The executive elders love doing Mission & Vision nights at Mars Hill churches. It's an opportunity for them to meet the many faithful Christians that God has blessed our church with. This month, they visited Sammamish, a great church nestled on a high plateau east of Seattle.
The fruit of stewardship
Because Sammamish stewards their resources so faithfully, the executive elders shared with them Philippians 4:17: “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.” They are one church of 14, yet they share their resources so that they can bless the brothers and sisters at the other 13 locations. They’re also a blessing to the 43 churches that are being planted in Ethiopia and India.
Pastor Mark shared how he believes people in city of Sammamish are similar to Cornelius in Acts 10. Cornelius was a good man but wasn’t a believer. He was moral, gave money to causes, and didn’t think he was a sinner. He was much like many men living in Sammamish. Pastor Mark exhorted the crowd that Mars Hill Sammamish can bring Jesus to these people by living life with them and being on mission in their city.
Changed people
After the executive elders spoke, they stuck around to meet some of the people who call Mars Hill Sammamish home.
Baraka and Jen became involved at Mars Hill Sammamish when they realized how much importance we place on Scripture and men leading their families. Community Groups have made a big impact on them. Their groups are a mix of different people at different stages that get to share life together. It’s not necessarily the people they would have picked initially, but Jesus is using the groups to change their lives.
Steve, Melanie, and their three young kids moved to Sammamish from Atlanta in June after podcasting Pastor Mark for four years. They left their extended family and comfortable job because they felt God was calling them to be at Mars Hill. In 2008 during Sunday School at a Baptist church in Atlanta, they went through a video series of Pastor Mark preaching through the Vintage Jesus series. A couple of weeks into the series, they started reading the book by the same title, and Jesus used it to change their lives. A couple of months ago, Steve had the opportunity to baptize their youngest, an eight-year-old boy, and it was truly a special time at Mars Hill. Steve and Melanie host a Community Group and are apprenticing in different ministries, and their kids are involved in student ministries.
Sundeep is a junior at UW Bothell and has been going to Sammamish for nine months. The biblical teaching has helped him grow closer to Christ. And after a short time he’s been able to get his parents and two younger sisters to come with him. Sundeep has realized how important it is to serve the church because the church has loved him and poured so much into him. He’s excited to be mentoring seventh-grade boys.
God has given Sammamish a unique mission field. We are excited by what is happening there, and look forward to hearing how God will use those faithful people in the coming year.
