By Mike O’Dea | Mars Hill Theology Response Team

Bonnie and I have been driving over to the Seattle Northgate Mall about 5 out of every 7 days.  The Mall is opened most days at 7:00 (8:30 on Sundays) for those who wish to walk for exercize.  It is exactly 1/2 mile in length so a round trip walk is 1 mile.  It is super to be able to walk on a flat surface without getting rained on or wind blown. 

I began to realize that, during my 20 to 30 minute walk, it would be a great time to pray. I always begin praying for each person in my community group.  We make a list of prayer requests and praises every week and we email the list the following day to all members of our group.  So, it gets easier to remember all the requests.  It dawned on me that almost every person in our group frequently asks for prayer that a friend or relative, especially parents, gets saved and become a member of God’s family (John 1:12). 

The other day as I was praying for Lacey’s mother, my mind began to wander and the thought crossed my mind, “does all this praying for people to get saved do any good?” After all, is it not up to God anyway according to Ephesians 1:5-11?  As soon as that thought crossed my mind I felt somewhat ashamed of it.  I began to think about all the people that were special to me that God has brought into His family.  In each case, they were people that I had prayed for.  In some cases it was just weeks of prayer, in some it was months, and others took several years. There are many that I am still praying for. There must be a tie-in between those that God has chosen (John 15:16) and those His Holy Spirit inspires us to pray for.  I will not dig any deeper theologically, at least in this article, on this subject. It can be a mind bender.

Like most of you, I began praying for others very soon after I became a Christian.  That was almost 30 years ago.  The first one God layed on my heart was my mother.  I presented the Gospel to her but it did not take.  Two years later she got very sick and was prepared for surgery.  I was 400 miles away.  My pastor sent a pastor friend of his to the hospital and that pastor confirmed that my mother accepted Jesus 45 minutes before she died on the operating table. A few years later I began praying for my sister, who lived over 2000 miles away.  She was a practicing Mormon.  We communicated by letter and phone (pre-email days) and eventually she got saved and joined a Southern Baptist church.  Two years later she died of diabetes complications.

Of course, I prayed for my three children.  At one time all three were walking in darkness. I remember kneeling at the foot of my bed with tears in my eyes and I pleaded with God. “Lord, at least give me one of them.”  A short time later my son James went forward at a “Promise Keepers” conference at the King Dome.  I am still praying for the other two.  Another example would be my co-worker friend Lee.  Lee is now an active member of Mars Hill Church.

Perhaps the most miraculous example would be my ex-wife Dorothy.  She and I divorced many years ago before either one of us became Christians.  Bonnie and I began praying for her and she is now a well established follower of Christ and a very good friend of my wife and I.  In fact, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving at her house.  God is so Good!   I have more examples, but I think you get the point. 
 
I just want this article to be an encouragement to anyone who reads this to keep praying for that parent, brother, sister, co-worker, friend, etc.  There is no greater joy than to see someone you have prayed for become a Christian (3rd John 1:4). Maybe that is one reason God inspires us to pray for them.  Do not give up! 

Amen?

Photo courtesy of Katie Tegtmeyer at Flickr.com.

By Mike O’Dea | Mars Hill Theology Response Team

On July 6, 2007 my wife Bonnie received a phone call from the Seattle Police Department. They told her an unidentified man had just been in a severe accident.  He was biking northbound on the West side of the Ballard Bridge when somehow he fell into the oncoming traffic.  He was in critical condition with a severed right arm and considerable head and leg injuries.  The police told Bonnie that the man had a cell phone on his person and that her business number was programmed into the phone.  (She is a hair stylist)  They were hoping she could identify the man.

Our first thought, and a scary one, was that the man could have been our oldest son, who was known to ride around Ballard on a bike.  Since we were unable to reach our son, I had to go to Harborview to try and identify the person.  I was shaking as I entered the emergency room. It turns out that it was not our son, Rob. 

About one week later Bonnie received a phone call from a lady named Lisa and she told Bonnie that her husband was in a terrible accident.  She said her husband, Terry, had been a client of Bonnie’s for several years.  Lisa remembered Terry telling her that his “barber”, Bonnie, was really a woman of God and that God heard her prayers.  Lisa said her husband really needed prayer because he was still in a coma and at that point his life was still in danger.  They believed even if he did wake up he might be a para or quadriplegic. Well, at least that explained why Bonnie’s business number was programmed into Terry’s phone.

