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Uncover the Hidden Gems of Black History with These 3 Unknown Truths

Uncover the Hidden Gems of Black History with These 3 Unknown Truths

by | Feb 1, 2023 | Mars Hill Baptist Church

3 Unknown Truths of Black History That Will Change Your Perspective Forever

Hey there Reader,

Black History is a rich and dynamic tapestry woven with the experiences of millions of people over centuries. While many of us are familiar with well-known figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet Tubman, there is much more to this history than what is often taught in mainstream history books.

Today’s blog post will delve into three unknown truths about Black History that are often overlooked but are just as crucial in understanding the full picture of this incredible story. With that in mind, let’s delve into the first of the three unknown truths many may not know about Black History.

You can read more by clicking here.​

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Find Faith and Belonging in a Physical or Digital Space – Make New Connections at Mars Hill Anywhere

Find Faith and Belonging in a Physical or Digital Space – Make New Connections at Mars Hill Anywhere

by | Jan 5, 2023 | Mars Hill Baptist Church

Dear Mars Hill Anywhere Family & Friends,

Every day, we all want to keep growing and finding new meaning in life. At Mars Hill Anywhere, we invite you to find that meaning with us! We understand how important it is to stay connected with God and with a community of people who share that faith. That’s why we offer services both online and in-person so you can worship Him together with us. Come and experience the power of worshipping God!

Worship has the power to bring us closer to God.

Worshiping is a way of showing God how much we love and respect Him. When we pray, sing, read the Bible, and more, He comes close to us. We feel so thankful for His grace and mercy! And when we worship together, it can be an amazing experience that helps us understand more about the deep love He has for each one of us.

Through preaching, our lives can be changed forever!

Preaching is a way for us to understand how the Bible can teach us about our lives. When done properly, it can help us make connections between God’s truth and our own stories, so that we can learn something even more valuable than facts – it can help us learn how to apply His truth in our lives and be transformed. We are given the opportunity to connect with God through listening to His servants preach. When we open our hearts, the Spirit has the power to transform our lives and help us grow closer to Him.

When we fellowship together with other believers, there is an incredible opportunity for spiritual growth!

We invite you to join us at Mars Hill Anywhere, whether it’s in person or over the internet. Here, you can be part of a community of people who love Jesus and want to see each other’s faith grow. When we come together in small groups or around meals, we can share our stories – the good times and the bad – and pray for each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. By being vulnerable with each other, we can build trust and hold each other accountable. That way, we can stay close to God on our journey towards a deeper relationship with Him!

Did You Hear About Changes to The Gathering?

Here at The Gathering, we want to make sure everyone has the best learning experience possible. That’s why we’ve switched to the MasterClass format. MasterClass offers educational courses from some of the top experts in their fields.

These classes are designed to give you in-depth knowledge that you can’t get anywhere else – and all of it can be done online! So if you’re looking to grow and learn something new, this is the perfect way to do it!

Learning can be so much fun with MasterClass! We provide step-by-step video lessons and interactive activities that help you learn quickly and easily. You’ll get access to exclusive content and personalized feedback to ensure you understand everything, as well as being able to track your progress as you master new concepts.

All of this is done through carefully designed courses from the best people in their field – so you know you’re getting the best education available right on your screen!

​You can watch this quick video and learn more.

If you’d like to join us for our next session, click the button below.

Did Miss Last Sunday’s Message?

ILooking towards the new year, we want to explore an amazing encouragement and wisdom found in Zechariah 4: 10.

This passage speaks to everyone, no matter what age! It’s telling us that no matter how hard things seem, if we start small and take it one step at a time, God will be with us, faithful and true.

So if you’re looking for some encouragement and motivation for this new year, join us online and see how we can grow together in faith and trust God’s plan.

Finding Your Way in a Confusing World: The Joy of Following Jesus

Life can be confusing and overwhelming sometimes, and it’s natural to feel lost and unsure of what direction to take. If you’re feeling lost or searching for meaning, consider joining us on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at 10:30 AM CST, in-person or online. You’ll be amazed at the difference it can make in your life.

