is available to everyone, but to participate in one of the specific breakout groups, you need to email redemption@marshillchurch.org to register.

Proxy (Youth Ministry) Wednesdays at 7pm through June 17th Proxy is the youth ministry at Mars Hill Church, which exists to build and strengthen gospel community among young adults and to reinforce the gospel teaching in the home. Each week, students will play games, worship Jesus, study the Scriptures, and participate in small group discussions. This quarter, Pastor Bubba is leading Proxy students through the book of James.

Father’s Day | Baby Dedications Sunday, June 21st The act of baby dedications is a church tradition, not a biblical mandate. At MHC we keep the church tradition of baby dedications as a way to allow parents an opportunity to publicly covenant with God, their children and their church that they are dedicated as parents to follow Jesus, model the Christian life and shepherd their children to know and love Jesus. The next opportunity for baby dedications at the Ballard campus is this Father’s Day, June 21st. To register, CLICK HERE and complete the registration form.

Beach Baptism and BBQ Wednesday, July 15th | 5:00pm Join us on Wednesday, July 15th at Golden Gardens Park in Ballard for some fun in the sun, BBQ, testimonies, and baptisms. We’ll provide hot grills, BBQ tools, and condiments. For those who are interested in being baptized, CLICK HERE and register today or email ballardbaptisms@marshillchurch.org for more information.

Serving Needs 9:00am service: Greeters, Facilities, Security, Ushers, Bookstore 11:15am service: Bookstore, Security, Greeters, Children’s Ministry 5:00pm service: Facilities, Greeters, Ushers, Security, Communion 7:15pm service: Hospitality, Ushers, Security, Facilities, Communion If you have any interest in serving in one of these areas, please email servingballard@marshillchurch.org. You can also visit the Find a Service Team page on The City or the Service Teams page on the Ballard website.

Mars Hill Church Ballard lives for Jesus as a city within the city of Seattle: knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus. For more information, visit us HERE. For information on community groups go HERE. For info on membership at MH, click HERE. For general questions, you can email us at ballard@marshillchurch.org.

In January of this year, my husband and I decided to be a part of a Redemption Group. Had you asked us at the time, we would have told you it was because of my struggles with obesity and he was coming to support me. I thought my problem was simple enough–issues with idolizing comfort and escape. Teach me how to stop, give me some good verses to memorize. Done. Fixed. Move on.

That wasn’t quite how it went. The leaders loved me too much to settle for pat answers. They weren’t there to teach me how to “fix” myself. One particular evening I thought, quite triumphantly, that God had done a huge work in me and I shared how. After a few intentional questions, it became painfully clear that I kept my heart closed off to God the Father because I viewed Him as the marionette behind my pain. People who abused me time and time again were just puppets in His hands and I saw God as capricious, distant, and as the Ultimate Abuser.

But God melted my heart of stone with his love and simultaneously burst through all of my carefully wrought defenses. God, who loves me with such passion that He murdered His Son to restore me to Himself, allowed me to see Him for who He really is–a God abounding in steadfast love–in stark contrast to who I had sinfully decided He must be. God called me to surrender everything I thought I knew about being a Christian and to cleave to Him.

This all sounds so simple, and had you asked me questions regarding such things, I would have gotten every answer right. Yet to know with one’s head and to live with a changed heart are not the same thing.

All these years as a Christian, I have, unknowingly, treated Jesus like a mere teacher and the Bible like an algebra book. I viewed mature Christians, those whom I look up to, as the “smart kids” getting an A in Christianity class and I was struggling by with C’s and an occasional B. I couldn’t figure out how to get there, and I kept trying to elicit some elaborate equation from the Bible, one into which I could apply my problems, get a solution, and get fixed. Worst of all, I treated other Christians merely as classmates who were supposed to help me learn the material.

But the Bible is not an algebra book, mature Christians are not those scoring the highest on tests, peers aren’t here to fix me, and Jesus certainly isn’t a mere teacher. The Bible is God’s story of redemption through Jesus, mature Christians are those surrendered to God in worship, peers allow me to live out redemptive life in community for God’s glory and for others to know Him, and Jesus is my redeemer who requires all of me surrendered to Him in worship of the Holy Trinity–Father, Son, and Spirit.

I praise God for my Redemption Group, for loving me enough to help squash my idols and strip me of my false identity. For the first time in my life, I can truly say I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, that the living God is my refuge (Psalm 34:8). These verses from Psalm 63:3 quicken my heart in a way I never knew before:

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.

Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.

So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

SUN 6/7

Trial: 8 Witnesses from 1 & 2 Peter | 9:00am, 11:15am, 5pm, 7:15pm

Wednesday Connect Night Wednesdays at 7pm through June 17th Whether you’re new to Mars Hill or just haven’t gotten connected, Connect Groups are a great way to build community at the Ballard campus. Each week, you can simply show up and learn what it means to be in community, while working through a study of Proverbs (taught by Pastor Mark and Pastor Bubba). Our hope is that at the end of the quarter, these groups will launch into the Ballard neighborhood as Community Groups to be on mission for Jesus.

Redemption Night Wednesdays at 7pm through June 17th For those facing difficult and seldom-discussed struggles, like abuse, addiction, and trials of all sorts, Redemption Groups offer a time for growing in knowledge of how God changes our lives by the gospel. The main teaching session is available to everyone, but to participate in one of the specific breakout groups, you need to email redemption@marshillchurch.org to register.