Terry has been at Harborview, then U.W. hospital, and now a nursing home in Lynnwood ever since.  Thankfully, he has been recovering well.  At this writing his mind seems to be back to perhaps 80% of what it was (He had taken such a blow to his head that they had to sew his right ear back on).  Of course, he has lost his right arm up to the shoulder, and he has very little use or movement in his right leg.  However, he is now getting around well in a wheel chair and he has been told he can come home (in Magnolia) as soon as a ramp is built to accomodate his getting in and out.  Building that ramp is the next priority of our community group and hopefully it will be built and Terry will be home by the time this article is posted.

We interpreted this entire event as God’s divine appointment for us Mars Hillians to love our city and expecting nothing in return.  So far our CG has donated several hundred dollars, split and stacked a chord of wood, cleaned house, did gardening around the house and now we have a ramp to build.  Also, as God’s providence has been at work there is a Mars Hill attendee that lives on the same block as this family and she has volunteered to host a community group.  Pray that this becomes a reality and that this family of four can come to know our loving Savior, Jesus Christ, so that they can know their suffering had a purpose.  (See Philippians 1:12).

Amen?

The holidays are fast approaching. For many, this can be a difficult time of year. One specific way we can significantly help others is by providing gifts, service and prayers to help make the holidays a positive experience. MH is organizing its second annual Adopt-a-family program again to share with one another and minister to one another as a Godly family does. Last year, this event went incredibly well and the blessing received by both the adopting groups and adopted families was immeasurable. We hope you will participate with us in this second year.

A letter is being sent to members and regular attendees of MH that have been assisted financially by MH this year, single parents, and others whom may have unmet financial needs in this season of life. Those recipient families who wish to participate will complete a questionnaire to be mailed to the church office. Each family in need will be paired with a CG or family that wishes to participate in the program. This is a perfect opportunity to lead your Community Group in very practical service to the body at Mars Hill and/or to their own community and experience the wonderful blessing of giving out of what Christ has given you. We don’t want any family to go without this season, so we’ll need lots of Community Groups to get involved.

In addition, if you know of a MH family OR a family in your community, neighborhood or sphere who may be in need this season, please, please send their name and address to Mercy@marshillchurch.org and we will include them in this mailed invite.

How it works:

So to recap those dates:

Confirm by 11/16 that you wish to adopt a family.

You will receive your adoption on or before 12/03

Contact your adoptive family by 12/10 to schedule a delivery day.

Deliver your blessings by 12/20

We thank you for considering participating and look forward to hearing from you!

Mercy Ministry at Mars Hill Church

Mike O’Dea | Mars Hill Theology Response Team

At your next Community Group meeting, look around the room.  Consider that everyone present is there by “Divine Appointment”.  Somewhere and sometime at some location each of those  persons had some sort of divine appointment in which God in His providence caused someone to introduce them to Jesus. (Eph. 1:11)

One cannot find the term “divine appointment” in Scripture, yet we know it when we observe it.  For instance in Acts 8:27 we see how Philip was guided by the Holy Spirit to meet with the Ethiopian eunuch.  In Acts 8:35 Philip presented the Gospel and the eunuch was saved.

As I have matured in my Christian walk I have some regret that I have missed many divine appointment opportunities.  I am resolved to put an end to that.  I am beginning to realize that God is continually putting divine appointments in my path.  At this point I am aware of at least one per week.  Three weeks ago, my wife and I were enjoying dinner at Marie Calendar’s in Northgate.  We struck up a conversation with a young lady.  Her name was Pualani.  We told her about Mars Hill Church and how God has been blessing our ministry. She got so interested that she got up from her table and stood before us and took notes on where Mars Hill was located and the times of the services.  She told us she was a single mom and she wanted to get her child into some constructive activities.  I do not know if she showed up at Mars Hill, but her enthusiasm would indicate she probably did. (a divine appointment)

Two weeks ago, Bonnie and I were having dinner at Louie’s in the lounge.  While I was sneaking peeks over Bonnie’s shoulder watching the USC/Nebraska game a middle aged woman came in and sat no more than 4 feet from us.  Bonnie (a hair stylist) said to her, “My, your hair is lovely”.  That simple “ice breaker” resulted in a long conversation. USC was beating the @$#%&# out of Nebraska so I lost interest in that and I joined the conversation.  I asked Edith (we had learned her name by now) if she had heard of Mars Hill Church.  She said she certainly had and that she had seen the TV coverage of the Baptisms we had at Alki Beach the night before.  Once again, she was a single mom, and she had a 14 year old son.  We told her a lot about Mars Hill and we emphasized the Proxy teen age ministry.  She got very excited and we agreed to meet her the following day at the 5:00 PM service.  She not only showed up but she wanted to sit in the front row; and we did that.  Mark was pretty revved up but I think he only spit on us two or three times.  Anyway, she loved it and agreed to meet us again next Sunday.  (a divine appointment)

