Fall 2020
Welcome to the very first issue of Known, a brand new magazine centered around Knowing God and being Known by Him. The heart behind these pages is to encourage you. Our prayer is that when you read these words that you would be reminded of God’s great love for you; that in this cluttered world, the Creator cares for YOU. You are known by Him. You matter to Him. We also pray that the personal testimonies, stories, and articles in this magazine point you to Christ and help you better know the character of God. This new endeavor is a work in progress, but there are core ideas that you can expect from every forthcoming issue of Known. We will always feature a heart story, a missional story, and a family engagement story. Every heart story will be focused on a culturally relevant topic through the lens of the gospel. The knowledge that God knows everything about us yet still loves us is powerful. Because of this great love, we are able to confront challenging topics head-on and to not shy away from a topic just because it may feel uncomfortable. Missional stories will share insights into local, domestic, and global mission partnerships we have here at Mars Hill Church. The more we know God, the more we desire to love like He does. One physical manifestation of this is serving others. Missional highlights in this magazine will better equip you to pray for and help with needs right here in our community all the way to the ends of the earth. Our focus on family engagement will always be to help parents shepherd their children to Christ. We want to partner alongside you as you help your children know God. The family segments in this magazine will include ideas, resources, and activities for families to engage together in meaningful, gospel-centered family time. Along with these three segments, every issue of Known will have many other fun, interesting, thought-provoking stories, all focused on helping you Know God and to remind you that you are Known by Him. And if you find yourself wanting to know Him more, please know you are always welcome at Mars Hill Church.
Deeper than knowing God is being known by God. What defines us as Christians is not most profoundly that we have come to know Him but that He took note of us and made us His own. John Piper
CONTENTS
hEART story
9 My Struggle With Porn How a man looking for comfort through pornography found lasting healing through the gospel.
COVID HOBBIES
23 A Time to Create See what projects have been birthed out of COVID-19.
keep it simple
17 Exploring Minimalism Decluttering the home and the soul.
RIGHTNOW MEDIA
21 Free Resources Take advantage of the Mars Hill subscription and dive into the resource library.
MISSIONS EMPHASIS
31 Masatepe, Nicaragua Journey with us to this small village to learn how Mars Hill joined with the ministry there.
FALL KITCHEN
43 What’s Cooking? Five recipes to fill your table (and stomachs) as the temperatures drop.
FAMILY TIME
26 Family Worship at Home Five ways to engage your family in worship at home.
DISCIPLESHIP BOX
29 MarsKids Monthly Boxes Subscribe to the monthly discipleship box for activites to work through as a family.
EDITOR’S NOTE
All four of my wild children were asked to be in my cousin’s beautiful outdoor wedding this July. I do not know what she was thinking, but with my party-size bag of M&Ms by my side, I was ready for whatever mischief my little lovelies stirred up and, let me tell you, THEY BROUGHT IT. Instead of walking down the aisle holding an heirloom family Bible, Lucas took off through the woods, and there I was running after him in my fulllength maxi skirt in the hot July humidity. It wasn’t great for my wedding hair. I scooped him up and raced back to the wedding procession to put the Bible in Abby Bette’s flower petal basket and off they went. Once in front of everyone, Joshua started yelling “HEY SASSY!”and waving at my Mom who was seated in the audience. My Mom loved it. After waving to his grandmother, Joshua got bored, popped off his suspenders, laid down on the steps of the alter and literally WENT TO SLEEP during the wedding vows. At one point during the reception, I couldn’t find either of the boys. That’s because they were rolling down a massive hill. It was just a big blur of seersucker. Their beautiful and expensive clothes—covered in grass stains. Big Mama Sigh.
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In some ways, this day with my kids serves as a microcosm of how my daily life has been lately. I feel like my brain is constantly whirring with a tornado of thoughts. I haven’t felt much peace since March. While we’ve been financially stable, for me it’s been the uncertainty of it all and the need to be able to change plans drastically from one day to the next. I haven’t felt prepared for any of it, so I am constantly two steps behind. Metaphorically speaking, I’m chasing a rogue life through the woods, and I am not looking good while doing it. In the car on the way back to the hotel after the wedding, we were all exhausted, sweaty, and quiet. We stopped at a long red light at the top of a hill. All I could see were billboards and tall marquee signs for fast food places. While I was debating swinging by Taco Bell or a grocery store for Oreos, Joshua spoke.
