Mars Hill #7: Olympia, WA

On July 1, Mars Hill Church welcomes a new campus, this time in the south Puget Sound region. The group is already gathering on Sundays in Centralia, but campus pastor Gary Shavey is actively searching for a more strategic, more accommodating location in the state capital.

For those interested in the how/why/when of starting a new Mars Hill campus, here’s the context in which we’re planting this new outpost for the gospel:

• The price is right. In launching the Olympia Campus, we are experimenting with a different model of expansion that will allow us to start new campuses at little to no cost for the overall organization. Basically, the core group shares more ministry and financial responsibilities from the get-go.
• More than a fanclub. The Olympia Campus began as a collection of community groups from inside Mars Hill, trained and developed through the West Seattle and Ballard campuses. They started gathering at the Centralia McMenimans (a local pub/theatre) on Sunday mornings to watch the previous week’s sermon on DVD instead of driving for an hour plus to get to Seattle. These men and women weren’t waiting around for a Mars Hill campus to come to them; they were already actively participating in the mission of the Mars Hill. In many ways, the Olympia Campus is the result of a great faithfulness to the church combined with a love for their local community.
• God is at work. Pastor Gary has already been inundated with positive response from podcast listeners, military personnel (Fort Lewis is just east of Olympia), and church family south of Seattle. God is already using this campus to stir the hearts of his people.

In short, at Mars Hill we are always looking for new inroads for the gospel. As Jesus our senior pastor presents opportunities, we follow and meet the challenges and decisions along the way, with the mission and vision to see many more lives transformed.

Until the group finds a more permanent location to meet, the Olympia Campus is still in the “core phase” of the campus launch process. The official grand opening is still a few weeks away, but if you’re interested in participating from the ground up, email Pastor Gary: gary [at] marshillchurch.org.