KNOWN Fall/Winter 2021

Fall/Winter 2021

STEWARDSHIP

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POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

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SOCIAL MEDIA

WELCOME TO KNOWN , A 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.

KNOWN MAGAZINE EDITOR Tricia Butts WRITERS Brian Argo Tricia Butts Beka Dollar Jose Leonel Dallas Schmidt DESIGN Sophie Miller PHOTOS Admoni Photography Apollo Photography Nathan Dumlao Daiga Ellaby Camilo Jimenez Yuyeung Lau Andrej Lisakov Anastasia Lysiak Priscilla Du Preez Donna Richardson Daniel J. Schwarz Michelle Taulbee Samaritan’s Purse St. John Wilson WEBSITE pomh.org

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THIS IS A PLACE TO B E K N OW N.

CONTENTS 13

HOPE AFTER POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION A look into the life of one of our covenant members as she shares her experience with postpartum depression.

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A WAY WITH WORDS How do we balance grace and truth on social media? How do we steward our words rightly?

During a seminar at the Mobile campus this summer, author and speaker Daniel Darling taught on this and ways to redeem social media.

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STEWARDSHIP PROFILES Meet some of the faces behind the different teams and service areas from both campuses and consider ways you might serve within our faith family..

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PLANNING, PARENTING, & A GRACIOUS GOD Get to know Freddy and Whitney Taul and their three children, as Whitney contrasts their plans for parenting and the grace-filled reality God had in mind for them.

E D I TO R ’ S

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N OT E

“He’s 3 years old, white, light brown hair, and he’s only wearing brown corduroy pants- no socks and no shoes and no shirt,” I sobbed to the 9-1-1 operator.

It was only the second day of the fresh new year 2021, and I had already lost one of the kids. My resolution to be a more engaged parent was already trash.

We thought Lucas was pouting in his room over his dislike of the shirt I had laid out for him to wear. Two hours later, we realized we hadn’t seen him in a while. At first, Caleb and I kind of roamed around the house looking for him.

He was probably playing with his legos in the playroom.

Nope, not there.

Maybe he set up a fort in our room with the big pillows.

No, empty room.

In months prior, Lucas had wandered out of the house on his own twice. The first time, I found him playing in our neighbors playhouse all by himself. The other time, the mail lady found him sitting in the grass, naked, by our mailbox and brought him back up to the house. So

I knew he had a history of leaving the house and going on adventures. I left Caleb in the house to look in all the nooks and crannies while I set out to look in Lucas’ favorite neighborhood spots.

After checking the most obvious places, I started getting a little nervous. Our house is next to Spring Hill Avenue which is a very busy four-lane road. I ran down to it and then ran up and down Spring Hill for about a quarter of a mile both ways looking for Lucas. Nothing. I ran the loop in our neighborhood that Lucas and I do short walks around. Nothing. I ran back to the house, certain that Caleb had found him. He had not. Caleb hopped in his car to drive around while I went screaming through the house.

I looked in the deep freeze, the washing machine, the dryer, under all the beds, in random cabinets too small for a toddler, in all the hall closets, in the attic and ridiculous places that no one could be, in but I looked anyway.

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I told our 7 year old to keep the other two kids inside the house, and I started running back around the neighborhood. Caleb passed me in his car—still no Lucas. I called our neighbor Claire. When she picked up, all I said was, “We can’t find Lucas,” and all she said was “We’re on our way.” Her family left the restaurant where they were eating and checked all their doorbell cameras on the drive back. Lucas wasn’t on any of the footage in the previous three hours.

That’s when I called 9-1-1, and it’s also when I started to really, truly panic. I was running as fast as I could while yelling “LUCAS” as loud as I could. Tears were streaming down my face while I was gasping for breath and my mind was taking me to all the most horrific scenarios.

My prayers were scattered and pitiful.

God, please not my baby.

Lord, please help us find him.

Don’t let someone bad snatch him.

I will not be able to live if he is kidnapped and we never ever find him.

Do not let any evil take hold of him.

Surround him, God. Protect him, God. Please help us, God. Please help us, God. Please help us, God. Please God Please God Please….

I rounded the corner back to our house where the first police vehicle was parking. The officer got out and immediately went to the lot under construction across the street and started looking around it. Our neighbors got home and Miles, who ran track in college, literally hurdled like an Olympian into the huge dumpster at the lot in case Lucas had climbed in and gotten stuck. Other neighbors were coming outside, wondering what the commotion was all about, and started searching too.

Three more patrol cars arrived with more police officers.

I had stopped looking and was just sobbing and saying,

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“I’m his mother,” over and over again. The officers were now formulating a plan and saying phrases like, “form a perimeter,” and “Amber Alert.”

Scenes I had seen in movies were now playing out before my very eyes, and I could not bear it. I’m not strong enough to lose a child this way, Lord. I will die if we don’t find him.

And then there he was in Caleb’s arms.

I sat down on the ground and just wailed. Miles came running back and started sobbing too at the sight of our sweet little boy, safe at last. All the neighbors stooped down to give me a tight hug before returning to their homes, and the police officers called in to say the boy was found then they drove away.

Caleb walked over and handed Lucas to me. I pulled him tightly to my chest, clutched his head in my hand, smelled his hair, and sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. I knew this could have ended so differently.

I carried him inside, sat down in a chair and wept for half an hour. Lucas just let me hold him. I held my boy, brown corduroy pants, no shirt, no socks, and no shoes, and cried and gasped prayers to the Lord. All I could think about was how sinister it all could have turned and so grateful it had not.