KNOWN MAGAZINE EDITOR Tricia Butts
“Hey, guys!” he said peacefully. “Look at the beautiful world!” When I looked again, this time through his eyes, past the Taco Bell sign and a hundred other signs, I saw what he meant. The rolling hills and valleys on the outskirts of Birmingham. The gentle swaying of an entire forest of trees. The sun gently setting on a beautiful world. There are dozens of distractions being hurtled at you daily. It’s not always easy to be able to see the good in any given situation. My prayer for you reading this is that you come to know God as Yahweh Tsuri which is Hebrew for God is my Rock. In a world of uncertainty, God will not crumble. He is worthy of your trust, and He is strong enough to handle your doubts. Look beyond your fears, look beyond the noise cluttering your weary mind, and simply cast your cares on Him. He can take it. He is a Rock. I pray you come to know Him as such.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. -Isaiah 26:3-4
WRITERS Kyle Bedwell Brittany Hilbun Chris Inman Joe Langley Allison Smith CONTRIBUTORS Kellie Ballard Beka Dolla James Kenny Karrie Anne Richardson Allison Rudd Katie-Ruth Rudd Pamella Tinsley DESIGN Sophie Miller PHOTOS Hutomo Abrianto Bench Accounting Clémence Bergougnoux Philipp Berndt Sarah Dorweiler Amy Cheree Givens Morgan Grace Honeycutt Remi Jacquaint Joel Jasmin Josh Silver Annie Spratt Jean Wimmerlin WEBSITE pomh.org
-Tricia Butts
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To be known by God is the highest goal of human existence. R.C. Sproul
My
STRUGGLE wITH
porn
BY CHRIS INMAN
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“The young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God.” -Bruce Marshall I never thought porn would be a part of my story. Growing up in a Southern Baptist church with a pastor father and two grandfathers in ministry, that kind of life didn’t seem like a possibility. But then came my parents’ divorce when I was nine years old. With all the changes and confusion of that event, I began to feel very alone. My mom worked a lot and I had to take care of myself. In my youth, I tried to find connection with church, friends, sports, and even romantic love, but none of these things ever seemed to dull the pain in my heart. These efforts soothed my hurt, maybe for a moment but, ultimately, I felt I needed something more. That’s where porn entered my life. This is my story and the story of so many people I have met over the past few decades. The details
are different but the theme remains the same— wounded people finding solace in a shame-filled practice that gives them both momentary comfort and an illusory sense of control. Sadly this struggle is alluded to but often not discussed openly in the narratives of church life. We talk about “those people” when their sexual struggles are revealed. But the statistics show that the people who deal with broken sexuality is actually us. The information is overwhelming:
• • •
68% of church-going men and over 50% of pastors view porn on a regular basis. 87% of Christian women have watched porn. 57% of pastors say porn addiction is the most damaging issue in their congregation. And 69% say porn has adversely impacted the church.
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While I had heard these stats for a while, I never really knew what to do about them. I was one of those (youth) pastors who struggled for many years in silence trying to find a way to make this issue go away. I thought getting married
would help. It didn’t. (A common misconception among young people, by the way.) My issues didn’t start with my wife and it is not her responsibility to be the cure for them. But when she discovered my porn use it wounded her deeply. I promised to stop—thinking my guilt would motivate me to change. It didn’t. I was back at it a few weeks later. I was stuck in a cycle of shame. In my hopelessness, I resolved to work harder. There were books to read, (Every Man’s Battle was most popular), memory verses to learn and use (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 and others), plus sermons to listen to, Bible studies to attend, community groups to connect with, and more. If I could only learn the right truth, that magic spiritual cure that would help me see how bad my porn use was, then I could be set free and be the good man I wanted everyone else to see. But I never found the truth that would ease the pain inside me. The only thing that worked was the comfort I found in porn. I had been looking at it for so long it had become a necessary part of coping with life. But my sexual acting out was slowly emptying my soul The irony of my struggle with porn was that my desire to look at porn and my relationship with God were inextricably linked. As Bruce Marshal wrote in The World, The Flesh, and Father Smith, “The young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God.”
