🎯 Join Us Sunday: Life Groups Return & Learn to Pray Bold & Expectantly

🎯 Join Us Sunday: Life Groups Return & Learn to Pray Bold & Expectantly

by | Sep 17, 2024 | Empowerment

Welcome to This Week’s Mars Hill Anywhere Update!

Happy Tuesday Reader,

We’re excited to connect with you this week as we share the latest updates and opportunities for spiritual growth. This week’s edition is packed with encouraging content and ways to engage with our community. Here’s what you can look forward to:

  1. Message Overview: Pray Big, Expect Bigger: Unlocking the Secret to Bold Prayers
  2. A Moment of Reflection: Insights to carry through the week
  3. Next In-Person Service: Mark your calendars!
  4. Life Groups: Returning September 22, 2024 + Bold Prayers Book now available
  5. Ways to Support Mars Hill: Learn how you can make a difference

Let’s dive into this week’s content together!

What a Sunday!

Our last in-person service was genuinely awe-inspiring. The moment the music began, God’s presence filled the room. So many of you shared how deeply you experienced His touch during our time together.

The worship team led us into a powerful atmosphere of praise, and hearts were lifted as voices joined in unity. Witnessing our church family connecting with God and each other was beautiful.

We’re eager to gather again this Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 10:30 AM Central. Come expecting another moving encounter with God’s presence. Whether you were with us last week or it’s been a while, we’d love to see you there.

Message Overview: Pray Big, Expect Bigger: Unlocking the Secret to Bold Prayers

Our last sermon, “Pray Big, Expect Bigger: Unlocking the Secret to Bold Prayers,” challenged us to think about how we approach God in prayer. I asked a powerful question:

Do your prayers reflect the size of your God?

We explored how bold, faith-filled prayers can transform our lives and align us with God’s purpose. The message encouraged us to break free from doubt and fear and ask God for more.

Key takeaways:

  • God invites us to pray confidently
  • Trust in God’s timing
  • Expect miracles beyond our imagination

We looked at Abraham’s bold intercession for Sodom in Genesis 18:23-33 as an example of courageous prayer. Remember, God’s power is limitless (Ephesians 3:20)!

A moment to reflect:

How can you step out in faith and pray bigger this week? What bold request will you bring before God?

Watch the replay now!

video preview​

A Moment of Reflection: Insights to Carry Through the Week

As we reflect on the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ask yourself:

What trials in your life can you use as opportunities to deepen your faith?

This week, consider how you can trust God even in the unknown, knowing He is with you in your darkest moments. Your hardest battles are refining you and preparing you for something greater.

What steps will you take this week to strengthen your faith, no matter the circumstances?

Upcoming In-Person and Digital Gathering

We are excited to welcome you back to Mars Hill Anywhere for our next in-person service on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 10:30 AM Central. Let’s gather together in faith, whether you’re joining us physically or digitally.

📍7941 47th St
McCook, IL 60525​

Simultaneously, we will gather digitally (online).

I would love to see you there with us in person. If you can’t make it, join us on our streaming platforms. With God’s help, we will continue taking control of our story.

  • YouTube: Tune in live on our YouTube channel for an engaging worship experience. Remember to subscribe and hit the notification bell to avoid missing out! Watch on YouTube
  • Facebook: Join our live stream on Facebook and participate in real-time conversations. Like our page and share the service with your friends and family! Watch on Facebook

We look forward to worshiping with you and celebrating our faith together, no matter where you are.

Life Groups are BACK!

We’re thrilled to announce that our Life Groups are returning on September 22, 2024! This is an exciting opportunity to deepen your faith and build lasting friendships within our Mars Hill family.

What’s new this season? We’ll be studying “Bold Prayers: How to Pray With Confidence & Expectation,” written by yours truly.

This book will guide our discussions and help us put into practice the powerful message we heard on Sunday.

