When the Lord Jesus says things like, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), he wants the idols in our hearts, not the money in our wallets. Pastor Mark has preached about this very thing in his Living for a Legacy series through Malachi. God takes offense when we offer him lame, sick, polluted offerings. We believe this at Mars Hill and want God to take pleasure in us and accept the offering from our hands (Mal. 1:10). We want that for all believers—to experience the blessing of giving and being on mission with Jesus as he builds his church, his legacy.
Jesus has been so gracious to Mars Hill Church. We can’t believe what he has allowed us to do by his grace and provision. Because of generous and faithful partners in the gospel, both the local and Global Family of Mars Hill, we have beaten our budget by $1.3 million! Thank you, Jesus, and thank you to those who have given. We have been so glad to invest that margin back into our church family’s needs. We have seen five of our churches find permanent homes and we have spent countless hours preparing for a January 12, 2014 official launch date for our brothers and sisters. We have had the privilege to baptize almost 1,100 people in 2013! We have witnessed Jesus’ name being glorified through many baby dedications, weddings, marriage reconciliations, and new family members. We have seen growth and maturity in our Mars Hill family that really is a gift to us from Christ Jesus because we know that, “it is God who works in [us], both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).
The work Jesus did in 2013 was amazing, but we know there’s much more to do in 2014. Mars Hill is praying for $2 million in contributions above and beyond normal tithes to be given by the end of the year. There are only a few more days left in 2013 that you can give toward the mission of Jesus as he makes disciples and plants churches through Mars Hill. This will go to fund many exciting endeavors in 2014, including the five church plant/replants, the Jesus Festival, Mars Hill Schools, and supporting 30 additional church planters in Ethiopia and India. The opportunity to give and then watch God use those gifts to reach many is one of the greatest blessings I’ve experienced. Please pray and ask God if he would have you support Jesus’ work here at Mars Hill. If you feel led to give, please TEXT (see below) or go to marshill.com/give before December 31, so it goes toward our end-of-year 2013 $2 million goal. We are praying that 2014 will be our most evangelistic year in the history of Mars Hill Church—will you please pray with us?
This month, Mars Hill Church launched a brand new way for you to give to the mission of Jesus at Mars Hill Church: Text2Give! Text2Give allows you to give via text message, simply, quickly, and securely. Many people in our churches have been asking for this technology for some time, as they rarely carry cash or checkbooks. No downloads, no adding to your phone bill, just a simple text that charges the credit or debit card of your choice. Simply send a text to 45777 with two things in the message: an amount and “Mars Hill.” Hit send and you’re on your way. Now, you can give anytime, anywhere in the United States. We would love for you to try it out.
Mars Hill has also recently started an Endowment Fund, if you choose to give to the mission through that vehicle.
Blessings to you and yours in 2014.