🌎: In-Person Worship @ 7941 47th St. McCook, IL​
⏰: Church Online Every Sunday @ 10:30 AM CST
🖥: Facebook Live (Mars Hill Chicago’s Page)
📺: YouTube (ClarenceStowersTV)​
🐦: Twitter (@MarsHillBC) ​
📲: Be sure to download our app
♥️: Ways to Give – To support Mars Hill and help us continue reaching people worldwide, you can text MHGIVE from your phone/mobile device to 33777, follow the prompts, and give.
🎯: Join our Facebook Group (Mars Hill Anywhere)
🖥: Facebook Live (Mars Hill Chicago’s Page)

Thank you again for all that you do, and may God richly bless you in the days ahead.

New Year, Same God!

Pastor Clarence E. Stowers, Jr.

New Year, New Opportunities: Discover the Power of Small steps in Your Faith Journey!

New Year, New Opportunities: Discover the Power of Small steps in Your Faith Journey!

by | Jan 2, 2023 | Mars Hill Baptist Church

Family of Mars Hill Anywhere,

Happy New Year!

I wanted to take a moment as we head into 2023 to offer my sincere gratitude and appreciation for everything each of you has done to help our church and ministry. Your steadfast assistance and support have been a huge blessing. I feel very blessed to be a member of this church family.

I also urge you to make baby steps in your prayer life this year by serving others, volunteering, and researching the advantages of joining a life group. These are all wonderful ways to deepen your spirituality and improve the lives of others.

I also want to express my gratitude to everyone who watched our services online and in person. I sincerely hope you will think about taking the next step and joining us in person more frequently since your presence and support mean so lot to me. As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of our church, I am confident that God has great things in store for us.

It is normal to experience a mixture of anxiety and excitement as we anticipate the new year. However, we can have peace knowing that our loving God will be there for us every step of the way, regardless of what is ahead. While the world around us is always changing, our God never changes, and we can rely on His promise that He will never abandon us.

I hope and pray that you will all enjoy the season’s serenity and joy and bring it with you into the coming year. In the name of Jesus, may 2023 be a year of blessings, development, and ongoing service to our neighborhood.

Once more, thank you for all you do, and may God continue to generously reward you in the days to come.

Start Small: Small Steps. Big Results

As we all know, the start of a new year often brings with it a sense of hope and determination to make changes in our lives. We may be tempted to make big changes to our diets, spending habits, and other routines, but sometimes the best way to make lasting change is to start small.

In this new series, we will be exploring the encouragement and wisdom found in Zechariah 4:10, where Zechariah and the other returned exiles are encouraged through a vision to continue the rebuilding of the temple. This passage speaks to the importance of starting small, taking things one step at a time, and trusting in God’s faithfulness to see us through.

I believe that this message is particularly relevant as we begin the new year, and I hope that you will join us online to be encouraged and challenged as we seek to grow in our faith and trust in God.

Finding Your Way in a Confusing World: The Joy of Following Jesus

Life can be confusing and overwhelming sometimes, and it’s natural to feel lost and unsure of what direction to take.

But when you follow Jesus, you can find clarity and direction in your life. His love and guidance provide a steady anchor in a constantly changing world and walking with him bring a sense of purpose and joy that cannot be found anywhere else.

Following Jesus means letting go of your plans and desires and surrendering to his will for your life. It’s not always easy, but the peace and fulfillment that come from living for him are worth it.

So, if you’re feeling lost or searching for meaning, consider joining us on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at 10:30 AM CST, in-person or online. You’ll be amazed at the difference it can make in your life.

