Sammamish got its first real snow day of the year this morning – the weather was cold, and some neighborhood roads weren’t in any shape for driving. But that didn’t stop Mars Hill Sammamish from filling all the way up for its official launch celebration. Ten minutes into the first service, a row of people was standing along the back wall as the seats got more and more crowded.

This kind of full room is a powerful testament to God’s grace. A year ago, this same room held the small remainder of what had been a large and vibrant body at Evergreen Christian Fellowship. Over time, Evergreen had become smaller and smaller until they were at a point of crisis. Satan would have liked nothing more than to see a church wither away and die, but God had another plan to spread the name of Jesus on the Sammamish plateau. The leadership and members of Evergreen decided to join Mars Hill’s mission and use the foothold they had in the community to help plant Mars Hill Sammamish.

Fast forward just a few short months, and you can see a picture of God doing what he always does: reaching into a place where there was death and bringing new life. What Satan wanted to steal, kill, and destroy God has rescued, revived, and redeemed. Because of the power of the gospel the name of Jesus is being boldly proclaimed and loudly celebrated in a church home full of impassioned worshippers. God is good.

God had a plan
Mary and Guy have been around for a while, and their excitement was echoed everywhere this morning. “This is really the culmination of a long, long transition,” Guy said. “This right here is everything we’ve been working toward. But it’s not our work. This is God’s work.” That’s been a recurring theme throughout the history of Mars Hill, and really, throughout the whole of human history:God is at work. Over and over, he blesses us with the opportunity to witness what’s happening, and even to join him as His instruments to spread the message of his life changing gospel.

Starting the Real Marriage series
The launch of Mars Hill Sammamish also coincided with the beginning of the Real Marriage series. After a strong message about God’s plan for powerful, transforming, Christ-centered marriages, the men of Mars Hill were challenged to commit themselves publicly to leading their families, loving and serving their wives, and centering their families on Jesus. All across the sanctuary, couples were huddled with husbands praying over their wives and committing their marriages to the service of Christ.

Speaking to men, whom God appointed to lead in their homes, is the bulls eye on the Sammamish Plateau. We are located in the middle of a community of families. When the gospel infiltrates the marriages and families of their households, strong legacies of faith will begin to be established for the generations to come.

Reaching families with the gospel
This morning we witnessed how God is already using the commitment of His people to build a legacy for their families. Leah, a 17 year old student who was baptized today, wasn’t planning on that when she left home this morning. After moving several times as she was growing up, her family ended up in the area, and she joined a small group at Mars Hill Bellevue. “I realized it’s so much more than words,” she said. “I went from saying I believed in Jesus, really because my parents did, to taking initiative for my own faith. I’d been feeling convicted to be baptized for a while but hadn’t. But this morning, I saw my dad holding my mom’s hand and praying for her. I saw him leading our family, and I could just see that Jesus was doing something. I knew it was time to be baptized.”

Celebrating new life
A new church launching is a great reason to celebrate, and a new series to grow families and strengthen marriages is worth getting excited about, but ultimately, everything we do is about people meeting Jesus and coming to new life in him. There were eleven baptisms altogether this morning, and they were the perfect way to close our services.
Pastor Alex Ghioni was excited and emotional to see God’s work in Sammamish: “Watching Jesus before our very eyes fulfill His promise to build His church was amazing. The whole church was filled with joy this morning as we witnessed the Holy Spirit establish, move, and bless the church that Jesus died to ransom. Baptizing dozens and dozens at Qwest field last Easter was an overwhelming experience of joy. But watching eleven of our own people being baptized, professing their faith in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection was like watching my own children being born. There’s a great opportunity for the gospel to move forward on the Sammamish Plateau and beyond. Today we joined all of the Mars Hill Churches as a sister church in the Lord, and partner in the mission of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

On mission
Mars Hill Sammamish was just one of four new churches today. God is moving in huge ways, and we’re grateful for His grace in allowing us a part in His story. Sammamish represents an incredible opportunity to advance the gospel, and we’re excited to follow God where He takes us. To Him be the glory.