You can get your copy on Amazon in paperback or Kindle format. Having your own copy will enrich your Life Group experience, but don’t let that stop you from joining if you haven’t purchased it yet!

Why join a Life Group?

  • Grow closer to God through Bible study and prayer
  • Connect with others in a smaller, more personal setting
  • Find support and encouragement in your faith journey
  • Put your faith into action through group service projects

Whether you’re new to Mars Hill or a long-time member, there’s a Life Group for you. Groups meet weekly to discuss the book and apply its teachings to our lives.

Interested in joining? Click here to sign up today! Let’s grow together in bold prayer!

Bold Prayers: How to Pray With Confidence & Expectation

My latest book, Bold Prayers: How to Pray With Confidence & Expectation, is now available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. It’s the perfect guide for building a powerful prayer life as you prepare to dive back into Life Groups.

The Value of Supporting Mars Hill

Your generosity keeps Mars Hill thriving and helps us reach more people with God’s love. If you feel led to contribute, here are some ways you can support our ministry:

  1. ​Online Giving: Visit our website to securely set up one-time or recurring donations.
  2. Text-to-Give: Text MHGIVE to 33777 and follow the prompts.
  3. Sunday Offering: Drop your gift in the offering basket during our in-person services.
  4. Mail: Send checks to:

Mars Hill Baptist Church
PO Box 6159
River Forest, IL 60305

Remember, every gift, big or small, makes a difference. Your support allows us to:

  • Maintain our temporary church home
  • Fund community outreach programs
  • Provide resources for Life Groups
  • Expand our online ministry
  • Invest in equipment, tools, cameras, and software to grow our online campus.

We’re grateful for your partnership in spreading the Gospel and serving our community in person and online.

Please consider giving today and help us grow in faith and impact.

Your involvement is invaluable as we continue building a thriving Mars Hill Anywhere community. Whether through your presence, prayers, service, or financial support, every act of faith helps us move forward in our mission.

I encourage you to take the next step today—whether by joining us in person or online, contributing financially, or simply sharing your thoughts. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

Stronger Together

As we wrap up this week’s update, we want to remind you how much you matter to our Mars Hill family. Whether you join us in person or online, your presence makes our community more vibrant.

We’re here to support you in your faith journey. Please reach out if you need prayer, encouragement, or someone to talk to. Our pastoral team and prayer warriors are ready to stand with you.

This week, we challenge you to:

  1. Reach out to a fellow church member you haven’t connected with recently
  2. Share one thing you learned from Sunday’s message with a friend or family member
  3. Pray boldly for our church and community

Got questions or feedback? We’d love to hear from you! Please reply to this email or connect with us on social media.

Remember, at Mars Hill, we’re not just a church—we’re a family. Let’s continue to grow, serve, and pray big together.

See you Sunday!

Here to help you win,

Pastor Clarence E. Stowers, Jr.

P.S. We encourage you to engage with us throughout the week—share your thoughts, reflections, and joy on our social media platforms. Let’s make this week an enriching experience for all.
Stop Praying Safe: Why God Wants Your Boldest Requests

Stop Praying Safe: Why God Wants Your Boldest Requests

by | Sep 16, 2024 | Empowerment

I sat at my desk in my home office, staring at the blinking cursor on my laptop screen. The sermon I'd been working on for Sunday felt flat, lifeless.

I had always prayed over my messages as a pastor, but lately, it felt like I was just going through the motions—disconnected, routine.

"Lord, please help me with this sermon," I whispered, though the words felt hollow even as I said them. A wave of frustration washed over me, the kind that made you wonder if you’re even doing the right thing.

As I searched for inspiration, my eyes wandered to a framed photo on my bookshelf. It was my late father, Rev. Dr. Clarence E. Stowers, Sr.

His wise eyes seemed to meet mine, stirring a distant memory. I recalled a conversation we had many years ago about prayer.

He advised:

"Don’t just ask for help," he had said, his voice steady with experience. "Ask boldly. Expect God to show up in ways that'll knock your socks off."