🌎: In-Person Worship @ 7941 47th St. McCook, IL​
⏰: Church Online Every Sunday @ 10:30 AM CST
🖥: Facebook Live (Mars Hill Chicago’s Page)
📺: YouTube (ClarenceStowersTV)​
🐦: Twitter (@MarsHillBC) ​
📲: Be sure to download our app
♥️: Ways to Give – To support Mars Hill and help us continue reaching people worldwide, you can text MHGIVE from your phone/mobile device to 33777, follow the prompts, and give.
🎯: Join our Facebook Group (Mars Hill Anywhere)
🖥: Facebook Live (Mars Hill Chicago’s Page)

Thank you again for all that you do, and may God richly bless you in the days ahead.

New Year, Same God!

Pastor Clarence E. Stowers, Jr.

The Real Reason Why Personal Finance is Not Taught in School

The Real Reason Why Personal Finance is Not Taught in School

by | Jan 3, 2022 | Empowerment, Goals, Money and Finance, Self-Leadership

Our school systems teach us many subjects such as science, math, accounting, geography, history, the arts, and languages. But money is not one of them.

Why don't they teach money in school? Why isn't personal finance taught in school, and why don't all students have access to a personal finance coach before taking out student loans? 

The answer is a mix of inertia in the system and failure to recognize financial literacy as one of the core skills needed to succeed in the 21st Century.

Today's post will explore why money should be taught at schools and why it's so essential for our children's futures that we start teaching money now. We'll also cover some tips on how parents can educate their children on money and how schools can teach money.

Personal finance is a core skill needed to succeed in the 21st Century.

Money is one of the essential things in our lives, but we don't learn anything about it in school. We learn about science, math, the arts, and languages, but we never learn how to manage our money.

This is a problem because money is one of the most important things in our lives. We need money to buy food, clothes, and shelter. We also need money to pay for our education.

Debt is another problem that we face. Many students take out student loans without ever learning about personal finance. This can lead to a lot of debt problems later in life. To avoid these problems, we need to teach students about personal finance in school.

Money is one of the essential things in our lives, but we don't learn anything about it in school. 

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Some people say that personal finance is not a required subject in school. They say that we should learn about money by ourselves. This is not a good idea. We need to learn about money in school to avoid problems like debt.

Teaching personal finance in school is a good idea because it can help students:

- avoid money problems later in life

- plan their future budgets

- know how much money they need for college

- know what to do with money when it's time to pay for college

People who say that personal finance is not a required subject are wrong. We need to teach students about money to avoid money problems as adults. Personal finance is a core skill needed to succeed in the 21st Century.

Many students take out student loans without ever learning about personal finance. 

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Two Reasons Why Money Isn't Taught in School

There are two reasons why money isn't taught in school: Inertia in the system and failure to recognize financial literacy as one of the core skills needed to succeed in the 21st Century.

Lack of Urgency in the System

The lack of urgency in the current education system is that money is not seen as an academic subject. This is due to the curriculum being drawn up in the 1800s. Students are already overloaded with many subjects to study, and money is not seen as necessary.

Failure to Recognize Financial Literacy as a Core Skill

There are many things that children need to learn at school to be successful in life. One of these skills is money management. Commercials and advertisements constantly bombard us with products to spend, so we should understand how money works, so we don't fall for these tricks.

Money isn't taught in school because they don't see it as necessary. Money is money, and money doesn't have a gender. It's not only women that spend money, and money isn't something that belongs to men or women exclusively.

Society has made money seem like a male-dominated thing, but we fail to realize that money doesn't discriminate against anyone based on their sex.

To make money a necessary subject in school, you can teach it interdisciplinary. This means that money shouldn't just be taught in math or business class.

Additionally, it should be taught in other classes such as English, history, and science. This will help money be seen as a more important subject and help students learn about money more holistically.

Giving students access to personal finance coaches is another way to make money a necessary subject in school. A personal finance coach can help students understand money and manage it. They can also help students who are struggling with money-related issues.

Teaching money in school is a good idea; money can be taught through different disciplines and give students access to personal finance coaches. Money management is not one of the subjects that school systems teach, and this needs to change. Education needs to include money management.