That’s when I clearly felt the Lord whispering gently to me, placing into the forefront of my mind the image of the Prodigal Son coming home to his father. I saw the father in that parable weeping at the sight of his sweet little boy, safe at last. I saw him clutching his son tightly to his chest, cradling his son’s head, smelling his hair, sobbing, I’m sure of it.

Just like when I was frantically searching for Lucas, I sense that the father in the parable wasn’t thinking about all the bad things his son had done. He wasn’t concerned with the money ill-spent and the scandals trailing behind.

There are consequences for sin, yes, but in that moment, I believe he felt how I felt. My son is home.

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I cried off and on for the rest of the day. At tuck-ins that night, I looked each of my children in their eyes and told them that they will mess up a million ways in their lives, but God will never stop looking for them and God will never, ever stop loving them. Never be too stubborn or proud to come back to God. Never think you have gone too far in your sin. Just come home.

And that goes for you, too. If I could look into your tired eyes, I would tell you that God cares for you. He doesn’t throw His hands up in the air and quit. He doesn’t weigh your sins on one side of a scale, His grace on the other side, then find you lacking. As a shepherd leaves the 99 for the one, so He searches for you.

But what about the abortion you had in college? Come home.

But what about the porn you look at in the veil of night?

Come home.

But what about the same-sex relationship you’ve become comfortable with? Come home.

But what about the affair you’re having with a co-worker? Come home.

But what about the around-the-clock drinking you hide from everyone else? Come home.

But what about the image of perfection you’ve placed on yourself even though it’s crushing you? Come home.

As you come to know God in a deeper, more personal way, I pray you see Him as Jehovah Rohi, The Lord is My Shepherd. A good shepherd doesn’t see the mess one of his flock has gotten into and abandon it because the sheep should have known better. The shepherd saves the sheep.

When He willingly went to the cross, Jesus Christ knew all about your abortion, your porn addiction, your sexual proclivities, your alcoholism, your pride, your greed, your lust for gossip, your vanity, your ego, and your lack of faith. Your mess and muck comes as no surprise to our Creator. Where you see no way out, God whispers to look at the cross—His beautiful rescue plan—the bridge from your sin to His holiness.

While on the cross, Jesus’ arms are spread wide, and to me, it’s yet another picture of the access to the Father now granted to us. An image of open arms. Can you picture yourself being held by Love itself? Your prayer might be scattered and pitiful, but just take a moment and say to God the thoughts in your heart right now. I promise the Lord desires to clutch you in His arms, hold your head close in His strong hand, and whisper in your ear that He loves you.

-Tricia Butts

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“Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

John 15:22-24

“[It] is the unhurried meditation on gospel truths and the exposing of our minds to these truths that yields the fruit of sanctified character.”

Maurice Roberts

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HOPE AFTER POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

BY BEKA DOLLAR

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This is not really my story, this is God’s story.

This is a story of how gracious and absolutely good our heavenly Father is. I am so thankful the Lord has blessed me with a wonderful husband and a beautiful baby boy.

I do not deserve them, and I am reminded of that daily.

Motherhood is one of the most sanctifying roles I have ever had the privilege of fulfilling. I am reminded daily how selfish I am and how desperately I need the Lord.

I love being a mom and I love my son, but the first few weeks of his life were far from what I would call “bliss.”

No one can prepare you for the moment you become a parent. If you are waiting to be “ready” to become a parent, you will never be (spoiler alert).

My birth story was rather eventful and did not go even remotely close to what I had planned, which is such a great reminder of Proverbs 19:21: “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” I don’t remember many details from the day I delivered, but I remember being so happy that my baby was finally in my arms. He was perfect!

The day we were discharged was such a long day. The process started around 9 a.m. and we did not leave until around 3:30 p.m. The pharmacy was out of my medication, I was in pain, and I wanted to be home. I thought all would be well once we were home.

I have never been more wrong in my life.

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My transition into motherhood was hard, and not for the normal newborn reasons. I expected to be tired, and I expected to not know what I was doing. The hard part was what was going on inside my head. I had read about a friend from college who experienced debilitating postpartum hormones, and I was determined that it was not going to happen to me (again Proverbs comes to mind).

In the month before I gave birth, I read a story about how a new mom had taken her own life just weeks after her baby was born. I didn’t understand at the time, but as I walked through my own dark depression I came to realize what these women experienced.

did not want to hold him, touch him or even take a picture

Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression. I am so thankful my doctor didn’t brush me off and send me on my way. I told her I did not want my baby. I

up; they knew I needed help. I am thankful for the stories

of him. I wanted to forget he was ever born. I thought a little too long about taking my life. I thought about how I could go away and never come back. I didn’t want to be on this earth anymore.

But God. I knew these were lies straight from Satan himself. I knew what I was experiencing was not right. It wasn’t me. I am so thankful for a family that supported me and loved me where I was. They didn’t tell me to get over it or toughen women before me told, because it gave me the courage to speak up when I knew something was so wrong.

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My husband encouraged me to read my Bible but honestly, I couldn’t even bring myself to do that. So every night before I fell asleep he would pray with me and read a passage out of Psalms to me. I was so scared that if I was left alone something would happen.

After speaking with my doctor and being prescribed medication for anxiety, I remember I felt like a failure as a Christian. I thought to myself, “I am a believer. I don’t need these pills. This isn’t right!” But I take them every day. I don’t think the medication healed me. I know my heavenly Father brought me out of my pit of despair and saved me from my depression. I believe He has graciously given people the knowledge and wisdom to help and treat us when we are sick, and I am so thankful for that.