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In my broken youth, I had learned that porn worked as temporary bandaid for my heart. It only lasted a few minutes, but while I was lost in forbidden desire, I was distracted from my loneliness and the pain of a broken family. Only God could truly heal this wound, but I didn’t know how to trust him with it. The shame of my behavior prevented me from being brutally honest with other believers. On the rare occasion when I could share with someone, I would receive a shameful look, a few words of advice, or the damning words, “I’ll pray for you about that.” There was no safe place for me to talk openly about my problem with porn. It took years but, finally, I found a place where I could share honestly about my struggle. Though not a church group, these Christian men accepted me for who I was. While sitting among the trees in rural central Mississippi, I heard other men sharing
openly of their childhood hurts and their efforts to medicate that pain. Affairs, alcohol, porn, samesex attraction, workaholism, and sometimes drugs were the themes of their stories. While many of them were outwardly successful, inside they were falling apart. All these lonely, fatherless men trying hard to make it in a sad world. When my time came to share, I was terrified. Through my tears, I told the story of my childhood wounds, my father who wasn’t there enough and my efforts to stop looking at porn. They listened and loved me without offering any advice. For the first time in many years, I felt known and safe. Among the company of strangers, I was at home. While this was the beginning of my recovery journey, my healing continues to this day. I am still tempted to look at porn. My healing is a process. I was not wounded overnight; I struggled with many years of loneliness and emotional neglect. In the same way, I didn’t learn to medicate my hurts with unhealthy behavior in just a few days.
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There was no safe place for me to talk openly about my problem with porn.
My struggle was more than a decade in the making and it has taken years to begin to understand why these desires remain. Just as the Israelites learned to daily trust in God during the 40 years of wilderness, I am in the process of understanding my brokenness. I know God loves me even as I sin. I simply need to see and feel that over and over to continue to heal. In my search to find ‘Jesus with skin on,’ I often meet with others who can listen to my stories, love me and keep my confidence. One of the places I am welcomed and cared for is Fraternal Life, the men’s community at the Mobile Campus at Mars Hill. It is a safe space to listen and be present with others who are fellow strugglers. I experience grace in my time there and am encouraged to continue on my journey, trusting that God has better things in store for me. I pray for more interactions with individuals like this in the future. I believe that God is healing the woundedness in us all one relationship at a time. We as the body of Christ have so much goodness to offer the world if we can simply slow down, share honestly and listen empathetically.
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Many of us can relate to Chris’s story. Maybe you are reading this and you identify all too well with the hold pornography has on your life. Or maybe you are a confused spouse, wounded by this sin brought into your marriage. Perhaps you are a parent who is worried about your child falling into the pit of pornography. Mars Hill Church is a group of broken people from all walks of life who rest in the knowledge that Jesus Christ died for our sins—all sins—even the ones deemed most shameful. Because of this beautiful mercy shown to us, we are committed to walking with people through their struggles, bearing on another’s burdens, and pointing them to Jesus.
3 Pillar Resources
In January, Mars Hill Church hosted the community-wide event “A Call to Arms: an honest conversation about men and the gospel” with guest speaker Traylor Lovvorn of Undone Redone Ministry. Lovvorn shared his gut-wrenching experience with pornography and sex addiction. His marriage and
family were shattered by the powerful grip this sin had on his life, but God’s transforming grace was stronger. His marriage and family were restored, and now he runs Undone Redone Ministries. This ministry focuses on helping men rediscover authentic manhood, restoring hope for women after betrayal, reviving and renewing relationships, and protecting and engaging children’s hearts (undoneredone.com) Topics regarding sexual sin are never comfortable or easy which makes events like this even more vital. There are so many feelings like shame associated with sexual sin which leads to isolation for many men. Gathering together to share and lock arms is what authentic community is all about.
Josh Pepper, Mars Hill member, summed it up perfectly: “Traylor’s testimony reminds us that shame and fear isolate us and keep our sin hidden in the shadows. But, through events like this, men can come together in community and connect to one another’s stories and share each other’s burdens.”
Authentic Community: All men are welcome to join Fraternal Life Men’s Group led
by Teaching Pastor Jack Hester. Email hello@pomh.org for information on the fall schedule.
Family Discipleship: Mars Hill Church uses the Passport to Purity pack to help equip
parents to shepherd their children through the topics of friendships, relationships, and intimacy. Seminars for parents on Passport to Purity are held throughout the year.
Biblical Teaching: Teaching Pastor Neal Ledbetter recommends the following list of Christian books for those seeking help in the area of sexual sin. • Sex In A Broken World by Paul Tripp • Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller • Unwanted by Jay Stringer
• How People Change by Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp
• A Gospel Primer For The Christian Life by Milton Vincent • Finally Free by Heath Lambert
• Sex And The Supremacy of Christ by John Piper
• Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks • Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Samson and The Pirate Monks by Nate Larkin
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To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us. Timothy Keller
EXPERIENCING MINIMALISM BY BRITTANY HILBUN
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After getting married, my husband and I bought an older Victorian style home from an older lady who was downsizing. She was very creative and an artist by trade, but she was also a bit of a pack rat. She didn’t have a lot of help when it came to moving out, so we told her whatever she couldn’t take with her we would handle. We didn’t really know what we were getting ourselves into. As first time home owners, some of the items were useful, like two overstuffed green chairs. But other things? Well, not so much. After all, what is a Victorian home without a couple of creepy porcelain dolls?
