On behalf of Mars Hill Church Leadership in West Seattle, I have the honor of communicating some upcoming leadership changes in West Seattle and areas of oversight.

When Jesus says in Matt 16:18, “upon this rock I will build my church,” Jesus declares He is the chief builder and master architect of His church. As elders, deacons, community group leaders, ministry leads, volunteers, and church members we are all under the authority of Jesus and we are all under “construction” of the chief builder.

As we begin summer 2009, our Chief Shepherd has seen fit to make some leadership changes in West Seattle, (namely to our Elder & Deacon teams), and in the spirit of Acts 6:1-7, we want to provide healthy leadership for the body of Christ.

Below is a summary of all the leadership changes ahead:

1. Pastor James Noriega is joining the WS elders July 1st and will be overseeing Redemption groups and Biblical Counseling in West Seattle

2. Deacon Shan Applin is transitioning off of WS staff July 1st and remains as a Lay-Deacon in good standing assisting Alan in Children’s ministry

3. Deacon Alan Andersen will be overseeing Children’s ministry, 45, and Youth beginning July 1st.

4. Tim Van Liew joins the WS staff July 6th and will oversee welcome team, facility management, office, membership, & events

5. Deacon Ryan Mount is transitioning off of WS staff and joins the Central Operations Staff overseeing property management of campuses.

(To learn more about each of the WS elders and staff please click here.)

The leadership changes in West Seattle have been made after much prayer, communication, and careful consideration with Jesus and with each of the individuals involved. We dearly love each of these men and their families and invite you to pray for each of them, their wives, and families during this transition. The call of Jesus has been clearly discerned by each of them and we are enjoying the clarity of this call today.

We invite you to join us this Sunday, June 28th as we pray for each of these men and the changes ahead. Following the morning services we are also holding a transition BBQ from 1:30-3:30pm. This will be a time for asking any questions about these transitions you may have, for example, parents may want to attend to hear more about children’s ministry, or those interested in counseling may want to attend to ask questions regarding Redemption groups, or you may want to ask about our welcome teams.

Mars Hill West Seattle, we love you, we are praying for you, and we are trusting Jesus with you.

Laboring with you for Christ,

Erik Henrikson
WS Campus Executive

Taste and See the Lord is Good, Psalm 34:1-10 from mhcwestseattle on Vimeo.

This Video can also be viewed and downloaded from the Mars Hill Media Library

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This week we looked at Psalm 34:1-10, “Taste and See the Lord is Good”, and examined how our deepest longings are ultimately satisfied by enjoying God – not by denying him (irreligion) nor denying our deepest longings (religion). David invites us to absolute trust, complete praise, and unwavering dependence on him as we enjoy him for who he is. The invitation of the scriptures is not to dull, dreary, boring obedience, but rather a call to lasting fulfillment, satisfaction, joy and identity in knowing and enjoying God.

Posted from the Mars Hill Blog

Jesus and the Apostles preached that we should repent of our sin, believe in Jesus for salvation and be baptized to demonstrate it. Baptism simply stated, is an outward symbolic act that demonstrates the inward reality of what God has done in bringing us to faith in Jesus. Just as Jesus died, was buried and rose again, so we too, die to our flesh through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross and are given new life in him.

To celebrate Jesus, who died for sinners and rose from death conquering Satan, sin and death, the West Seattle campus will have baptisms at every service on Easter Sunday, April 12th. If you have put your faith in Jesus for your salvation and have not been baptized, please fill out this short form.

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about baptism:

Q: What is baptism?

A: Baptism is the Christian act of immersing a believer under water and then bringing him forth out of the water. It is a practical representation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as the person being baptized is plunged beneath the waters and brought forth in the same way that Jesus was buried in the earth and resurrected on their behalf in forgiveness of their sins (Rom 6:1-10; Col 2:12). Baptism identified a Christian with Jesus (Acts 10:48; Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27), the universal church (1 Cor 12:13), and the local church (Acts 2:41).

Q: Why should Christians be baptized?

A: Jesus commanded that all Christians be baptized (Mt 28:19). His apostles also commanded that all Christians be baptized (Acts 2:38). Therefore, Christians should be baptized because their God and His servants command it.

Q: Who should be baptized?

A: First, John the Baptizer required that people repent of sin before they could be baptized (Mt 3:2, 6; Mk 1:4; Lk 3:3). Therefore, only Christians who have repented of sin should be baptized.

Second, every baptism in the New Testament is preceded by repentance of sin and faith in Jesus (Acts 2:38-41; 2:41; 8:12; 9:18-19; 10:44-48; 16:14-15, 40; 16:29-36; 18:8; 19:1-7; 22:16). Therefore, only Christians who have repented of sin and have trusted in Jesus should be baptized.

Third, baptism is reserved solely for people who have put on Christ (Gal 3:27). Therefore, only those who are Christians should be baptized.