I write all of this to say if you are a new mother or soonto-be mother, I promise you that you are not alone. If you feel overwhelmed, or if you feel like it’s too much, try to talk to a loved one. Cry out to your heavenly Father. He hears our prayers. I often quoted 2 Timothy 1:7 to myself to be reminded of the truth. It states: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

I reminded myself daily that I didn’t have to walk in fear, that God has given us a spirit of power and as the King James puts it, a “sound mind.” My doctor told me that it would take roughly six weeks to start feeling better, but within two days I felt a weight off my shoulders and this feeling of confidence that I could be the mother Brooks needed me to be.

I have experienced the God who heals: Jehova Rapha, which means to restore or to heal. I am so thankful for His healing and protection. I was convinced I would not have any more children. I was terrified to go through that

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again. But, as I am writing this, almost two years later, I have a deep desire in my heart to have more children, and I know that is only through the goodness and healing of God. There are still bad days and hard times, but I rely on the Lord for strength and I know He is with me at all times. I look back and wonder, “Why me?” Why did I have to experience this?” I am always met with “to glorify God.” 1 Corinthians 1-:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.”

Editor’s Note: If you find yourself experiencing thoughts like Beka had, you are not alone! Studies show one in seven women experience postpartum depression in the year after giving birth. Consult with your doctor immediately if you feel like you may have postpartum depression.

3 PILLAR RESOURCES

Biblical Teaching: Sometimes a good book can help, so here are some gospel-centered recommendations for healing from postpartum depression: Living Beyond Postpartum Depression: Help and Hope for the Hurting Mom and Those Around Her (Jerusha Clark), Closer: Fighting to be Closer to God in the Throes of Postpartum Depression (Lindsey Saenz), and Peace: Hope and Healing for the Anxious Momma’s Heart (Becky Thompson).

Authentic Community: When you’re in the midst of postpartum depression, getting out of the house and being around people is the opposite of what you want to do, but it may be exactly what you need to do. The Women’s Community at Mars Hill Church is full of women just like you. No one will judge you; rather, you will be met with a hug and a listening ear. So many of us have been where you are. Come to an Abide gathering, our monthly Thrive & Flourish, a Women’s Prayer Community gathering, or join us for a Bible study. Let us care for you.

Family Discipleship: In the Mars Hill Milestones program, the first milestone is our Family Commitment Service.

This milestone isn’t just for everyone to get a chance to see all the sweet babies—we truly believe in partnering with parents and walking with families through all aspects of parenting. The Family Commitment Seminar is a great chance for you to meet other families in the same phase of life as you.

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“The Savior bruised is the healing for bruised hearts.”

Charles Spurgeon

EQUIPPING TO SERVE AT MARS HILL

BY BRIAN ARGO,

PASTOR FOR WORSHIP & MOBILIZATION - FAIRHOPE

For the past six months I have served Mars Hill East as the pastor for worship and mobilization.

My role as pastor of mobilization involves not just helping ministries to find volunteers, but to help believers find a place to serve where they can do so long-term with joy and contentment.

Before I parse out a little of what that means, I would like to share a little of my story with regard to serving in the local church.

I have been leading worship since I was 14 years old. Over the past 25 years or so I have not only set up and torn down thousands of sound systems, I have also moved about a gabillion chairs. I have served in a variety of roles as a church staff member, from youth pastor to discipleship pastor to senior pastor to missionary and back to worship pastor. My family and I have served in churches in Alabama, New York, Costa Rica, and Mexico. In short, my wife, Sarah, and I have been a lot of places and done a lot of stuff.

We have experienced the joy of serving in areas of our strengths. We have also felt the tension of serving in areas of weakness out of sheer loyalty to the Body of Christ, and, at times, out of sheer guilt. I have felt great contentment in doing hard physical work week after week, as well as disappointment and burnout by serving without a clear sense of purpose or by serving without boundaries and rest.

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The final and absolute impetus for serving is “that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

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THE WAY I SEE IT, THERE ARE TWO DITCHES WE CAN FALL INTO WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING IN A LOCAL CHURCH: DITCH ONE: BURNOUT. Lots of people tend to wash up at Mars Hill after they have burned out or been burned somewhere else. We are in some sense the Island of Misfit Toys. Because many of us have fallen into the ditch of burnout from years of serving and never saying no, we are just tired, lacking direction, and, maybe most importantly, afraid to jump back in.

DITCH TWO: APATHY AND ATROPHY. Due to falling into the first ditch, many people remain apathetic or resistant to serving. They feel guilty when a well-meaning person makes a plea for people to serve (usually in ministry to children). We joke about it; we scratch our heads about it. But the fact is, many people who attend regularly do not serve or contribute to the actual ministry of the church, except, perhaps, by giving

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money. What results is spiritual atrophy. If an athlete doesn’t use her muscles, they not only grow lazy over time; the muscles lose their functionality and the athlete cannot perform. Many believers, due to apathy, grow less able simply to use their God-given gifts in the Body of Christ.

The Apostle Peter calls us out of both ditches and gives us a solid place to walk.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies- in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Peter 4:10-11

W are not called to consumption; rather we are called to a commission.

Churches use all kinds of motivators to get people to serve. Though they may be effective in the short-term, most motivators used are often the poorest, tending toward either guilt or some form of flattery. Peter gives a different motivator, which is where this passage ends: “that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

Every gift should be used. Every believer has been given a gift to be used in serving others. We tend to think of gifts as something that serves me; but a spiritual gift is something that is for the good of other people. The subconscious acceptance of the believer whose spirituality exists apart from the community of other Christians is simply not in agreement with the Bible.