Again, a day ago, my wife had a client named Malka show up for her hair appointment. Malka is a Jewish, born in Israel, Hebrew and English speaking lady.  I often discuss Scripture with her.  I asked her if she had seen the publicity about the Mars Hill Baptism service.  She said she had.  I pulled out the photos I had taken at that service.  One of the photos was of my wife Bonnie speaking to pastor Mark.  Malka said, “Bonnie, what were you speaking to him about?”  Bonnie said, “Malka, I was asking him to pray for you.”  That happens to be the God’s honest truth and Bonnie was not going to lie about it.  Bonnie followed that up by saying, “Malka, would you like to join us at Mars Hill at the 5:00 PM service on Sunday?”  Malka said yes! (Another divine appointment)   

My point is that if you are alert to it and you pray to our Lord to put “divine appointments” in your path, it will happen.  Shall we resolve to grow our community groups with Jesus loving people by showing up and recognizing our divine appointments?  It is easier than you think because God knows who to put in your path and it may be someone you least  expect.  Maybe it is your barber, your mail man, your doctor, your grocer, your client, your neighbor, etc. Go for it in Jesus name.  (See Col. 3:17)

Do I hear an Amen?

Community Group Leaders!

Mars Hill Ballard is requesting your help in a very important manner. We are in the process of recruiting new communion servers and wanted to present the opportunity to our community group leaders. We wanted members of our church leadership to be a visible part of this crucial element of worship. Although it is a vital part of our worship and Sunday services, it is not a huge commitment. Please let Samson know if you are available to serve communion at the service you attend. I appreciate your time and thank you in advance for your help.

Contact samson@marshillchurch.org for more information.

Foundry:

Historically, a foundry was a location where tools and weapons were forged and fashioned. It was a place where iron would sharpen iron, which corresponds to the biblical concept of community (Prov. 27.17).

As Mars Hill¹s one-day educational program, Foundry fosters community and spiritual refinement through one-day (Saturday morning) classes.
Participants can take the content beyond the classroom setting using an optional study guide, provided for further individual study, family devotions, and/or Community Group discussion. Foundry is open to members and church attendees.

EVENT:

If you are interested in better understanding Jesus in the Old Testament, there¹s an important event on the Mars Hill calendar for you.

On October 6 at the Ballard Campus, a course called ³Emmaus Road: Seeing Christ in all of Scripture² will be offered.

Luke 24:27 ³And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself²

Just as Jesus taught the disciples on the Emmaus Road after His resurrection to see himself in the Old Testament, this class will lay the foundation of the overarching Biblical story, studying Jesus in the Old Testament and our role within God¹s story.

This Saturday seminar is a great opportunity to grow in your knowledge of Jesus and to gain a broader view and respect for the story of God found within the Old and New Testament. Come by yourself, with your Community Group, or with your family for this valuable teaching seminar.

Schedule for the day:

9:00-9:45 Big Picture Overview (Pastor Gary Shavey)

9:45-10:15 Seeing Christ in the Old Testament: Garden of Eden

through the Exodus (Deacon Greg Joines)

10:15-11:00 Seeing Christ in the Old Testament: Conquest through the

Church (Pastor Bill Clem)

11:15-12:00 Breakout:

Track A: Christ in the Wisdom Literature (Pastor Zack

Hubert)

Track B: Christ in the Psalms (Deacon Andrew Pack)

Track C: Christ in the Prophetic Literature (Deacon Wendy

Alsup)

12:00-12:30 Conclusion (Pastor Bill Clem)

Here¹s the link to register.

https://www.sporg.com/pom/registration?cmd=event_info&event_id=93902

Leaders,

Read this post by Pastor Dick. This is an opportunity for the people in your group to serve not only the church, but the city by providing hospitality to families that need to hear about Jesus.