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In addition to the knick knacks and furniture left behind by the previous owner, both my husband and I brought a lot of older junk with us to our new house. All of this stuff became very overwhelming to me and it was really hard for me to enjoy my new house because of having to deal with not only my own mess, but also the unexpected mess of others. While struggling with what to do with it all, I discovered a documentary about minimalism and the impact consumerism is having on the environment, our mental health, and our social communities. The two documentarians drastically simplified their lives, and eliminating things that weren’t necessary and de-cluttering their living spaces seemed to uncomplicated other areas of their lives as well. In the documentary, there was a phrase used frequently that really stuck out to me:
Get rid of the things that don’t add value to your life so there is room for the things that do. The sentiments of this phrase can be found within the context of our Christian faith. In Luke12, it
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says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“ And Colossians 3 reminds us to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.“ Verse after verse in the Bible point us to the peace in living simple lives. The kind of life not centered around stuff but one in which we “have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4). In his book Radical, David Platt writes:
...crush the ideas of the American Dream and it’s anti-gospel implications. The American Dream started as an ideal about opportunity. That anyone could be successful if they work hard enough. Somehow, we have warped that into a picture of perfection, and of acquiring things we don’t need. Of worrying about having nice picket fences and denying our community of the good news. So ask yourself this question: What do I have around me that is cluttering up my life? How could getting rid of these things make room for things of value. Prayerfully consider what “things of value” are to you.
3 Pillar Resources Authentic Community: Share your items with your church family! Post what you don’t need anymore
on the Mars Hill Community Facebook page and give it away- it might be just what someone else could use.
Family Discipleship: De-cluttering your home
as a family is a great learning exercise to do together. Engage everyone with questions about why they
“need” certain things and point your kids to the truth found in Luke 12, Colossians 3, and Philippians 4.
Biblical Teaching: Tricia Butts, Communications Director for Mars Hill, recommends these Christian resources for those trying to de-clutter and simplify their lives.
• Clutter Free: What Jesus Says about your Stuff by Kathi Lipp (video, RightNow Media)
• De-clutter by Chuck Swindoll (guided reflection page, RightNow Media)
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Covid Hobbies W ell, let me start off by saying that I’m the kind of person that goes a little stir crazy every single day by 4pm Pre-coronavirus. So even though I am very fortunate to have a nice home, family, and no major stress during this shelter-inplace situation (other than teaching 1st grade common core math) , I have not loved this time. My kids do really weird things like put pepperoni in their water cups and call it pepperoni juice (GAG), showering regularly seems so....unnecessary right now, turns out I hate all Zoom meetings, and also my two-year-old used the bathroom in my party size bag of m & m’s (I ceremoniously voted him off the island, but it was more of a symbolic gesture than anything else). I needed something that was just for me. Caleb told me I could not bring home another cat from the animal shelter, so I looked into gardening. And that is how my Succulent Journey began.
inside at this time, fighting over what color unicorn poop is (Ella says PURPLE and Joshua says BROWN and this makes Ella HYSTERICAL because everyone knows unicorns are MAGICAL). And I just stare at my succulents.
Then I realized that there are several groups on Facebook dedicated to succulents. Jackpot. It was in the group called Succulents and Propagation that I learned that when a succulent leaf falls off the plant, it can propagate an entire new plant. You just need a leaf. This is the part in my Journey where I went a little crazy. When Caleb got home from work, I started going to the gardening section at Lowes and looking for succulent leaves on the floor. IT IS A GOLD MINE. And it is not stealing. I only take leaves that have fallen off naturally AND I ask the clerk if I can have them. Then I take my treasures and place them in my “Hunger Games” pot.
Succulents need pretty much nothing from you. You can forget to water them and they will be okay. Basically, THEY DO NOT BEG YOU FOR A SNACK EVERY HALF HOUR. So without further ado, may I present to you my babies.
This is what I do in my pandemic free time, you guys. I scavenge for succulent leaves on the floor of Lowes and stare at it all while I eat my lunch. To quote my loving husband: “For someone who goes way too far with absolutely everything, you’ve really gone off the cliff with this one.” These are all clippings that should grow and beautifully fill in the pot. I literally don’t watch TV anymore, I just eat lunch outside and stare at each one individually, carefully noting how much they’ve grown since the day before. My kids are | 23 | KNOWN Magazine Fall 2020 |
My Succulent Journey made me curious about all of you. Was I the only one nurturing a Coronavirus Obsession? We asked our church family what hobbies they picked up and projects they completed and here’s what they submitted.
