As a dad to two young children, I’ve gotten into a routine of reminding my girls the same thing over and over again:
- “Remember to say thank you.”
- “Remember to wash your hands.”
- “Remember to brush your teeth.”
- “Remember to pray to Jesus.”
We could go on and on. My children always need reminders as they quickly forget. The truth is, so do I. Throughout Scripture, every biblical author gives repeated exhortations to “remember” what God has done and is doing and to not forget who he is and what he has said. We are professionals at quickly forgetting how God has proved faithful in the past and how his love endures forever.
At Mars Hill Downtown Seattle, we are in an exciting season of replanting our church into the heart of Seattle. God has opened up the doors for us to gather in one of the most historic, grand buildings in our city. As we prepare to move out of the Belltown neighborhoodand into the business district, it is important for us not to forget what God has done.
Moses said it this way in Deuteronomy 4:9 (NLT):
Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.
My wife, Brittany, and I began meeting with a core group of downtowners in the spring of 2007, and here are just a few of the miracles we’ve seen since then.
Marriages
We’ve seen dozens and dozens of singles meet, get engaged, and get married in a Christ-honoring way. We’ve seen dozens of marriages that were headed for estrangement, separation, and divorce instead be redeemed and healed!
Salvations
We’ve seen hundreds of hundreds of people meet Jesus at the Downtown Seattle church. It’s impossible to know the exact number, as there are many we won’t know about until we see them in heaven, but with over 450 people baptized since we launched services in March 2008, we know many lives, legacies, and eternities have been changed forever!
Service to the city
We’ve seen an incredible amount of positive contributions to our city from our members, which has led to not only many neighborhood folks coming to our church but meeting Jesus! This service also left an indelible witness of Jesus in our city, as the positive impact on Belltown has been noted by many city leaders whereby it was communicated that Belltown will greatly “miss” our church in the area.
Community
We’ve seen the miracle of genuine Christian community develop in the heart of our city. Each week in condos, apartments, and homes in Seattle, lives are being shared, needs are being met, neighborhoods are being served, and people are meeting Jesus! Next time you are walking past a condo or apartment in downtown Seattle, there’s a good chance a community of Christians are connecting.
Families
We’ve seen dozens and dozens of babies born in the city! In addition to families moving in or staying in the city, the growth has influenced our city to provide a better infrastructure for our families. We’ve witnessed children giving their hearts to Jesus and many getting baptized! What a miracle!
I could go on and on. So I’ll stop there for now. What have you seen God do in your life? How have you seen him be faithful? As we truck towards our new home, let’s continue to celebrate all that God has done!