In summary, repentance of sin and faith in Jesus are the marks of a Christian. And all Christians are commanded to be baptized in order to identify themselves with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Subsequently, no one but a Christian should be baptized, and this excludes all non-Christians and children who are too young to demonstrate repentance and articulate faith.

Q: May I be baptized if I have previously been baptized?

A: Once someone has been baptized there is no need for him to be baptized again (Eph 4:5). The only exception to this is if someone was baptized as a non-Christian and desires to profess his faith and be baptized as a Christian (Acts 19:1-5). Theis exception would include people who were baptized in cults and heretical churches, as well as those baptized as infants at the request of their parents. Mars Hill does not require that those who were baptized as children be re-baptized as believing adults, but leaves this decision to the conscience of each Christian.

Q: Do members have to be baptized?

A: Since Jesus commands that all of his disciples be baptized, baptism is a requirement for all Mars Hill members (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; 10:48; 1 Peter 3:21). If you’ve already been baptized since you became a Christian, you don’t need to get re-baptized. Mars Hill performs believer baptisms only, which means we don’t baptize infants. If a prospective member was baptized as a baby and does not want to be re-baptized due to reasons of conscience, that is acceptable as long as this decision remains personal and does not become a divisive issue within the church. If you have more questions about baptism specifically, please speak with a pastor or other leader at your campus.

[FAQ's from "Baptism: An explanation of believer baptism and refutation of contrary beliefs" by Pastor Mark Driscoll]

Mars Hill Church is hard at work serving and loving the people we hope to see God reach through us. One recent example is the Citizens On Patrol program – an effort to prevent crime and encourage community in Belltown.

Pastor Mark recently contacted Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels to ask how Mars Hill can continue to serve our city. The mayor’s office responded with a request for help with the City of Seattle’s upcoming survey on homelessness in Seattle. It’s a tremendous undertaking that will require lots of volunteer help.

Basically, teams of volunteers will be sent out to various parts of the city, and will speak with every person they meet to determine if they are homeless. If they are, the volunteers will ask them to participate in a survey to help the city understand their needs. Volunteers will need to commit four hours on the evening of April 13, 2009 and one hour of training prior to the evening of the assessment.

Here are the details:

Who: 700 volunteers (in partnership with the City of Seattle, United Way, and the Committee to End Homelessness)

Where: Volunteers will be grouped in teams of three and will be assigned a specific part of the city to cover

When: April 13th, 8:00pm-12:00am

Why: The survey will be used to help allocate the annual $40 million our city uses to fight homelessness

This is an excellent opportunity to build relationships and serve our city, please consider signing up by yourself or with your community group.  Jesus has given us a great city to live in and it’s an honor to come alongside others and join in serving it for the greater good.

Visit the City of Seattle Homeless Needs Assessment Webpage to sign up.

On March 7th over 75 women attended the first Women’s Training Day at the West Seattle campus.  True to our winter this year, it was snowing outside throughout the morning but this did not keep people away. There was a definite buzz in the air as ladies arrived early to register and visit with each other before the event started.

We all gathered in the auditorium for worship and a day was full of biblical teaching, connecting with other women, and a challenge as individuals to be studying the Word and learning the truths of scripture and God’s character. We looked specifically at the worries in our day to day lives and what the scripture says about worry, anxiety and faith. After the teaching everyone enjoyed nice box lunches and conversations around the tables that were beautifully decorated with spring flowers. Lunch was followed by worship and time in small groups to discuss the teaching from each session and next steps to practically live out what was learned. The day ended with singing and a challenge to the women to honestly look at what we believe in more—the reality of our problems or the reality of God and his character and promises.

If you missed this event, audio was recorded from the two main sessions and can be listened to below.

Session 1: What is Theology and Why Should I Care?

Proverbs tells us that insight and wisdom has its foundation in the fear of the Lord and knowledge of the Holy One. In Luke 10:42, Jesus says that Mary has chosen the good portion in response to her sitting at his feet and listening to his teaching. This leads us to ask ourselves how much time do we really spend getting to know God on a deep level? In this session we will unpack the words “theology” and “doctrine” and look at the importance of studying God’s word.

Download the message Here or subscribe to the iTunes podcast for the West Seattle Campus.

Session 2: Faith versus Worry

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. It is important for us to understand what faith is, what scripture says about it and what Jesus says about it. Many times we believe more in the realities of our problems than in the reality of our God, his character and his truth. In this session we will look at what the Bible says about unfaithfulness and faithfulness and will examine the connection between our worries and anxieties and our faith.

Download the message Here or subscribe to the iTunes podcast for the West Seattle Campus.

What is Theology and Why Should I Care?

by Deacon Amy Lockman

If we are really honest with ourselves, many of us believe more in the realities of our problems than in the reality of our God, his character and his truth.  How can we learn to trust God more in a practical way and not just throw out the classic Christian cliché to all our worries and problems…”Just trust God.”  Easier said than done, huh?!