I want to focus on a few things that Peter highlights here.

Each has received a gift. Every believer has been given the Spirit and has been gifted by the Spirit for ministry in the Body of Christ. Just as every part of the body has a function and is interdependent on other parts, each believer must function in order for the entire body to be fitted and joined together so that it can grow into Christlikeness. In other words, serving is not for an elite class of committed disciples; it is for all believers

Every gift should be used in God’s power. After Peter first mentions serving, he mentions it again in verse 11, saying that whoever serves must do so “as one who serves by the strength that God supplies.” Jesus said in another context, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

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We must be conscious of this because, as we see the Lord use us, it is tempting to think we can operate without a conscious, moment-by-moment dependency on Him for our intelligence, stamina, people skills, administrative prowess, musical talent, or teaching ability. But we cannot afford to operate outside of His strength, and God in His grace tends to provide not-so-subtle ways to prove that very fact.

Every gift should be used to glorify God. This may seem obvious but it isn’t. Even when we say that all things exist to glorify God, the way in which we serve often contradicts this declaration. We have to have this motivator established for the reason that we serve and the way in which we serve. We burn out when we are motivated by something other than God’s glory, and when we serve in something other than God’s strength.

The final and absolute impetus for serving is “that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” I love that Peter doesn’t mention us. He does not say, “that God may be glorified through us,” as though we need consciously to focus on ourselves. But we need to place every focus on Jesus, who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised.

We live in a day and age when people are little more than consumers, and as ministers we can be tempted

to provide religious services for religious consumers. But we are not called to consumption; rather we are called to a commission: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything Christ has commanded us (Matt. 28:19-20).

First, my hope is that those who currently serve would assess their own reasons for doing it, and that, as they draw near to the God of all grace, they would find their strength renewed. Second, my hope and prayer is that apathetic believers would recognize their vital place in the Body of Christ, and that their passion would be kindled to serve according to the strength that God supplies. If you’re going through burnout, I understand the importance of rest. But there is also work to be done until Christ comes. Take this time to seek the Lord about how to return to serving if you’ve been sidelined by something.

Work rest into your life’s rhythms and routines.

As you seek the Lord for wisdom and balance, focus on Peter’s admonition to the church: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as stewards of God’s varied grace.” We have received gifts from the God of all grace.

We are stewards of it in ways that are incomprehensibly multifaceted, and these are to be poured out for the sake of the Body of Christ, for the glory of God.

3 PILLAR RESOURCES BIBLICAL TEACHING: Mars Hill Staff recommends the book Instruments in the Hands of the Redeemer by Paul David Tripp as another great resource on stewardship within the church.

AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY: Complete the Mars Hill Gifts & Talents Survey to be connected with ministry-specific projects at pomh.org.

FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP: Watch The Power of Serving on RightNow Media for a quick (it’s only two minutes!) word of encouragement for parents about the benefits of children serving in church.

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“What is it to serve God and to do His will?

Nothing else than to show mercy to our neighbor. For it is our own neighbor who needs our service; God in heaven needs it not.”

Martin Luther

STEWARDSHIP PROFILES Meet some of the people in our Mars Hill family who selflessly serve our community week in and week out.

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MEDIA TEAM

I serve with the Media Team at the Fairhope campus. Being able to serve is a joy because it allows me an opportunity to glorify God through the talent that he has blessed me with. Being able to contribute to the Sunday morning services, whether I’m playing keyboard or running sound, is my way of tangibly living out my life verse: “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service” (1 Timothy 1:12). In my service I always want to encourage others to take up the mindset of Paul and look for areas to serve using the talents, time, and resources that God has blessed them with!

-Anthony Kidd

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SECURITY TEAM

JP and I volunteered to serve in the area of security at Mars Hill Fairhope after a request for volunteers was made during announcements. We are both retired law enforcement and it seemed a natural area for us to serve. Currently the security team is being re-established post pandemic and we feel blessed to give our time and talents for the benefit of all Mars Hill attendees.

As it says in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We will continue to serve when and where there is a need.

-J.P. and Dawn Charette

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STUDENT MINISTRY

I began volunteering with Mars Hill Students in the summer of 2019. Nate (my now husband) was an intern at Mars Hill and had been working with the youth for a while. He asked me to consider getting involved. I volunteered at summer camp and then began attending youth group regularly on Wednesdays. I truly started volunteering because there was a need, not because I felt that the Lord gave me a special calling to work in youth ministry my entire life. I remember the things I struggled with as a teenager. And I know it gets more difficult for these students to choose Christ over sin in a culture that praises sin and rejects truth. Getting to be a part of these students’ lives is a blessing to me. I love watching them ask questions and grow in their relationships with their Creator. Sometimes I feel discouraged, thinking “I’m not good at this. I am not suitable for this position. I don’t know enough about God’s Word to do this.” But I remember that being obedient to the Lord is what I am called to do. He is growing me and changing me through this opportunity so that I may bring Him glory. That is why I volunteer.

Because I know he has given me an incredible opportunity that I do not want to waste; to share the Gospel and to serve and love these students well.

-Victoria Carroll

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SET-UP TEAM

When we volunteered for the set up team it was something Mark and I can do together which is always a plus I believe for any couple. We compliment each other in this service, while Mark is precise about where each chair is placed I try to focus on praying over filling those chairs with souls who want to hear Gods’ Truth. Mark and I know how blessed we are as a church to have our leaders teaching the Word. What greater joy could we ask for a community to share? In a world filled with bad news, we know I Am is in charge and we pray for the chairs placed within the walls to hold people hearing the words being taught and take that message to others. Volunteering brings us hope.