Katie-Ruth Rudd: Watercolor house drawings.
James Kenny: Who would have thought I would start building this stuff from pallet wood‌ Susan painted and made it pretty, I just do the cutting and assembling.
Karrie Richardson: I decided I wanted to Learn how to create Custom Tumblers. So I watched videos, I ordered anything I thought I could need, and after convincing myself that I could do this I jumped in. I enjoy the Process and final product. No two cups are ever the same (no matter how hard I try).
Beka Dollar: My hobby during Quarantine has been baking Joanna Gaines’ recipes from Magnolia Table. My favorite has been the blueberry lemon sweet rolls! So Good!
Pamella Tinsley: I spend my time crafting and making my surroundings pretty. | KNOWN Magazine Fall 2020 | 24 |
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WAYS TO HAVE INTENTIONAL FAMILY WORSHIP WHILE AT HOME BY JOE LANGLEY | KNOWN Magazine Fall 2020 | 26 |
1. JOIN US ONLINE EVERY SUNDAY Treat Sunday as if it were pre-COVID. Yeah, you may be at home watching online, but it doesn’t mean the kids have to be in their pajamas. Mars has NEVER been a dress-up church but, in order to shift the “church online” feeling, treat it as if you were heading to Sunday church. We are great at shuffling kids to a sporting practice or dance rehearsal in the proper gear and Sunday worship can be no different. Designate Sunday morning as a time for the family to gather and be in the living room worshipping God. Kids’ curriculum can be downloaded and used each Sunday!
2. RIGHT NOW MEDIA RightNow Media has TONS of great family devotions and children’s programming. Are you tired of what you have to filter for your kids? Check out RightNow Media. Mars Hill blessed all our families with a free membership. Take advantage of this awesome gift! (Text RIGHTNOW POMH to 41411) | 27 | KNOWN Magazine Fall 2020 |
3. FAMILY DINNER BLESSINGS Invite God to the dinner table. Bless the meal and sit together as a family. Fathers, take time and bless each of your children by laying your hands on their shoulders and speaking encouragement to them. What are they good at? Thank God in front of them. Talk about a powerful moment!
4. YOUTUBE WORSHIP Pick some of your favorite worship songs and turn it up. Sing loud and proud. Don’t worry about your pitch or your neighbors next door. Take turns picking your favorite worship song and sing-a-long.
5. NIGHTLY PRAYER Conclude the night by asking your family for what they are thankful for. Big or small. Then take time telling God that you are thankful for your family being aware of the blessings in their lives. Lastly, there is no such thing as a perfect parent. We all make mistakes with our kids. Humbly approach them and ask their forgiveness if you’ve blown it. Model for them your relationship with Christ.
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For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
MISSIONS EMPHASIS: MASATEPE, NICARAGUA BY KYLE BEDWELL AND ALLISON SMITH
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“We started this journey in Portland, and ended up with a farm in Nicaragua.�
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When mentioning the journey Mars Hill took that led to purchasing a farm in a small town in Nicaragua called Masatepe, Mark Rudd gave a sly smile. For all intents and purposes, owning land in another country (a farm and rehabilitation center, for that matter) was not on Mars Hill’s radar when Mark started praying for new missions initiatives when he took over as Missions Pastor in 2015.
“The church wanted to respond to the actual needs of the missionaries on the ground.”
“In my first week on the job, Joe Langley handed me a folder with a few documents in it and when I asked him what it was, he said, ‘That’s the missions folder.’” Mars Hill has always been involved with missions and supporting missionaries, but the scope had deliberately been small. “Now that the church has stability, what should we do next?” Mark sat down with teaching pastor Jack Hester to discuss a few questions to help define the vision. | KNOWN Magazine Fall 2020 | 34 |
“‘What do we, as a church, consider to be mission work? What should our support for missions look like?’” Mark recalled the conversation. “As a church, we landed on a few things. Mars wanted to do missions in a holistic way, no matter what, and the church wanted to respond to the actual needs of the missionaries on the ground.”
a cafe. That providential encounter would be the catalyst for everything that followed.
That led Mars Hill to Scott and Vicki McCracken (relatives of the late Mark and Dana Powell) and OneCollective in Portland, Oregon, and the sending of two interns to Portland to live and work with the McCrackens to provide physical support to their ministry while also continuing a ministry that Mars Hill has always been involved in: developing college students to be leaders in the church of the future. Little did Mark know what roads this new connection would lead down.
Masatepe is a quiet little town with a quiet little street lined with brightly colored houses, banana trees and tropical flowers, steamy, humid afternoons, and kind-hearted, hardworking people who know how to show Southern hospitality.