There are two reasons why money isn't taught in school: Inertia in the system and failure to recognize financial literacy as one of the core skills needed to succeed in the 21st Century.

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It's Hard to Teach What You Don't Know.

Schools teach everything else but money because it is hard for teachers and parents to teach children about money themselves when they don't know much about it themselves.

Most parents try to teach their children about money by setting an example. However, this usually doesn't work because it's hard for them to change their spending habits. They also typically don't have the money, knowledge, or financial skills to give their children sound advice. Schools can help fill this gap by teaching students about money.

Debt is another reason why personal finance should be taught in school. A recent study by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling found that two-thirds of millennials have debt and that the average amount of debt per person is $37,172. Students need to learn how to avoid debt and manage it if they acquire it.

The good news is that some organizations are already trying to fill the gap in personal finance education. The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) is one of these organizations. NEFE created the High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP), a comprehensive personal finance curriculum for high school students.

There are many good reasons why personal finance should be taught in school. Schools should teach students about money because it is hard for parents to teach their children about money themselves.

Debt is a significant problem for millennials, and there are already organizations trying to fill the gap in personal finance education.

Teaching personal finance in school is a step in the right direction to ensuring that all students graduate with money skills that can help them succeed in the future.

Schools teach everything else but money because it is hard for teachers and parents to teach children about money themselves when they don't know much about it themselves.

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Before You Take a $100,000 Student Loan

Students need access to personal finance coaches before they take out large student loans or enter into other debt agreements that will affect their lives. Most students take out student loans without fully understanding the consequences of their actions.

They may not know how to budget their money, they may not understand compound interest, and they may not calculate how much money they will need to pay back in total. That's why it's so essential for students to get access to personal finance coaches before they take on any significant debt agreements.

A personal finance coach can help a student understand all of the terms of a loan agreement and help them make a repayment plan.

A money coach can help students avoid debt and live within their means. Being in debt can affect a student's life in many ways. Many students graduate with over $20,000 of debt and interest.

To avoid taking on additional debt after school, money coaches can help graduates develop their money management skills.

Students need access to personal finance coaches before they take out large student loans or enter into other debt agreements that will affect their lives.

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In conclusion, money should be taught as a subject in school so that students can learn how to manage money properly. If you want your child or student to have money skills for the future, they need access to personal finance coaches before taking out loans and entering into debt agreements.

Schools provide education on many subjects, but financial literacy is not one of them - this needs to change. Otherwise, we may see an even higher unemployment rate due to a lack of money management skills among millennials already struggling with debt from over $37K on average!

Let's hope schools pick it up so we can all rest a little easier at night, knowing our kids won't be crushed by money problems when they enter the working world.

The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) created the High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP) to help fill the gap in personal finance education. HSFPP is a comprehensive personal finance curriculum for high school students. It covers budgeting, saving money, credit, debt, and investing.


How to Make 2022 Your Best Year Ever

How to Make 2022 Your Best Year Ever

by | Dec 31, 2021 | Decisions, Empowerment, Encouragement, Goals, Motivation, Resolutions, Self-Leadership

I know. I know. I know. For some, 2020 and 2021 were an emotional rollercoaster. 

You've been through a lot this year, and you're not sure what to expect in 2022.

You experienced many disappointments. But this too shall pass, and it's time for a fresh start in 2022. We've experienced drastic changes this year, and our bodies and minds have reacted with increased anxiety levels - but with the proper coping mechanisms, you can get through it.

Everybody is usually trying to reinvent themselves at this time of year. We've all gone through too much to cave in to such pressure, whether from the outside world or ourselves. 

Today's article, "How To Make 2022 Your Best Year Ever" will help you stay positive while things around us change. By following our tips, we'll make sure your New Year's resolution of making 2022 your best year ever stays intact throughout the entire year.

Let's get started!

It's Hard to Go When You Don't Know

The pandemic that began in 2019 has lasted much longer than anyone anticipated. There have been many different predictions about how long it would last, but none have proven accurate.