-Mark and McKenzie Richardson

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WOMEN’S PRAYER COMMUNITY What initially led me to start the Women’s Prayer Group was a couple of things combined. God had just finished humbling me and teaching me about prayer.

I was learning things about the power of His Word “sharper than a double edged sword” (Heb 4:12) and how it “always accomplishes the task for which He sends it” (Isaiah 55:11). I had just learned about praying according to His Word, not just for my wants and needs. I was also very convicted and heartbroken over what I had been learning about human trafficking. I felt helpless to do anything about it. I was praying one day and God showed me that “if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them

by My Father in heaven” (Matt 18:19) and that really we don’t “war against flesh and blood but powers and principalities” (Eph 6:12). He showed me that before anything is accomplished physically it must be attacked in the Spirit through prayer. God showed me that if we could just connect with brothers and sisters in our community and pray we could accomplish much for Him. I specifically remember asking Him how He could free so many millions of modern day slaves, He replied “I’ve done it before”. Of course, He has led His people out of slavery so many times before! God is so much more than I realize. Praise God that my understanding of Him will never encompass all that He is. I am so happy He led me to start the Women’s Prayer Group.

I have met so many of Mars Hill’s women, learned so much from them and seen so many answers to our prayers! The blessing is in being obedient to Him. -Jessica Thurston

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“God, I pray Thee, light up these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee.

Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like You, Lord Jesus.”

Jim Elliot

A WAY WITH WORDS Christian Engagement in Digital Spaces with Daniel Darling Event Recap by Dallas Schmidt Photos by Donna Richardson

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On July 14, bestselling author and Nashville pastor Daniel Darling, spoke to an attentive group at Mars Hill-Mobile about a somewhat taboo topic in the Christian culture–social media.

Many of us have social media and are all too guilty of letting our emotions get the better of us in our posts. Is there really a way to have social media and maintain our Christian identity? Is the only way to “be a good Christian” on social media to not have social media? And how do we speak out against injustices while still representing Christ?

Daniel addressed these concerns and so many more.

Darling titled this talk, “Social Media and Our Social Witness.” As Christians, everything we do should be considered a part of our witness or our testimony, and that starts with our words. Darling reminded us that one of the best things Christ gave us is words. We are blessed with the Word of God--the Holy Bible. We are created in the image of God, but the problem is that our words do not always reflect that image.

“Christianity is a religion that has a God that speaks. We often take this for granted--God is not obligated to speak to us, but He does,” Darling said.

The only reason we know about God is because He chose to speak, and literally spoke the world into existence. After the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, the first thing God does is speak by calling out to them. Also, part of Christ’s ministry was giving words to those who had none.

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He made the mute speak and the deaf hear. We serve a God who speaks and who loves words.

Proverbs 18:21 attests to the power of the thumb, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” In today’s culture, we have more ways to communicate than at any other time in our history. As followers of Christ, we are not the Word, but we serve a God who is the Word. God’s spirit is here to help us calm our tongues and our thumbs.

This past year brought us less face to face conversation and more “screen to screen” conversation. “The farther humans get from face to face conversation, the more likely we are to sin with our words,” Darling said. Social media is constantly advancing, but the call of Christians to steward our words is the same.

When considering our words, we must constantly check ourselves against violence. One of the most harmful tools we have is our words. As Christians, we should use our platforms of social media to speak for the vulnerable, but that does not mean we have to post an opinion about everything. We tend to jump onto “news” that confirms our biases. A group of people that all agree with us online are not always right.

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“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” -Proverbs 18:21

Almost everything online is considered a “crisis” and we should not mistake these for real world conversations that we could be having. We can allow online news and social media posts to make us as Christians negative about the world and even the church. As Christians, the opportunity to use our voice comes with great responsibility. We know the loudest person in the room is not the bravest in the room or the most correct, and arguing on social media for Christ does not show more courage than Peter and Paul who died for their faith.

Darling also reminded Christians that there are some good uses for social media, and it isn’t something we are supposed to count as taboo. Social media can be used to raise awareness and support for victims of a recent natural disaster, fundraising for an accident victim, or to help find a missing child.

Social media is raising a cancel culture where good news is canceled out online. Social media can also be used as a coliseum where the person being accused are virtually attacked by the masses. As Christians, we must be

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thoughtful and slow to post. We have to press the good news of Christ against the online cancel culture of our world. When we post or speak before thinking, we are just as guilty as the mob crying out to crucify Jesus. Jesus bore our sin and shame so that we would not have to face it, and we as Christians are called to better. Jesus calls us to see those we do not agree with and to still be image-bearers of Christ. James 3 reminds us that we must not lose sight of this because those who oppose our ideas are also image-bearers of Christ. Being redeemed

by Christ means that we can now use our words to tell the good news. Even online, we are still in the public eye and people will associate our posts with our beliefs.

Darling closed by reminding us that “Often, people have Jesus in their bio and hate on their timeline.” We can’t just say we are Christians and then use our voice to slander others. Darling also reminds us that a healthy online life is shaped by a healthy offline life--one surrounded by good family, Christian friends, church, and small groups of believers.

3 PILLAR RESOURCES BIBLICAL TEACHING: For those looking to read more on this topic, try Navigating the Digital Sea: Gospel Guidance for Social Media by Kort Marley.

Also, memorize this verse and be reminded of it before engaging on social media: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6).

AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY: In our culture of influencers and followers and likes and shares, we can easily miss out on true and real interactions.

Give a community group at Mars Hill a try. There are so many different gatherings going on every week, full of people just like you. Visit pomh.org/ communitygroups to read more about what community means at Mars Hill and to find a group!

FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP: Navigating social media in a way that is pleasing to the Lord is tough enough for adults, so it must be even more challenging for our teenagers! RightNow Media offers a 5-week study on this called Engage with Kirk Cameron. Text POMH to 49775 to get access to your own accountit’s totally FREE!

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“Rather than writing off social media and other platforms as irredeemable, let’s be intentional about creating and communicating truth and beauty with the tiny corner of the internet we can control.”

Daniel Darling

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OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: WHAT IT’S LIKE TO DELIVER A BOX

BY TRICIA BUTTS

It was hot. And dusty. And honestly, the view out my car window of the wretchedness around me was too much to take in.

All I could see were rows and rows of shacks. Thin sheets of metal sort of served as roofs, and all that separated one family home from the next were thin pieces of fabric.

No doors. Barefoot kids walking on trash-littered streets.

Stray dogs covered in ticks roaming in and out.

I was in Xalapa, Mexico to coordinate a mission project for the International Mission Board. I needed to be securing housing, transportation, food services, etc. for about 100 people who would be serving in the area for a week later that year. I didn’t really have time for this little offroad trip through a Mexican shanty town.

We pulled up to a section of shacks, and as we piled out of the SUV, three kids emerged from one of the little box houses. One of the missionaries opened the back hatch to reveal a small stack of Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.

The kids were so shy. The oldest was a 15 year-old boy, then there was a girl who I’m guessing was about 12, and a kid sister about 6. Their father invited us inside their home, and I held back my tears watching these three impoverished children beam over a shoebox just for them.

Crayons. socks. A little notebook. All things that my kiddos now would shrug off as nothing much.

But in this little home with old sheets for walls, these items were everything.

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After all these years, what sticks out the most about this memory was the 15 year old boy.

He was so sheepish and shy and grateful. The missionaries later told me that it’s super rare for older kids to get boxes, especially teenage boys. He was really lucky, they said. Lucky.

So here we are, at the time of year when Operation Christmas Child kicks off for the season. I wish I could be back on that off-road drive through a Mexican shanty town with my arms full of anything and everything that would make those barefoot kids beam.

I can’t though. I alone can’t make things better for the impoverished children in Xalapa. Or Bangladesh. Or Syria, or Ukraine, or Turkey, or the Congo, or Haiti. Or Pritchard.

But I know the One who can. And I will praise Him and thank Him for His gift of the cross. And for being our Rescuer.

And out of that joy I hope springs a desire to share with others and spread the gospel as far and wide as I can.

Maybe that can start with a shoebox full of items for a teenage boy.

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Be a part of Operation Christmas Child this year.

It’s super easy.

Sundays this Fall, stop by the table in the lobby at Mars Hill to pick up your box and instructions or go to the Samaritan’s Purse website.

Completed boxes are due back on Sunday, November 7th, so go ahead and get started before the holiday season gets going!

Return packed shoeboxes to either Mars Hill campus by Sunday, November 7th

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PLANNING, PARENTING, AND A GRACIOUS GOD

BY WHITNEY TAUL

Look at those two babies, making vows and sealing a covenant with God and each other.

They had made big plans. He was going to be in ministry full time. She was going to finish her masters degree but ultimately wants to be a stay-at-home mom. They wanted four kids. They would raise them “in the way that they should go.” She would never let them wear character clothing because that didn’t fit the idea of her picture perfect family. You get it––they were naive.

If I could go back 11 years and give these two some advice I think I would say, “Check those expectations at the altar and get ready for a dose of reality!”

But they would say, “Oh thank you, but we have this all figured out!” And I would roll my eyes.

It is so easy to be idealistic when you’re young. We thought we had control over that plan and path. Bless.

Our entire relationship has been a whirlwind. We dated for seven weeks and were engaged. We were married eight months later. Pregnant with our first child on our one year anniversary. Three kids in three years. Career changes, big moves, working mom, and all the character clothes. Those “plans” we had were a pipe dream, and I praise the Lord for that. His plan was better than anything I could have put together.

Three babies in three years. x- in our plan. I vividly remember telling Freddy I was pregnant with our third child and he kind of sunk into the couch in the way butter melts on pancakes. Don’t get me wrong, each baby was a cherished blessing but there were times in those early years that I wished myself out of motherhood altogether.

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So much of the early years of parenting are a blur for me.

Our kids are 15 months and 17 months apart (Lily 6, Sammy 7, and Abe 9). Those days were mostly about survival and praying for Sammy to give it up and sleep (which he never did and still does not. There was a period of time that all three were in diapers. ALL THREE OF THEM. And very little family discipleship was going on, that’s for sure.

Many nights I prayed for the Lord to rescue me from parenting. I thought I wasn’t enough, I didn’t know what I was doing, and I felt so isolated and lonely in the daily mundane labors of motherhood.

When the kids were very young, Freddy was working upwards of 12 hour days landscaping to provide for us. Our parenting philosophy at that point was to survive with a sort of “tag you’re it” approach. We were young parents with young faith with a less than solid grasp on grace for each other or ourselves. With fizzling personal walks with the Lord, no sleep, no time, and no money, Freddy came

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to me one day with an idea that seemed ludacris at the time but has become one of our biggest blessings: he wanted to join the Army.