OneCollective invited Mars Hill to attend its yearly gathering in West Palm Beach, Florida, to help Mars discern whether this was an organization the church wanted to partner with long term. While Mark was there, he met Brandon Weidman, a missionary with a specific ministry in Masatepe, Nicaragua, that would be familiar to all of us at Mars Hill...
To hear current Missions Pastor Brad Hill talk about it, Masatepe is the Latin American equivalent of Mayberry. It looks compact and tiny, but the banana fronds and lush green hills conceal many of the homes scattered throughout the jungle. There, in the hills and dales of a place not unlike our town of Mobile, the transforming power of Jesus is evident.
Mars Hill undertook a vision trip to Masatepe in February 2016, to visit Brandon, consider what involvement might look like with his ministry, and get a feel for this small Latin American town.
There, in a place not unlike Mobile, the transforming power of Jesus is evident.
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The laid-back vibe disguises incredible suffering of one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Extreme poverty has only increased over the past few years because of political turmoil, unemployment runs at almost 50 percent, alcoholism has its terrible grip on the town, life is in constant flux, and this is the backdrop for the Lord’s amazing work. In that initial trip in 2016, Mark Rudd and the vision team started reading through When Helping Hurts with the local Nicaraguan pastors. Whatever ministry, whatever support Mars Hill would offer in Nicaragua, the church wanted it to be a healthy and organic relationship with the local body of believers. The two teams, one composed of local church leaders reading in Spanish, and another composed of the Mars Hill team reading in English, sat around a whiteboard to try and get all the ideas on the table. Brandon Weidman’s cafe was a definite focus. The cafe is what originally drew Mars to Masatepe; it was a ministry Mars Hill knew and understood. Seminary training was another seemingly obvious way that Mars could help the local church, as we have been blessed to have seminary professors and highly educated teachers on staff. And yet, one of the things the local Nicaraguan believers and pastors kept bringing up was the need for help in dealing with addiction and addiction rehabilitation. “I can tell you, running an addiction rehabilitation center was truly the last thing on my radar for Mars Hill,” Mark Rudd said. “A Cafe? Pastoral training? Yes. Addiction center? No. And the fact that it happened will tell you it had to be God, because I did everything I could to pump the brakes on that idea. God had other plans!”
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Mark and the team brought back the different ideas and presented them to the elders of Mars Hill. Partnering with the local church to fund and run an addiction rehabilitation center (which would require the purchase of land) seemed so far out of the realm of possibility, but after discussion with the initial Vision team, it was decided that a few of the elders should go to Nicaragua themselves to see what that ministry might look like. “I kept trying to pump the brakes,” Mark reiterated, “but it seemed like God was pushing us forward.” When the elders returned, it was with joy and refined purpose. It was determined that Mars Hill would not only partner in this new ministry, but would fund the purchase of the small farm needed for the ministry.
“Whatever ministry, whatever support Mars Hill would offer in Nicaragua, the church wanted it to be a healthy and organic relationship with the local body of believers.” | 37 | KNOWN Magazine Fall 2020 |
Today, the farm that Mars Hill purchased is functioning wonderfully as both an addiction rehabilitation center and separately as a cafe. Soon, the next group of guys will start their journey to freedom from addiction at the farm. While there, they will not only be treated for addiction, but will be taught trades to help them find stable jobs once they graduate the program. Doctors are now on site at the farm to be able to attend to the students in a much more immediate way. Aside from the daily benefits of the ministry to the local church, there have been countless growth
benefits for our Mars Hill church body. Two of our members that went to Masatepe on previous trips have now become full-time missionaries. Many of you know their names and their stories. Additionally, the ministry has opened doors to bring some Nicaraguan students here to Mobile in the process. “Many of us in the church met Sarita (or Sarah) from Masatepe, who Mars brought to Mobile for a time. We knew that we all couldn’t go to Masatepe, but maybe we could bring some of Masatepe to us, to put a face to our involvement and ministry in Nicaragua.”
As you might know, Nicaragua has had its share of political unrest in the last few years, coming to a head in 2018. It was a scary time, when almost every single mission and church organization pulled its people and ministries out of the country for safety reasons. That year, the U.S. Embassy evacuated all citizens due to political unrest, our Mars Hill missionaries, Brandon and Hannah Weidman and their two children, left their Nicaraguan home of eight years. Jacob and Sarah Magers also left. In one fell swoop, a team of 20 Americans left Masatepe. In spite of this, local projects continued to grow and improve. “We knew from the beginning that we wanted our partnership to be organic, and to be directed by the needs of those working on the field day to day,” Mark said. “We wanted the ministry to be able to thrive, even if Mars Hill could no longer send workers or logistical support. One of the ways we know God has had his providential hand on this ministry is that, during the upheaval, that is exactly what happened. The local workers and pastors took over the entire operation. They made sure the farm and cafe still functioned exactly as designed the entire time our missions and relief teams were gone.”