One of the challenges we face is that we still do not know how to get rid of the virus. There were vaccines, but they haven't wiped out COVID. There have been many variants that have emerged, sending us right back into a state of panic.

While some may feel hopeless in the face of this epidemic, I believe that we must continue to fight. We cannot give up because we do not have all the answers. We must find new ways to combat this virus and save as many lives as possible.

Furthermore, the negative cycle of over-expectation and disappointment can take a toll on our mental health. Repeatedly being let down can lead to emotional trauma and depression.

Devastation like this, plus lack of financial security for many people who lost jobs, has led many industry leaders to believe we're in the middle of a depression, like when war rages.

While some may feel hopeless in the face of this epidemic, I believe that we must continue to fight. 

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Something is Better Than Nothing, Right?

The aftermath of tragedy has affected how some people can enjoy life. People who were out and about before the pandemic are now taking caution to ensure their safety. Still, they may feel down because they can't enjoy life to its fullest.

For one, we're putting pressure on ourselves to have fun at a time like this. We're "shoulding" ourselves, according to Silvia M. Dutchevici, psychotherapist and founder of the Critical Therapy Center.

"Shoulding" implies I should go out and be having a good time; I should want to see my friends. Our "shoulds" may not be what we want.

Many people find that they are exhausted after the holidays. This may be because they have spent a lot of time entertaining others. After Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve, some people don't even want to keep up their social connections.

It is hard to be with others and remain focused. Because we haven't interacted with others for so long, we have to reset our approach after a traumatic event and whether or not we want to. There's also the seemingly never-ending COVID anxiety that always lurks in the background.

Because we haven't interacted with others for so long, we have to reset our approach after a traumatic event and whether or not we want to.

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Here's How You Can Make 2022 Your Best Year Ever

Manage Your Expectations

Can we as individuals do anything to feel better? Fortunately, we can.

The first is to manage expectations. Or, as I often say, "control what's controllable. Since the pandemic, life has changed in many ways. One thing that is important to understand is that there is no going back to how things were before.

Trying to recreate something you lost is likely to lead to disappointment. However, if you look ahead, there are opportunities for growth and different connections that may even be better than what came before.

Trying to recreate something you lost is likely to lead to disappointment.

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Live in The Moment

Next, make it a habit to live in the moment. Human beings are naturally uncomfortable with the uncertainty of the world. However, planning for six months or a year from now may lead to disappointment later because we still don't know how things will shake out.

Instead of thinking of consequences that may or may not happen in the future, think of what you have right now. Think about how far you've come from where you were one year ago, six months ago, two weeks ago.

Instead, try to stay calm and not worry about what will happen in the future. What will happen is unpredictable. We need to learn how to do this because it will be important in 2022.

Instead of thinking of consequences that may or may not happen in the future, think of what you have right now.

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Rest is a Weapon That Allows You to Reset

Finally, remember rest is a weapon that allows you to reset.

There's a reason we liken the pandemic to the zombie apocalypse. It sounds like something from a horror movie, and that's because it feels like one too.

The world is exhausting, and people are tired as we get ready to start the third year of a pandemic. We can barely keep up with work, let alone anything else in our lives; there's no time for creativity or innovation anymore.

Resting allows resetting through reflecting.

Taking the time to reflect on the good and bad moments of 2021 is essential. It allows us to celebrate our accomplishments and learn from our challenges. It's crucial to remember that no year is without ups and downs, so even though 2021 may have been tough, there were still plenty of happy moments. By acknowledging what we've been through, we can give ourselves the space to process it all and move on stronger than ever.

Taking the time to reflect on the good and bad moments of 2021 is essential. It allows us to celebrate our accomplishments and learn from our challenges.

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The year 2022 presents many opportunities while also causing us to change the way we do things. We must take care of ourselves and our families and stay strong during this process. Hopefully, by following these tips, we'll be able to make 2022 a year to remember.