For Seattle, the Fourth of July is the unofficial start of summer and we are ready for the sun. If you’re in Albuquerque, Phoenix, or Huntington Beach, you may see the sun on a more regular basis. Here in the Northwest, however, we soak up as much beautiful weather as possible until the winter rain and grey come back. What a day it will be when we live in a new city which “has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Rev. 21:23). Continue to enjoy the sun this summer, and let it remind you of the coming eternal kingdom of God.
Best Sermon Ever | Starting July 20th/27th
Last summer we kicked off the first annual “Best Sermon Ever” series. It was a hit and we are looking forward to a second round, just around the corner. There is great value having these godly men teaching our family. We are thrilled to bring in the following Bible teachers to bless you with their “best sermon ever”:
- Dr. Bryan Chapell is the former chancellor of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He now serves as the lead pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois.
- Dr. Daniel Wallace is a professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has written or contributed to over 20 books.
- Tope Koleoso is Nigerian-born and has been at Jubilee Church in London for 19 years, 10 of which he was the lead pastor. Before moving to London, he showed the Jesus Film and preached the gospel in rural African villages.
- Dr. Jack Graham is lead pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the largest churches in the United States. Through his church, he also has a radio program that is listened to across the globe in over 78 countries.
- Dr. Larry Osborne joined us for Best Sermon Ever last summer. He is lead pastor of North Coast Church in Vista, California, and has helped pioneer the multisite church movement.
2014 Lead Pastor Retreat
We are very grateful for a generous donor who blessed our lead pastors with a recent retreat. This particular retreat was planned out a year ago and nobody could have predicted just how perfect the timing would be. With the difficult season we are now in, this time of rest for our pastors and their wives was providential. They were able to indulge in dedicated time together to fellowship, relax, pray, and plan for the future. With locations spread across five states, this kind of retreat is a rare blessing to our leaders, and a great opportunity to build unity among our churches.
“The retreat was an amazing time of renewal, prayer, and fellowship with my brothers and sisters. We spent time sharing what Jesus is teaching us, learning from each other, and praying for the people of Mars Hill Church.” –Pastor Bubba Jennings
Update on Mars Hill Global
We are very thankful for what Jesus has done through our global family since 2009, with many disciples made and churches planted in the U.S., Ethiopia, and India.
An outside petition was recently created, asking for clarity concerning the use of Mars Hill Global funds. However, of the nearly 400 signers, we found that only four have ever given to Mars Hill Global. We sent letters this past week to over 6,000 Global donors, giving them the option to designate their funds solely for international work if they wish. We received many replies of encouragement, as well as a few people who asked to change their designation, and we have gladly made those changes.
If you have any questions regarding Mars Hill Global, we recently posted updates to our Global FAQ page, which you might find helpful.
Sponsor a Student for Camp
RED Summer Camp is less than two months away for junior high and high school students. Each year, hundreds of students have the opportunity to hear about Jesus, make new friends, and make some of the best memories of their lives. Some of these students come from families that can’t afford the cost of summer camp. We invite you to change a student’s life by sponsoring them to go to junior high or high school camp this summer. Follow this link to find out more.
Check our this video to get an idea of the awesomeness our students can expect this summer:
Short-Term Mission Trips to Ethiopia
If you are interested in going to Ethiopia with Mars Hill in 2015, we need to hear from you. You can click on the graphic above for more information and to fill out this interest form.
Mars Hill Schools | Application Deadline
Mars Hill Schools are launching this fall. If you want higher education in biblical studies, you need to apply soon because the application deadlines are quickly approaching. Corban University’s deadline is August 15. You can go here to find out more and apply online. The deadline to apply for Western Seminary is July 14. You can go here to find out more and to apply online.
Important dates
- July 14: Western Seminary Application Deadline
- July 20–July 27: Best Sermon Ever Series Launch
- Aug 4–6: RED Junior High Summer Camp at Great Wolf Lodge (Register here)
- Aug 15: Corban University Application Deadline
- Aug 24–Aug 31: 1 John: Love One Another Series Launch
- Aug 26–29: RED High School Summer Camp at Washington Family Ranch (Register here)
- Oct 28–29: Resurgence Conference 2014
- Dec 24: Christmas Eve
By Pastor Mark Driscoll
By Pastor Miles Rohde
By Pastor Mark Driscoll
Everett: An Everett family ran in the YMCA’s Yankee Doodle Dash on July 4th. The mother stopped by Mars Hill Everett’s tent for some free coffee and a chat with the volunteers. Her family decided to check out the church on Sunday. God ordained that the same volunteer who spoke to them on Friday was able to greet them that morning, give them a tour of the building, and sit with them during service. We are so thankful to Jesus for using his people to love those who may not know him yet.
Sammamish: A Korean man visited this Sunday for the first time. He had heard about the great Bible preaching at Mars Hill Church and thought he’d come and check out a service. While members were talking with him, another Korean family, who recently became members, walked into the building. They recognized each other right away, embraced each other, and they invited him to sit with them for the service. It was great for him to see a familiar face, and since his wife only speaks Korean, the couple will be very helpful as they make this transition.
