On September 14, 2007 Mars Hill Church held a mass baptism on Alki Beach. Many of those who were baptized did not get a public opportunity to share what Jesus has done, and is doing in their lives. The following story is a testimony of an individual who was changed by Jesus and baptized that day.

By Joel Alquist, 24

My entire life, I was raised in a very strong, conservative Christian home in rural Minnesota. My parents did the best they could raising my 3 siblings and I, and though I didn’t necessarily love it at the time, I didn’t realize just how good I had it until well into college. We had breakfast nearly every morning together where my dad led devotions, went to Sunday school and church religiously, and only watched G-rated movies. I knew religion quite well. The thing I really lacked though was a disciplined personal relationship with Jesus. I was spoon-fed the Bible my entire life. When I went off to a small Christian college, I never regularly read my bible, prayed, or was involved in anything outside dorm life. It was only in the later years of college and the last few since graduating, that I’ve come to better understand what a personal relationship with Christ really means. One thing I also never really felt compelled to do was get baptized. Though I knew it was a command and an outward sign of my Christian faith, I let complacency and a deathly fear of getting up in front of people talk me out of any chances I had to publicly declare my faith. Now, as a new member of Mars Hill, I would love to declare my faith publicly and strive to better my personal relationship with Christ and model my life after Him as a light to the City of Seattle.