After my shock wore off, he sold me on the Army. Hello healthcare! At 28, he was getting a late start but we decided to go for it. He joined that Army National Guard in 2014, literally days before we found out I was pregnant with our third child (Lily). The boys were two years and six months old at the time. Freddy left for nearly a year of training with few short breaks in between. He was able to be home for Lily’s birth but had to return to training within days. He missed so many milestones and I know it was heart-wrenching for him. But though the Army has cost us time together, it has afforded us so many other opportunities and benefits (hello healthcare!). Today, Freddy is a captain in the Army National Guard, an accomplishment for which we are so proud and thankful.

Something routine that can be steered to biblical conversations is the approach that has blessed us the most. Like adding a story to a time when we are already together.

We came to Mars Hill in 2017 when the kids were two, four, and five.We were desperately thirsty for truth, and we had no idea how empty we were. A friendly and warm Mark Powell greeted us with a smile and a hug.

The first of many men of grace to speak into our lives. We grew in grace and faith. For the first time, we were rooted in a community, a community that saw value in the family and discipleship. I think we would both say that’s when we began to pour into our kids in a biblical sense because that is the first time we were truly poured into.

“Can you see heaven from outer space?”

We have always prioritized eating dinner together when possible. Even when the kids were barely eating solids, we sat together. When we decided to really become intentional with parenting moments, we started pulling out The Jesus Storybook Bible after dinner for one story. This didn’t and doesn’t happen every night. But the kids started to initiate pulling the bible off the shelf once the plates were cleared. They had us reading when we were tired or just really didn’t want to draw out a long day any further. They took on the routine and were engaged in it.

“How do you get Jesus in your heart again?” This was

Something routine that can be steered to biblical conversations is the approach that has blessed us the most.

Like adding a story to a time when we are already together. Fortunately, our kids are at an age where they come to us with any and all questions. It isn’t hard to get them chatting (especially Sammy). Some of our deepest and most spiritual conversations happen in the car on the way to school, or baseball, or taekwondo, or gymnastics (we drive a lot of places). But that is a time when we are already together! Usually those car rides look a lot like me as a Jeopardy contestant answering a question from every category known to man.

“What is 100 x 9 million?”

“How big is the moon?”

“Why is lava hot?”

“Who was the tallest person on earth?”

“Where is Antarctica?”

At times, it’s rapid fire from all three at once, but sometimes the questions are a great bridge to a deeper spiritual conversation.

“Why do people make bad choices anyways?”

I try to keep my answers short and easy because my moment of opportunity is only as long as it takes the next question to pop into their brains. I usually lead with the phrase “The Bible says ___.” I am no theologian, so short and easy is typically all I can manage anyways!

One morning on the way to school, Sammy (7) asked,

right after a long interrogation about the size of the moon. It came so fast I was taken off guard and gave a sorry answer but made sure to include repentance. He sat quietly, and I assumed he was thinking up his next question. “OK, I did it,” he said. “You did what?” I replied.

“I prayed the words you said and asked Jesus into my heart.”

Tears in my eyes, I nearly ran off the road! I was elated for him, I celebrated his decision and boldness! I told him how proud I was and tried to explain more of what this meant AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID?!

“OK, yeah, so how many moons can fit in the sun?”

Then we pull up in the car-line and he hops out unaffected by his bold decision but intrigued by the news that the moon can fit into the sun 64 million times. Not the most rewarding milestone, but we are feeding that little decision until he fully grasps what it means!

We have learned the hard way that, without grace, we fail. We don’t have amazing spiritual parenting wins all the time. We aren’t good at regular prayer time. There are weeks or months that pass without any evidence of spiritual growth or knowledge. But we are learning too.

Recently, I was feeling particularly low about a rough Sunday morning getting everyone to church. Some Sundays it just feels like the church doors are 500 miles away and the road to get there is on fire in a hurricane. At-

“Can God hear everything?”

“Is God really big?”

titudes flare, shoes don’t fit, someone forgot breakfast, spilled coffee, you name it.

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This particular Sunday, we finally made it to the child check-in at church. “I made it,” I sighed to myself. Then comes the knock down, drag out, “I want to go in big church with yoooouuuu,” fit from Lily (6). If you were there, I’m sure it was a memorable moment.

I had nothing left in me and very begrudgingly relented. She was overjoyed; I was overwhelmed. We made our way to coffee and of course she ALSO wants coffee so we compromise with water in a coffee cup. In worship, she pretends to sing the songs, sways when I sway, holds her cup the way I hold my cup, closes her eyes and watches me for cues on how to sit and cross her legs. She was doing EVERYTHING she saw me do. As I watched her pretend to read the passage, it hit me like a ton of Bibles.

This is discipleship, albeit from a very cranky mommy.

This little girl is taking all my cues, reflecting all my feelings and learning all the steps from me. She just needs to be shown how, and here I am showing her my own little grown up fit. I hear it in my head, “Grace, Whitney.” I repeat: we are learning too.

Freddy has been deployed since November of 2020 which brings unique parenting challenges. Those nightly dinner readings have been sparse and our carpool Jeopardy questions are quieted by the TV in the van because I need 15 minutes of silence sometimes. Technology is a gift. Thankfully we are able to see him on FaceTime often.

The kids miss him desperately and there are days that pass without them being able to see him. I can tell when they are feeling disconnected from him and it’s hard to watch.

“Tell me a story about Daddy,” they will ask.

“I can’t wait to show Daddy my lego set.”

“I wonder what Daddy is doing”.

ners. He keeps us all in line and has instilled great values into the kids of loyalty and honesty. We love him for it. We need him for it.

One challenge of parenting during this unique time is his dynamic with the kids. He has had to shift to a cheerleader of sorts. Celebrating all the kids accomplishments and leaving the corrections and admonishments for me.