We all struggle with unbelief (Mark 9:24).  In her book When Life and Beliefs Collide, Carolyn Custis James states “We ask too much of ourselves to trust a stranger.”  We know we need to trust God but how much time do we really spending getting to know God on a deep level.  I don’t know about you, but if I look at how much time I spend thinking, planning, fretting about things versus how much time I spend in God’s word it is quite convicting.  I think I’m smart enough to figure things out, but don’t go to the one who not only has already planned it all out (Psalm 139:16), and is sovereign over it all, but also has the power to transform my heart and to give me the peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).

If we are to cast all of our anxieties on him and trust him more, it sure helps to know him and know who you are trusting.  Sometimes we think if we just trust God more, we will know him better.  I’d like to suggest that it is the other way around….when we know him more, we trust him more.  And when we trust him more, we experience less worry. We get to know our Father more through theology and sound doctrine.

At the March 7th Women’s Training Day we will unpack the words “theology” and “doctrine” and examine what they mean for the women of West Seattle.  Proverbs states that wise practical living has its foundation in the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of the Holy One (Proverbs 9:10). We will look at how our theology and daily worry go hand in hand and examine what the Bible says about theology, doctrine, faith and unbelief.  Our hope is that you will leave this day encouraged and challenged.

To register for this event, please click HERE.

As a freshman in college, I remember meditating on Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” on the college campus and receiving the call to ministry from the Lord.

By God’s providence and grace, I was born into a Christian family.  At the age of twelve I received Jesus as my Lord during a winter retreat.  In 1987, I moved from Seoul, Korea to the U.S. at the age of fifteen, and my training to be a “radical reformissionary” in the global church had begun.

In my college days, I earnestly wanted to see the church reformed in the 21st century.  I desired to see another Reformation in the church – to be part of the historical movement that not only began in 1517 but from the beginning of human history! This desire led me to change my major to Classics which exposed me to the rich foundational sources of Western civilization with respect to language, literature, history, philosophy, religion and politics. Upon completion of a bachelor’s degree at UCLA, I attended Westminster Seminary near San Diego, CA. where I received training in Reformed theology through the Master of Divinity program.

My family began to grow in 2002.   After a brief long distance “Sleepless in Seattle” like courtship, I married Carol and moved up to the Seattle area for the next chapter of life as a husband, father and pastor.  In 2003, I was ordained as a pastor or teaching elder in the Pacific Northwest Presbytery of Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and served as an associate or English Ministry pastor in a first generation immigrant church. The Lord Jesus blessed us with two children, Karis (6 years old) and Kaden (4 years old) as we served in a Korean American church in Federal Way.

God convicted me in 2007, through a conference in Los Angeles, about gospel-centered missional church and evangelism.  Three questions that left strong impression in my heart and my mind were “What does Gospel centered ministry look like?”, “What does it mean for me to be missional?” and “How does evangelism look like where I live?” These questions were instrumental in making the decision a year later that would prove to be radical and unconventional to many people who knew me.  In November of the same year, Carol and I attended Church Planters Assessment in Atlanta, where we received a recommendation to plant a church that lived out the questions heavy in my heart.

In God’s providence, in 2008, I attended the Resurgence Conference hosted by Mars Hill Church in Seattle – my first connection to Mars Hill and “PTP” (pastor to pastor) training.   There I began praying and planning in earnest about a multi-ethnic church plant.  With great support from the current home church, we began to study the churches in the area during a six month sabbatical.  In July 2008, I began the church planter training program called “PTP” at Mars Hill Church in Seattle.  In October 2008, I became a member of Mars Hill Church.  I am so thankful and blessed to be at the West Seattle campus with my family.

To serve as a Mars Hill pastor is both a privilege and challenge. It is a privilege to be on a mission with a band of brothers who are on a mission for Jesus to reach out, without selling out, with the gospel – to love people, to know culture and to see the lives of people being transformed by knowing Jesus. On the other hand, a challenge to be part of a new Mars Hill church plant, in a new location and in a new culture to communicate the same gospel to a diverse group of people.  But in final analysis, just as the early church spread to different regions and people groups, I believe that the movement of the gospel goes beyond our familiar places and people groups.

I want to lead a new Mars Hill Church campus as we seek to transform the people in the image of Jesus Christ and the city in the Kingdom of God among its diverse cultures in Federal Way and the mid Puget Sound area.

Every day, I want to be found by Jesus who daily saves my lost purpose, motivation, and strength to live for the greatness of God’s glory.  After twenty years since the call to be a disciple and follower of Jesus, I still feel the passion and conviction for the greatness of God to be real in my life and the life of his people – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10.

Note from the Editor: The West Seattle Campus is excited to welcome Samuel Choi to our Campus elder team. Pastor Adam introduced him from the pulpit on Sunday, February 15th, which marked the beginning of a two week waiting period in which we want to present Samuel before the body to ensure that he has a good reputation with outsiders.  If you have any concerns about Samuel’s qualifications to hold the office of elder please email them to elderprocess@marshillchurch.org

Higher quality video can be watched Here