Painting is well underway as almost every room is being transformed.
A word from Pastor Ryan Williams
God is building his church (both literally and figuratively) and it has been a joy to have a front seat to watch what he is doing.
Heading into the fall we will need to “go up a gear” which means our hard work, giving, and serving will all need to be looked at again. I often think of this season of building out the Armory and starting services there like a heat a sprinter runs to qualify for the finals in a big track meet. Sprinters need to run many heats on their way to the final and the gold medal. As a young church, we are running our heats with the final goal clearly in sight, but with many finish lines to go before we get there.
We’ve made it through another heat: having our offices and all of our classes at the Armory. We’re saving money by not renting separate office space and we get to use part of this amazing building God has gifted us with now because so many of you have already helped prepare it.
The finish line for this next heat is before us and it will require a big last push to get there in qualifying time. It is our big hope that we would be in the building running services before the end of this year with the view that we would have a grand opening on January 12, 2014. But to do that, we need to increase our efforts as we push to end this leg of the race.
Practically this means:
- A big fundraising push: I am asking that everyone who calls Mars Hill Everett home to go back and see if there is anywhere in your budget you could trim in this next season and increase your Armory giving until we’re holding services in the building.
- More work parties: Starting next week we will be opening up the building for more work parties: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (6pm – 9pm) and Saturdays (9 am – 12pm and 12 pm – 4pm). We are asking each community group to commit to serving twice a month from now until Thanksgiving. This will mean 5–6 opportunities to serve over the next three months.
- Serving however you can: Our Sunday services are very important and we don’t in any way want to detract from our desire for a quality Sunday service to achieve our desires for the Armory. We are going to need people from all over the congregation to step up and serve, either in an increased capacity or for the first time. Email brandon@marshill.com to register your interest in serving. If you have any time available during the week, we can use you. Our office hours at the Armory are 9 am – 5 pm Monday–Friday. If you find yourself with some free time come down and help us cross the finish line strong and ready for what God has for us next.
Blessings,
Pastor Ryan Williams