The work of the local church body, in partnership with Mars Hill, continues today. An eclectic group of pastors is providing encouragement and direction. Brandon still makes trips from the US to support local efforts and Mars Hill continues to be invested in the growth and discipleship of believers through short term mission trips and financial support.
As a church, Mars Hill sends two teams a year to Masatepe; one of returning team members, and one of entirely new team members and volunteers. “We want to be consistent,” Brad Hill said. “We are invested in long term relationships. We have precious relationships with Leonel, the project manager and with Geovanny, the farm manager.” Brad has enjoyed traveling to many countries, but Masatepe has a special place in his heart. “The Nicaraguan people want to work,” he said. “They hunger for it. There is a pride of community and place. They have a beautiful spirit.”
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With each trip to Masatepe, he finds new improvements to community projects, growth and a consistent desire for the Lord’s redemptive work. Are you interested in experiencing ministry for yourself? Do you wonder what happens on a shortterm mission trip? Brad shared a glimpse into traveling to serve in Masatepe. “You will receive a crash course on the philosophy of missions and the OneCollective empowerment-based model for community transformation. You will visit the homes of our brothers and sisters in Christ, share a cup of amazing coffee and a plate of gallo pinto with fried plantains. You will come away with a full belly and a full heart. You will get your hands dirty working together on a communi-
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ty project such as building chicken coops or construction. You will watch Geovanny, farm supervisor, pack up eggs to deliver to preschools. Simple things with a powerful impact. The world shrinks and the Lord is magnified. “ How can we pray for this beautiful community? The number one priority is for the health and safety of the people. Our brothers and sisters in Christ have been through trial after trial. The rioting and political instability this past year have been economically crushing and life is insecure. As of now, Covid-19 has not reached the pandemic proportions in Nicaragua that we are experiencing in the US. If it should get worse, there are not many available ventilators and the Nicaraguan response has already been haphazard at best.
Pray that the Lord would raise up people from within our congregations to go. Currently there is a need for a business-minded person who are willing to live locally and help launch sustainable initiatives. Don Beto (the namesake of Beto’s Bistro) handcrafts beautiful leather goods. Locally grown coffee could be exported. Another need is for an onsite short term team’s coordinator. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing to show our commitment to this work by sending one of our own? Pray that the pastors would stay committed and faithful to the work. Pray for Leonel, the project manager. Currently Beto’s Bistro is closed and the workers are furloughed because of the virus. The first cohort of men have started the difficult path to addiction recovery at Luke’s Inn. Pray for the rehab and farm’s financial needs. They are close to becoming self-sustaining.
3 Pillar Resources Authentic Community: Talk to our staff, elders, and members who have gone to Masatepe to serve. Hear their stories and engage personally in how God is working there. Stay connected with the ongoing
work of OneCollective by subscribing to their newsletter. Go to their website (onecollective.org) and scroll to the bottom to sign-up on their email list.
Family Discipleship: Families can partner with Mars Hill in the ongoing ministry in Masatepe in several
ways. Most importantly, through prayer. Children at any age can pray for the people in Nicaragua. Together, learn more about Nicaragua as a country and as a culture. Enjoy a classic Latin American meal together and talk about ways your family can serve those around the world, even if at home.
Biblical Teaching: Missions Pastor Brad Hill recommends these following Christian resources when prayerfully considering your role in mission work.
• When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert (book) • In Light of Eternity, Frances Chan (video, RightNow Media)
• Helping Without Hurting in Short Term Missions, Brian Fikkert (video, RightNow Media) • The Biblical Basis for Missions (video, RightNow Media)
• Marks of a Healthy Church, Mark Dever (video, RightNow Media) • Work is a Mission Field (video, RightNow Media) • Let the Nations be Glad by John Piper (book)
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What matters supremely, therefore, is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it—the fact that he knows me. I am graven on the palms of his hands. I am never out of his mind. All my knowledge of him depends on his sustained initiative in knowing me. I know him because he first knew me, and continues to know me. He knows me as a friend, one who loves me; and there is no moment when his eye is off me, or his attention distracted from me, and no moment, therefore, when his care falters. J. I. Packer
THE Fall Kitchen Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •
2 Sticks (1 cup) room temp butter (salted) 3/4 Cup brown sugar 3/4 Cup white sugar 2 Eggs 2 tsp vanilla 3 Cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 Cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
This recipe Makes about 30 Cookies
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350. 2. Mix the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla with an electric mixer for 3 minutes. 3. Add in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until just combined. Don’t over mix. 4. Stir in the chocolate chips. 5. Roll into balls and place on a greased or lined baking sheet. They should be about the size of a golf ball. Be sure to space them out. No more than 12 per baking sheet. 6. Bake for 10-11 minutes. Don’tover bake! 7. Keep the cookies on the baking sheet for about three minutes, and then, transfer them to a cooling rack. | 43 | KNOWN Magazine Fall 2020 |
Mediterranean Orzo Salad I use quinoa instead of orzo. Delicious.
