This year, it will be 14 years since Grace and I started Mars Hill Church in a living room. God has blessed us and Mars Hill in continuously incredible ways. Like a child, Mars Hill has grown and matured by the Father’s love. I’m happy to say, 14 years in, Mars Hill is really coming of age. As the elders and I reflected on what God has done and is doing at Mars Hill Church, we’ve been able to newly solidify what Mars Hill Church is, our mission, our vision, and our distinctives.
Over the next 12 weeks, we will be doing a series on the blog and at the campuses that tells the story of the church in an effort to explain who we are, what we do, and why we do it. Mars Hill Church has always been, and will always continue to be, all about Jesus. Jesus is the only Savior, King, Redeemer, and Son of God. Everything we do will point to Him. Jesus has given His disciples a specific mission in Matthew 28 and throughout the New Testament.
Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus and plant churches to support that mission. By God’s grace we’ve seen God save thousands of people in our campuses and through our online ministry. We’ve also been able to plant nearly 300 Acts 29 churches around the world and nine Mars Hill Church campuses around the United States. Mars Hill Church exists to make disciples and plant churches by God’s grace for God’s glory. Central to making disciples and planting churches are what we believe and how we live out those beliefs. Our core beliefs are laid out most thoroughly in the Doctrine series I preached or in the book that resulted from it. Further, there are four distinctives of Mars Hill Church that define much of what we do and why we do it.
These four are: Reformed theology, complementarian relationships, Spirit-filled lives, and missional churches.
I will expound on these in an upcoming ebook that I’m currently writing. Lastly, we will look at each of Mars Hill Church’s core ministries and why we do ministry the way we do. My hope is that as we tell the story of Mars Hill Church and its mission, that the church will be unified; the mission clarified, trumpeted, and owned; and that Jesus would be glorified as we make disciples and plant churches. If you are new, welcome. If Mars Hill is your church, thank you for being a part of and building a church that loves Jesus and that lives to see lives transformed.
We’re thankful for all He has done and look forward to all He will do.
