God is hearing our prayers
Almost seven years ago now, during U2’s Vertigo tour, I watched Bono close out their Seattle show with the song “Yahweh.” The words rang out like a prayer to our city, “Take this city / A city that should be shining on a hill / Take this city / If it be your will.” I listened in awe as Key Arena was filled with the voices of fifteen thousand people singing this prayer loudly, not knowing at all what they were saying. It was incredibly moving to me, because that is Jesus’ heart: to see fifteen thousand people sincerely worshiping God in the heart of the city. Moreover, God had placed the city of Seattle on my heart. Two weeks after the concert, my wife and I got a place Downtown and began to pray that one day there would be a large gathering of Christians in the heart of Seattle, truly singing this prayer!
That prayer, that thousands would gather in the heart of the city of Seattle to worship Jesus, is a prayer that we have continued to pray as a church. Over the last couple years, Mars Hill Downtown Seattle has become, by God’s grace, the largest church in downtown Seattle in several decades. On August 5, we announced a huge answer to prayer as God provided a new facility after a two-year search that will hold thousands. We prayed for 40 days that God would provide the financial resources to move in by the start of the year. God responded by moving in the hearts of his people who gave generously!
I’m excited to announce that we will move in and officially launch services January 13, 2013! We prayed that more people would hear the gospel, meet Jesus, and be baptized. Every week I am hearing a new story of someone meeting Jesus and becoming a Christian! A few weeks ago we saw seven men from Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission baptized during one service. God is moving in incredible ways.
Jesus is building his church
Jesus is building his church, and I believe this is just the beginning. God has given us an incredible opportunity to love, serve, and influence our neighborhoods and communities for Jesus. Mars Hill Downtown Seattle exists to love, serve, and reach our city for Jesus. We believe strongly that God calls churches to be on mission in the heart of the city. This past week, the Wall Street Journal published an article highlighting our upcoming move as an example of churches moving to the city and seeking to see the city changed, from the wealthy businessman to the drug addict.
It’s clear as we look back we can’t help but praise God for his abundant grace! God has given us more influence. He has given us more opportunities. He has brought us to the heart of our great city, given us the incredible gift of the gospel, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to love, serve, and reach our city for Jesus.
Let’s respond to the faithfulness of God by joining him on the mission he has called us on. Here are four ways that you can pray:
- Pray for our city, our leaders, your neighbors, and those in your spheres of influence.
- Pray about what God is calling you to. Where is he calling you to serve? Where is he calling you to lead?
- Pray for those whom God will bring through the doors of our new building.
- Pray that fifteen thousand people would one day raise their voices to worship Jesus with us in the center of Seattle.