-I am so excited about this new season at Mars Hill with the expansion to the multi campus model and Ballard being the training center in which to send from. This affects each ministry as we raise up leaders, trained teachers and volunteers to fill positions now in their communities reaching their neighbors. As you know Wedgwood launches in Oct. and the Eastside and downtown are soon to become realities, therefore, we will be sending many trained people from Ballard to these campuses.

The fact that we are on mission is exciting and the fact that so many people come to Mars Hill because they believe in the mission of seeing lives transformed for Jesus in and around the city of Seattle is nothing short of miraculous. But part of sending trained people out is filling those now empty spots. We are sending up to 50 trained people (just in Children’s ministry) in the next few weeks and months and therefore need those who are committed to the Ballard campus to step up and fill the holes of those who are being sent. I write this for Children’s Ministry but in reality every ministry is sending and every ministry needs people to fill these positions. If you are on mission with us the easiest way to find out about the needs and opportunities in the church is to go to the serve desk in the main foyer as it is a one stop shop of ministry opportunities in the church. If you see yourself serving the little MH culture please email  renee@marshillchurch.org

Pastor Dick McKinley

Children’s Ministry Pastor

By Mike O’Dea, M.H. Theology Response Team 

Lee knew I was a Christian because he could see that I always had a Bible at my workstation and there was usually a Bible verse stapled to my corkboard.  When Lee began asking me questions about the Bible and Christianity I decided to buy him a “Red Letter Edition” of the NIV Bible.  To this day I do not know if I was a seed planter, a seed waterer, or a harvester.  Anyway, Lee finally asked me what church I attended.  He soon began attending Mars Hill. 

He called me one day and said, “Mike, I have never been involved in any Christian event or group but I would like to check out a community group.  Would you go with me if I pick one out because I would be so intimitated if I went alone.”  I said, “Sure Lee”.  When I hung up, I thought to myself that more than likely I would be intimitated more that Lee because I had already figured out that 64 year olds were an extreme minority at Mars Hill.

Lee and I went to Sally and Andrew’s group in the Fremont area in April of 2005.  Sure enough, there were about 15 under 25 year olds at Sally’s apartment.  I will never forget that group of folks.  I expected to be treated as an “outsider” because of the age difference.  I figured I would just stick around long enough until Lee felt comfortable and then split.  However, it soon became apparent to me that God used Lee to direct me to the young folks.  Sometimes, in a community group situation, a question comes up that seems to stump everybody.  I noticed that when that happened, about 15 pairs  of eyes would move to where I was sitting - expecting something profound from the “Old Stone”  (This was pastor Mark’s term for old folks that were still useful according to his interpretation of the book of Nehemiah).  Apparently, on occasion, I did say something profound because these young people seemed to appreciate me. Lee was baptized at Golden Gardens in August of 2005 along with Michael and Kate from the same community group.

We had grown to 26 people sitting on the floor of that tiny little apartment.  We “replicated” and 13 of us began a new group at my home in Crownhill that same August. Again we grew to 22 people and we sent another group off to Ballard of 11 folks in April of 2006.  In February of 2007 we moved the group from my house (taking a break) to Peter’s place near Gold’s Gym on Aurora.  We are hovering at about 16-18 people so a “replication” is soon to happen.

Getting involved in the lives of so many young people has been an absolute God sent blessing to me these past two years.  It has kept me younger and given me a sense of purpose that I have never experienced before.  Many of these young people do not have Christian parents.  Or, if they do, many of them are a long way from home. There is a huge need for more “old stones” to plug into the lives of these beautiful people.  I cringe when someone over 50 tells me they are looking for a community group at Mars Hill of “old timers”.  If you are 50 or over, do yourself a favor and find a group of younger people.  You will soon realize that is where God needs you to serve.  WANTED:  About 150 “old stones” - one for each community group.

Amen?

Should community be a safe place?

I often hear it said that to have a healthy growing community groups ministry, the groups must be a safe place for believer and non-believer alike. And to this point I agree, that the community of God should be a place that is welcoming to all comers, hospitable and loving. and in that sense very safe.

But what are people really saying when they say they want their community to be safe?

I fear that many equate safety with comfort. Defining a safe group as one where I can be myself.not judged but excepted as I am, “judge not, lest ye be judged”.right?

Sounds great. but wait. what if “myself” is a gossip. or a liar, or ungrateful, or self worshiping. Should a Community Group be a place where I am free to be those things in a safe environment? Have we not been called to spur one another on to good deeds. to encourage and rebuke one another so that we glorify Jesus with this fleeting life? (Hebrews 3:12-14)

My wife and I experience this as we prepared to go through the HPC curriculum with another couple. We experience some trepidation as we prepared to expose ourselves in that community. Our fear was not because we did not trust or loving friends. It was because, in that community, we could guarantee discomfort from the exposure of our sin. Should we have dismissed this community because it was un-safe?