His words echoed in my mind. Maybe I hadn’t been praying boldly enough.

I took a deep breath, closed my laptop, and knelt beside my desk. This time, my prayer came with new conviction.

“Lord,” I began, my voice firm, “I’m not just asking for help with this sermon. I’m asking You to speak through me in a way I’ve never experienced before. Let this message be filled with Your power. Touch hearts, change lives, and let Your presence be undeniable. Show Your glory in such a way that no one leaves unchanged.”

As I finished praying, a quiet sense of excitement replaced my earlier frustration.

Something felt different. I didn’t know how things would turn out, but I felt a renewed confidence in the God I was serving.

That Sunday, I stepped behind the pulpit with a different energy.

The words flowed from me with a power that I knew wasn’t my own. I watched as people’s faces softened, tears fell, and hands rose in worship. At the end of the service, several people came forward for prayer.

Afterward, a couple approached me, visibly emotional.

“Pastor,” the husband said, his voice choked, “we were on the verge of divorce. But something in your message today… it’s like God was speaking directly to us. We’ve decided to give our marriage another chance.”

That experience transformed the way I approached ministry—and prayer. I learned that bold prayers aren’t about eloquence or volume.

They’re about trusting God fully, with our biggest dreams and deepest needs. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no, and often it’s “wait.” But in the end, bold prayers stretch our faith and draw us closer to God, reshaping both our lives and our ministry.

From this personal story, we’re reminded that sometimes our prayers feel flat because we’re praying small.

Maybe you’ve experienced the "Auto-Pilot Amen" or the "Sleepy Head Nod" while trying to connect with God.

We’ve all been there. But the good news is that God hears every word. It’s not about how loud or long we pray—it’s about how deeply we believe that God is listening.

Ephesians 3:20 says that

God "is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." 

This challenges us to reflect on the size of our prayers—and the faith behind them. Are we limiting God with safe, cautious prayers, or are we daring to ask boldly, trusting Him for the impossible?

Why Do We Hesitate to Pray Boldly?

Many of us hesitate to pray boldly because we’re afraid. We worry that if God doesn’t answer the way we hope, it could damage our faith. Sometimes, we feel unworthy of asking for big things. But James 4:2-3 makes it clear:

"You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it." Our hesitancy reveals a lot about the size of our faith.

Take Abraham in Genesis 18 as an example. When God revealed His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham didn’t simply accept it. He interceded, pleading with God to spare the city if even a few righteous people could be found.

Abraham’s boldness wasn’t rooted in doubt but in trust. He knew God’s mercy and justice, and that allowed him to persist in prayer. His bold prayers teach us that it’s not about pushing God, but about trusting Him to act.

Many of us hesitate to pray boldly because we’re afraid. We worry that if God doesn’t answer the way we hope, it could damage our faith. 

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How Can We Pray Boldly Today?

So how do we shift from cautious prayers to bold ones?

It begins with recognizing the size of our God. If we believe God is truly limitless, our prayers should reflect that. As Genesis 18:14 asks,

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" 

Of course, nothing is. When we align our prayers with the greatness of God, we start praying for things only He can accomplish.

When you pray, don’t limit your requests to what seems possible. Ask for the impossible. Pray with bold expectations, knowing that God can do more than we can imagine. Matthew 21:22 promises,

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Do your prayers carry that level of faith?

When you pray, don’t limit your requests to what seems possible. Ask for the impossible. 

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Expecting God to Answer

The key to bold prayer isn’t just asking—it’s expecting. God isn’t intimidated by our big prayers; He’s waiting for us to trust Him with them. Even if His timing doesn’t match ours, we can trust that His plan is perfect. Bold prayers often require patience, but they are always met with God’s faithfulness.

So, are you ready to stop praying safe and start praying audaciously?

God’s power is limitless, His promises are unshakable, and He is ready to do far more than we could ever ask or imagine. Pray big—and expect bigger.