We learned this one night when he was able to call and he gave a short, simple “listen to your mother” correction to the boys. Sammy lost it. He was so overcome he hit the floor sobbing, “I just miss you so much Daddy!” he weeped. His little heart was broken that he had ruined a long awaited phone call. The correction was lost on him.

He was torn in two that his faraway Daddy was upset with him. Freddy was not upset, it was a simple needed correction but to a 7 year old grieving his Daddy’s presence, it was tortuous. Now we cheerlead and praise obedience.

“Lord, I hope you know my Dad is ok. Amen” I picked up the kids from their classes at church one Sunday and Abe (9) handed me this note. With glassy eyes, he made eye contact with me for a moment, then ran off to say hi to some friends. I wanted to burst into tears. Abe is strong. He is sure of himself and unyielding to a fault at times. He is black and white with no gray. This was him telling me, “I’m worried and sad and I know we pray about those things.” Sometimes kids get it more right than we do. This note hangs on our fridge.

Parenting is never easy. There is never mastery. Once I feel I have figured out a stage or a routine, they change. The older they are, the smarter they are and the more inadequate I feel. But I try to remind myself, “Grace, Whitney.”

My approach in this season is to keep everyone too busy to be sad. My kids thrive with a focus. I thrive with a focus.

We have been in taekwondo, baseball, and gymnastics.

We take short trips and take on hobbies and daydream about what to do when Daddy is back. I want them to remember this year of their lives with fondness and not despair.

If you know Freddy, you know he likes to follow the rules and he likes everyone else to follow the rules as well.

There is a way things should be done and that’s how he does them. He is straightlaced and runs a well-oiled, straightlaced ship at home. We do our homework, we follow through with commitments, and we use our man-

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3 PILLAR RESOURCES BIBLICAL TEACHING: Phil and Diane Comer’s book Raising Passionate Jesus Followers is full of practical, gospel-centered guidelines that will have you making notes in the margins and engaging your family with more peace in your heart.

AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY: Try out a community group with other families in the same stage of life as you. Walking through life together is so much better than trying to do it alone. Learn more at pomh.org/communitygroups.

FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP: Our new family-building event Build on the Hill is moving to February! This is a super fun way to make great memories as a family while also laying a foundation of faith. Watch for more details coming soon at pomh.org.

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“God hasn’t just sent you to do His work in the lives of your children; He will use the lives of your children to advance His work in you.”

Paul Tripp

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FROM MASATEPE TO MOBILE

BY JOSE LEONEL

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After graduating high school I wanted my next step to be different.

Instead of going to college, I wanted to rest and try some new things; maybe serve in a different ministry at my church or even gain some work experience.

Of course, as most people can relate, I didn’t get to do any of those things, or anything really, at least for a few months because of Covid-19.

Brad Hill and I have been friends since he started going to Nicaragua. When he mentioned an internship at Mars Hill I immediately thought it would be a great experience. I’ve had the privilege of working with him and most of the teams that go there from the first time, helping them with translation and I’ve made many good friends by doing it.

At first, this year seemed like the perfect time for that internship. Then Covid and travel restrictions held it back for a couple of months, but we finally figured it out and, within a few days, we confirmed it, bought the tickets, and the next week I was already in Mobile.

To be honest, I wasn’t even sure of what exactly I was going to do there. We briefly talked about a few things like letting me play with the band, and I knew there were going to be some meetings and books. But I was just really excited to do something different, get to see some old friends and perhaps make some new.

Moving out from home at my age sounds pretty normal in the US, but Nicaragua is a small country where everybody goes to college in the same city (the capital) which for me is, at most, one hour away from home, and dorms aren’t really a thing in any of our schools. So the experience of living away from my family and having a roommate was something I probably wouldn’t have gotten if it wasn’t for the internship.

I wasn’t expecting that much reading. But that’s not a complaint, I promise. I truly enjoyed those meetings with some of the pastors and other interns. I learned a lot from those readings but also through the conversations and the ways I saw all of them serve their community. I’m very thankful for people that met my doubts and questions with such kindness, which made being vulnerable so much easier, and I’m sure it will make remembering those teachings easy as well.

I had my first Thanksgiving, which was very good (there was so much delicious food), and also experienced Christmas the American way (in Nicaragua we have a big dinner on the 24th and wait until midnight to open the presents). But the real highlight was spending special moments with people I had met back in Nicaragua and some of the new friends I made. Having so much time to really get to know each other is something I treasure.

At last, getting to be a part of staff meetings and being at the church building pretty much every day allowed me to see what church looks like in a different context. The way things are so well organized was really cool to see but spending so much time with the people behind the organization and getting to know their motivations and the intentionality behind everything was so encouraging.

From the way sermons are prepared and the way the service is structured to how activities are planned, having in mind every member’s inclusion and integral discipleship. I’m so thankful for the opportunity I was given to be a part of and learn from this wonderful and unique community that you have at Mars Hill, and I look forward to hearing about the great things that you’ll continue to accomplish for God’s kingdom.

Jose Leonel served as a pastoral intern at Mars Hill Church earlier this year. He lives in Masatepe, Nicaragua with his

It was kind of scary at first, but also very exciting and I ended up loving everything about those four months.

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family and is an integral part of our ministry partnership in his hometown.

Former Mars Hill Mobile interns, from left: Phillip Vo, Jose Leonel, and Jud Daughtry

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“If what we have been saying about the triune God is true, you must move toward people, not away from them. Remember, Father, Son, and Spirit were torn apart when Jesus died so that we might embrace rather than exclude one another.”

Timothy Lane, Paul Tripp

BIBLICAL TEACHING. GOSPEL COMMUNITY. FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP.