Over and over again, the book of Proverbs emphasizes the wisdom in pursuing much counsel and many advisors. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisors they succeed.”
At Mars Hill Church, we love Jesus and our people very much. We also want to be good stewards with everyone and everything that Jesus has entrusted to us. With 15 churches across 5 states, 64 elders/pastors (27 unpaid), 54 elder/pastor candidates in process (nearly all unpaid), 614 deacons (517 unpaid) and roughly 1,000 Community Group leaders and apprentices of various kinds, we need all the wisdom we can get. In an effort to be accountable stewards, we have both internal leadership boards for wise counsel and accountability, as well as an external Board of Advisors and Accountability. The Board of Advisors and Accountability has three categories of responsibility:
- Counsel—The Board assists and advises the Church on those matters where prudence requires and outside perspective.
- Accountability—It provides support and outside objective oversight when needed.
- Governance—The Board manages or directs the civil and business affairs of Mars Hill Church, as required of all 501(c)3 organizations.
In recent years, the Board of Advisors and Accountability has been an incredible source of wise counsel for which we are very grateful. We are so excited to announce that we have now added our friend Dr. Paul Tripp who has accepted our invitation to join our Board of Advisors and Accountability! He is a great brother and partner in ministry. He preached at Mars Hill last the summer for our Best Sermon Ever series and brought the Word with power. Dr. Tripp has been teaching at Mars Hill for many years in various capacities, and we also greatly appreciate his writing ministry especially, Dangerous Calling.
In regards to his acceptance, Dr. Tripp says, “I have a deep respect and admiration for churches that preach a courageous and liberating gospel into the brokenness of the culture around them. Mars Hill is one of these churches and I am glad to use my gifts and experience to assist it in its gospel mission.”
Dr. Tripp joins the current Board members: Michael Van Skaik, Dr. James MacDonald, Dr. Larry Osborne, Mark Driscoll, Dave Bruskas, and Sutton Turner. This Board of Advisors and Accountability was voted upon and installed by an overwhelmingly supportive vote from the entire eldership, with every single elder who voted doing so in approval.
For those of you who love Mars Hill, if you would pray Colossians 1:9–10, we would be very grateful:
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Welcome, Dr. Tripp. We are truly honored to have you speak into the life of Mars Hill Church!