Ingredients
16 ounces orzo 3 cups baby spinach leaves, gently torn into large pieces 1 1/2 chopped red bell pepper, about one red bell pepper 1 cup cucumber, diced and seeded, about one medium 3/4 cup red onion, diced 5 ounces Castelvetrano green olives, drained and halved 5 ounces Kalamata pitted olives, drained and halved 7 ounces feta cheese 1/2 cup canola oil 1/4 cup olive oil 1 lemon , juiced 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon black pepper
Ingredients • • • • •
Crunchy fresh vegetables and leafy spinach paired with orzo pasta, briny olives, and feta cheese for an easy pasta salad perfect for meal prep or parties.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Fruit Salad
Directions 1. Bring a pot of water to a boil, season with salt, and cook the orzo for 10 minutes. Drain, rinse, and set aside to cool. 2. Transfer the cooled orzo to a large mixing bowl. Add the spinach, chopped vegetables, and olives, then crumble half of the feta cheese over the pasta. 3. In a small bowl, whisk the canola oil, olive oil, lemon juice, oregano and salt and pepper until mixed. Pour the vinaigrette over the pasta mixture and gently fold until the pasta and veggies are coated. Taste for seasoning and top with the remaining feta cheese. 4. Refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight before serving. The pasta is best within 2-3 days, but will last in the refrigerator up to 1 week.
16 oz small curd cottage cheese 3 oz box of jello (any flavor) 8 oz container of cool whip 15 oz can of drained fruit cocktail or fruit of your choice 1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecan,walnuts) optional
Mix and chill and serve **Ideas - pineapple jello and can of drained pineapple chunks or tidbits ** Submitted by Pamella Tinsley
Tomato Pie Ingredients • • • • • • •
Pillsbury brand frozen pie shell 3-4 tomatoes medium sliced 1/2 cup chopped green onions 1 cup mayonnaise (Duke’s is best but Kraft will do) 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 3 1 heaping TBSP dried basil Salt and pepper to taste
Directions 1. Pre-bake pie shell according to package instructions. 2. Drain tomatoes WELL on paper towels. 3. In the baked pie shell, layer tomatoes with onions and basil. 4. Mix mayonnaise and cheese. Spread over top of tomato layers. 5. Bake pie at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Serves 6. Submitted by Alison Rudd
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Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Filling
• • • • • •
Cream cheese Frosting
Dough
3/4cup warm milk 2 1/4 cup quick rise yeast 1/4 cup sugar 1 egg plus 1 yolk 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted) 3 cups Flour
Directions
1. Warm the milk 40-45 seconds, sprinkle the yeast on top. 2. Add sugar, eggs, and melted butter. Mix until well combined. 3. Stir in Flour and salt with wooden spoon until dough forms. Knead dough 8-10 min, add 2tbls flour if very sticky. 4. Transfer dough ball into well oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and put towel on top. 5. Allow to set for 1-1/2 hours, dough should double in size. 6. Once the dough is ready is ready transfer to well floured surface and roll out in a rectangular shape. 7. Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon, use | 45 | KNOWN Magazine Fall 2020 |
• 2/3 cup brown sugar • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon • 1/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• • • •
4oz cream cheese softened 3 TBSP unsalted butter (softened) 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla
hands to sprinkle mixture over buttered dough. Rub brown sugar mixture into butter. 8. Tightly roll up, will need to cut off the edges. Cut into 1 inch rolls depending on how big you want them. 9. Place cut cinnamon rolls into greased pan lined with parchment paper. Cover and let rise for 30-45 min. 10. Preheat oven to 350, remove plastic wrap and bake 20-25 min or until slightly golden. 11. Allow to cool 5-10 min before frosting! 12. (Frosting) Combine all ingredients and beat until smooth and fluffy. 13. Spread over your beautiful Cinnamon rolls and eat up!
BIBLICAL TEACHING. AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY. FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP.