There’s a lot going on at Mars Hill, and I invite you to pray for a few specific things this week.
Real Estate
Pray for wisdom, discernment, and new project managers to be called. We’ve recently relocated the Orange County church, and we’re working to get services going in new buildings in Everett, downtown Seattle, and Tacoma. We are also searching for a more permanent home in Orange County, as well as a location for a new Mars Hill church in the Bothell/Kirkland (WA) area.
Women’s Ministry
Please pray for Deacon Hilary Tompkins who leads this ministry, and that women will continue to persevere and seek Jesus through their first-ever church-wide study, learning through the book of Esther. Please pray for those who will attend Women’s Ministry in the new year and use the women’s study guide for the Ephesians series. A ton of work has gone into this large devotional guide for women that will be published early next year, and a team of godly women leaders in our church poured themselves into this first-of-its-kind project. Pray for the Women’s Training Seminar with Elyse Fitzpatrick and all the women who will attend on this Saturday, October 27, at Mars Hill Downtown Bellevue. It looks like the event may sell out all 1,000+ seats as lots of women are rising up in leadership and seeking theological training.
Finance
Pray for giving. Our spending is down and under budget, which is good. But we are growing fast and our giving is not keeping pace, so we’re asking Jesus to help our people be generous so we can end the year strong. The good news is we just joined the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and got an A+ on our annual audit conducted by an external CPA firm.
West Seattle
Please pray for our first gathering of six local West Seattle churches on the evening of November 18 at Mars Hill West Seattle. Our congregation is leading worship and prayer with each of these churches as they give thanks for God’s grace and pray for West Seattle. Also, please pray God raises up and releases evangelistic/gathering pacesetters.
U-District
Pray for Community Group leaders, as there are 43 groups and many leaders have been serving for a long time faithfully. We’d also like additional leaders to replicate. There are lots of new people to love and connect.
Downtown Bellevue
Pray for encouragement for the team. We’re seeing incredible fruit as Bellevue continues to grow, however it is personally heavy for many as Angie, wife of Lead Pastor Thomas Hurst, is battling cancer right now as a mom with young sons. I really love this family as the Hursts became Christians at Mars Hill, are dear friends to Grace and me, and are dearly loved across the church. When I felt called to stop preaching live in Ballard and start preaching live in Bellevue, I did not know in God’s providence it would be just in time to help Pastor Thomas and the team there, and I thank God for the opportunity to help my brother/friend and his dear family in a tough season.
Sammamish
Fellow Executive Elder Pastor Dave Bruskas and I will be helping Lead Pastor Alex Ghioni kick off our first Men’s Training Day at Mars Hill Sammamish on Saturday, October 27. Pray for lost men to get saved, for growing men to continue, for stuck men to get moving, and for leaders to be encouraged. Tomorrow, our men at the church will be praying and fasting for God’s work this Saturday.
Shoreline
Please pray for the original Mars Hill video church and Lead Pastor Steve Tompkins. The church is growing fast and making some staff changes to keep up with the new opportunities God keeps giving. I have been having a blast helping out each week at Shoreline teaching students on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. Some amazing families are at this church, and even though it planted Mars Hill Everett about a year ago and sent out hundreds of people, it’s setting attendance records as so many new people have showed up.
Olympia
Pray for Olympia's baptism event on November 18, that we would see 10 people be baptized. Pray for soldiers going to the front lines and those coming home. We have 4–5 men returning home in the next two weeks and another 4–5 leaving this month. Please also pray for their wives and children.
Ballard
Ballard's new evening service times (4 and 7 p.m.) launch on November 4 (which is also daylight savings weekend). Pray that our church body adjusts well to the change and that the new service times allow for more people to come to Ballard and make it their home.
Pastor Mark
You can also pray for me. It’s a wonderfully busy season. I’m absolutely loving teaching Esther—it’s a glorious challenge. Yesterday, I taught at the City Church for a Catalyst event with my friend Pastor Judah Smith, who has become a real brother. With final edits done for the Who Do You Think You Are? book based on Ephesians and due out in January, I’m writing the next book and researching two more. Prayer is appreciated.