Proxy (Youth Ministry) Wednesdays at 7pm through June 17th Proxy is the youth ministry at Mars Hill Church, which exists to build and strengthen gospel community among young adults and to reinforce the gospel teaching in the home. Each week, students will play games, worship Jesus, study the Scriptures, and participate in small group discussions. This quarter, Pastor Bubba is leading Proxy students through the book of James.

Father’s Day | Baby Dedications Sunday, June 21st The act of baby dedications is a church tradition, not a biblical mandate. At MHC we keep the church tradition of baby dedications as a way to allow parents an opportunity to publicly covenant with God, their children and their church that they are dedicated as parents to follow Jesus, model the Christian life and shepherd their children to know and love Jesus. The next opportunity for baby dedications at the Ballard campus is this Father’s Day, June 21st. To register, CLICK HERE and complete the registration form.

Beach Baptism and BBQ Wednesday, July 15th | 5:00pm Join us on Wednesday, July 15th at Golden Gardens Park in Ballard for some fun in the sun, BBQ, testimonies, and baptisms. We’ll provide hot grills, BBQ tools, and condiments. For those who are interested in being baptized, CLICK HERE and register today or email ballardbaptisms@marshillchurch.org for more information.

College Mission Thursdays | 8:30pm The College Mission is meeting on Thursdays at 8:30pm at the Vineyard Church on 42nd and Brooklyn in the U-District. Each week, we’re studying Colossians and responding in worship together. This is the place to connect if you’re a college student at MHC. For more information, visit college.marshillchurch.org.

Serving Needs 9:00am service: Greeters, Facilities, Security, Ushers, Bookstore 11:15am service: Bookstore, Security, Greeters, Children’s Ministry 5:00pm service: Facilities, Greeters, Ushers, Security, Communion 7:15pm service: Hospitality, Ushers, Security, Facilities, Communion If you have any interest in serving in one of these areas, please email servingballard@marshillchurch.org. You can also visit the Find a Service Team page on The City or the Service Teams page on the Ballard website.

Mars Hill Church Ballard lives for Jesus as a city within the city of Seattle: knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus. For more information, visit us HERE. For information on community groups go HERE. For info on membership at MH, click HERE. For general questions, you can email us at ballard@marshillchurch.org.

When did Jesus change your life?

I first gave my life to Jesus when I was 12 years old. I remember being in my mom’s van and talking about Jesus. I felt convicted to give my life to Him, so I had my mom pull over to the side of the road. Mainly, I didn’t want her to get in an accident if I started glowing or something. I didn’t glow in case you were wondering.

How has your life changed since meeting Jesus?

Seriously? My life is completely different. I was selfish, perverted, evil in almost every thought–totally concerned about anything and everything that would benefit me. Now after I have meeting Jesus, the only thing that has changed is I am forgiven. I am still an evil fallen person who is selfish, but Jesus has changed my desires, my focus, my thoughts. I now try to spend most of my time in prayer and truly seeking what Jesus would have for me.

How long have you been a member of MHC?

For the past 8 ½ years.

When were you called to serve Jesus at MHC?

The first time I came, there wasn’t anyone welcoming people. Some guy tossed a paper with notes at me but didn’t even offer a smile. It took about a month before I decided that I wanted to make a change and started greeting people.

What ministry are you currently serving in?

I am currently on staff as the Ballard Campus Administrator. So you might say I serve with all the ministries within the Ballard Campus. I am also currently teaching Children’s Ministry on Wednesday nights. It has been a challenge and extremely rewarding. I am having to think of ways to teach the Gospel as we are going through the book of James and tie in some hands-on activities to help make it fun. For example, I had all the kids try to race the words I said across the room to drive home the point that words come out very fast. Obviously, it didn’t go well for them although they gave it their best effort.

What is your biggest challenge in this ministry?

The biggest challenge is getting the people who just attend church to actually plug in and discover what it is to worship Jesus through our service. You know, just like how we give the first fruits of our treasure when we tithe, we need to give the first fruits of our time by serving Jesus as well.

What is your greatest joy while serving in this ministry?

I think my greatest joy serving in any ministry is watching Jesus become the focus of why we serve to begin with.

How has serving in this ministry made an impact on you?

Before I started serving, I just showed up on Sunday, listened to Pastor Mark and sat convicted of my sin. I continued to do this week after week feeling like I was missing a big part of what I had always imagined church to be–you know the whole community, family part. Well when I started serving, it changed everything. All of a sudden, I started to meet people and develop friendships. This changed how I really viewed church. I have grown closer to Jesus through serving than I have in any other thing that I have done.

What are you looking forward to seeing God do in this ministry?

I would love to see God grow this ministry to not only take care of the physical needs of the church, but also start reaching out into the community. I would love to see people working together in teams that grow in closeness and then launch out as community groups.

What books have fueled your thinking or challenged you in the last few years?

Right now I am waist deep in Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology. It has been a good read and has firmed up quite a bit of my theology.

What’s playing in your iPod right now?

I have been listening to several of the MHC bands including Sackcloth and Ashes from the Lake City Campus. I have also been listening to KEXP and some random sermons by Piper and Chandler.

What’s your favorite scripture? Why?

Lately it has been James 1:2-4. I like it because we will face trials in our lives. So when we meet those trials, the real question is what will we do with them and how will we glorify Jesus through them. I like verse 4 where is says “and let steadfastness have its full effect.” The conviction that I get is that I shouldn’t be looking for the light at the end of the tunnel but be looking for Jesus in the tunnel. Not being eager to be done, but being eager to see Jesus and be patient in the process, giving Jesus time to work on me.