SERMON:I Have Got You Hanging Around My Neck

Mars Hill began as just an idea, a desire to open a church where the scripture would be taught in a new way, a way that would reach a changing culture. In February, 1999, Mars Hill Bible Church opened its doors -- actually the doors of a school gym we rented to hold our first services, what we call "gatherings". We had no idea what to expect, but God amazed us! Without ever advertising, just through word-of-mouth, our first Sunday's two morning gatherings saw over 3000 people visit us! During the first year we added a third meeting time and an overflow seating area in a multipurpose room next to the gym, but we were still forced to regularly turn people away because we didn't have enough room.

After one year, God provided an old shopping mall for us to acquire. With some remodeling this empty mall could seat 3500. We began remodeling and by the end of July 2000, we had our first gathering in the new facility. The gathering area is "decorated" warehouse basic and we still use the same gray chairs we used in the gym -- just more of them. The seats are arranged in "the round" with the teacher standing on a stage in the center of the room, constantly walking, turning and moving about to face the people seated at each of the 360°.

We said we wanted to make it different, but seating in the round is not all that we had in mind. We are a community of people where everyone admits we have faults and issues, yet we maintain that nothing is beyond the healing power of our God. As much as possible, we try to keep pretense and performance out, and emphasize that all growth and healing takes place in community.

Of course, we still have many of the "normal" appearances of a church. Ministry to children, students and adults. Counseling. Domestic and International outreach. And pastors/church leaders. God has assembled a great group of pastors, leaders and staff, but we are sure that ministry is not a pastor thing, rather it is people involved with people. We have people of all ages and all walks of life serving and worshiping together.