The stories I’ve heard this week are varied and exciting. People are being saved, healed, and communities are rallying around each other to help their brothers and sisters in Christ. Here are a few of my favorite recent stories.
- Recently, Mars Hill Rainier Valley baptized two children. Those two children were baptized in the same tank as their parents a few months prior, which is the same tank in which their grandparents were baptized a few months before that. Three generations of the same family baptized at Mars Hill Rainier Valley is such a great story of God’s grace and the generational legacy he desires.
- A man from Mars Hill Albuquerque was dying of a mysterious illness. He approached the elders for prayer and anointing with oil about 9 months ago. Recently, he has been healed and regained 50 pounds in the last two months.
- Pastor Drew Hensley and his team from Mars Hill U-District spent last week at the University of Washington meeting new students. Over 250 students filled out connect cards and 89 said they wanted info on how to get connected in Community Groups. After a 7 p.m. service recently, hundreds of college students filled the basement of the church to celebrate the beginning of a new school year. Please pray that many college students would meet Jesus this year.
- Six Slavic kids at Mars Hill Bellevue were having a hard time with the English content being taught in Kid’s Ministry on a recent Sunday. One of the Kid’s ministry volunteers, who speaks Russian, came in and taught the rest of the class. The kids loved it and the parents were very appreciative when they came to pick up their kids. A large population of Slavic people live near the Bellevue church and we are praying they feel welcome and meet Jesus.
- Here’s the story of a man who leads a Community Group at one of our churches:
I was raised in a Christian home and thought I was a Christian but struggled with cross-dressing and gender confusion from a very young age. This eventually led to struggles with homosexuality. I looked at porn and continued to struggle even after marrying my first wife as a teenager. Four years later we divorced and I pursued homosexuality. I felt like I was born this way and would never change. In 2009, I met Jesus and was born again. As I walked through community group I figured I didn’t need to share that God had saved me from homosexuality since I no longer struggled with it. Then I realized I wasn’t completely living for God’s glory. I finally shared my past with the guys in my group and was met with love from my brothers in Christ. I realize now I still had shame regarding my past and I was fearing man’s approval over God.
Thank you to everyone who serves in a local church, whether it’s Mars Hill or not, so people can meet Jesus and be redeemed in him.