If safety is comfort then I pray our groups are never safe. To be comfortable with your sin is to be dead to the work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-9). In authentic community, I cannot hide my sin for long because, inevitably, pressure and time will expose it among a group of people who truly care and love me. In such a community, I am forced to confront, confess and repent of my sin. This is painful, unsettling, and certainly not safe by the standard of comfort. Safety is not in that I will not be challenged to live a life worthy of my calling to Christ, but it is in that it will be done in love from a brother or sister that is, or has, walked through that same fire. Ultimately, there is no safer place then in the arms of Christ, to whom this process points and draws us.

Considering the non-believer, it is unfathomable to me that we can believe it is safer to be left in a state of death and decay, dangling over the flames of hell, then to be confronted with the life-giving message of the Gospel. This is rarely a comfortable confrontation with the living the God, but how desperate is their need to be saved from the destruction they are hurtling toward. Yet we hold our tongue for comfort? Unfortunately we are often deceived that what would be safe (God) is dangerous (uncomfortable) and that which is dangerous (damnation) is safe (comfortable). (Isa. 5:20).

My encouragement to you is to embrace the danger of living in authentic community. Look forward to the work God is doing in you and through you as part of a community. Embraced discomfort for a greater joy, Sanctification.

My prayer is that groups will be a place where we encounter God, and challenge one another to glorify Him. That’s not safe. That’s community.

By Pam Shavey 

You know, I love going to Starbucks for my favorite iced mocha!  I like to stroll on in and not make a scene and just get my mocha and go.

When I was pregnant with my 2nd son there was a gal Liz who worked at “my local Starbucks” (well, one of my local Starbucks) who introduced herself because she was also pregnant.  So we were both pregnant with our 2nd boys and both due within a week of each other!  Crazy, huh?  We started a friendship 3 ½ years ago and now I make a point to try to go into our local mocha shop when I know she will be working.

Conversations have not gone deep quickly but they are getting there.  I have been pondering the idea in a book, Finding Common Ground, about the lost art of sowing.  In the book, Tim Downs talks of the importance of finding common things to talk with people about - to sow into their lives.  That we need to sow before we can harvest.  That this is not a time of simple harvesting but of the hard labor of spring plowing, of backs bent from pruning, of calluses from hard work.

And so, my hard work is to go to Starbucks to get mochas :)  Yea, thanks Jesus for the treat in the midst of sowing.  The hard part is to talk with Liz in the moments we have and to keep the 3 kids occupied and to think of ways to open up possible spiritual conversations.  And, to pray she has a moment to talk.

In the last 6 months I have found out that she has been involved in Alcoholics Anonymous and that she goes to a small Lutheran church.  She has also asked for my phone number and has asked questions about Mars Hill. I feel that I am beginning to see the fruit of labor.  I pray that one day this summer we can go to a park together I have asked in the past and nothing has come to fruition.  I also pray that one day she will hear the whole gospel!

I was once told that evangelism is like a tennis game.  How?  Well, I hit the ball over to Liz with a question, idea, thought and then wait for her to hit the ball back over to me.  For instance, when I have hit the ball over to her about going to a park, she has not responded with an “oh yea, let’s go” so I have waited.  But, when she asked for my phone number I hit the ball back by giving her my number.  It causes me to check the soil, to see what God is doing in her heart and to not go out there like a hunter waiting for something to conquer.

So yesterday my husband Gary and I both had an opportunity to sow with a couple on our block.  Gary and the husband, Billy, went to the Phinney Neighborhood Summer Beer Fest; it was an opportunity to sow with Billy and to see other guys from the neighborhood.  When the guys left, Billy’s wife Jessica walked down to chat with me.  We talked for an hour on our porch!

Since then I have doubted my words, doubted most everything about our conversation but I pray the Lord would continue to build a friendship between our 2 families.  I want to ask her some more questions, begin thinking of the tennis match when I am talking with her and not just desire to talk about myself.

I pray that as I go to Starbucks and sit out on the porch that I would be able to “play tennis” in conversation with those God has put in my path.  I pray I would not give up in the hard long season of laboring in the fields.waiting for the harvest.