If you want to dive deeper into learning how to pray with boldness and unwavering expectation, I invite you to check out my book, Bold Prayers: How to Pray With Confidence and Expectation.

 It’s available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats. This resource will equip you with practical tools and insights to take your prayer life to the next level. 

Don’t settle for safe prayers—pray big and watch God move in ways you never imagined. Available now on Amazon!

The key to bold prayer isn’t just asking—it’s expecting. God isn’t intimidated by our big prayers; He’s waiting for us to trust Him with them. 

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Why What You Do First Determines What’s Blessed

Why What You Do First Determines What’s Blessed

by | Sep 14, 2024 | Empowerment, Christian, Christianity, Decisions, Encouragement, Goals, Motivation, Self-Leadership, Success

“I feel it is better to begin with God, to see His face first, to get my soul near him before it is near another.” E.M. Bounds

If you were to open any dictionary and look up “Godly Woman”, I’m willing to suggest that my mother, Margaret Stowers’ picture would accompany the definition.

Why would I say this? Well, she understood the wisdom of “firsts”, giving God the first of everything – in all areas of life. My mother believed in giving God the first hour of the day, the first day of the week, and the first dime of every dollar.

My Mom Gave God The First Hour of the Day

My mom believed that the bridge to success is better crossed in the morning, the best part of uninterrupted time. This was her time to talk to God through prayer, read and reflect on Scripture, and listen to God’s voice.

That’s right, the wife of a pastor didn’t read the newspaper, talk on the phone, or turn on the television. She would wake up, shower, make coffee, and spend the first hour of her day with God.

Today, my mother is no longer with us, she’s with God. But, even today, one of my clearest memories of her is her morning rhythm. Years later, as I reflect, her example inspires me to form a similar habit and make it a part off my daily rhythm.

If you’re thinking you can just as easily connect with God any time of the day, you’re right, you could. You could connect at noon, in the afternoon, or before you go to bed. But, nothing puts an exclamation point on the day like giving God the first hour of our day.

My Mom Gave God The First Day of the Week

Along with giving God the first hour of her day, my mom also believed in and practiced giving back to God the first day of each week. She went to church! Attending wasn’t optional, it was a priority in the Stowers household. Unfortunately, Sunday is now an extension of the weekend and we can hardly distinguish it from Saturday.

Church attendance is declining and it’s a trend that’s not going away. It’s accelerating. Leadership coach and blogger Carey Neiuwhof writes extensively on church trends and attendance and lists 10 Reasons Even Committed Church Members Are Attending Less. Topping Carey’s list is:

1) Greater Affluence – money gives people options,

2) Higher Focus on Children’s Activities – more kids are playing sports and doing it on Sunday, and

3) Blended Parent Families – when custody is shared in a family situation, ‘perfect’ attendance for a kid or teen might be 26 Sundays a year.

You can read the rest of Carey’s post here.

Mars Hill Anywhere: Our Vision is Bigger Than a Building

Mars Hill Anywhere: Our Vision is Bigger Than a Building

by | Sep 14, 2024 | Empowerment, Goals, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Vision

Welcome to Mars Hill Baptist Church, a community that values tradition while embracing modernity.

At Mars Hill, we understand that the church is not just a building, but a community of believers who come together to support and uplift one another. That's why we're excited to introduce the Mars Hill Anywhere Platform - a modern initiative that allows us to connect and grow as a community, no matter where we are.

The Mars Hill Anywhere platform is an online hub where you can access all the resources and support needed to stay engaged and connected with our community. Whether at home, at work, or on the go, you can tune in to our live stream, catch up on past sermons, and participate in virtual events and Bible studies.

But Mars Hill Anywhere is more than just a platform - it reflects our commitment to community and collective growth. We believe the church is not just a place to worship, but to grow and learn together. With Mars Hill Anywhere, we can extend our reach beyond our physical location and connect with believers from all over the world.

At Mars Hill Baptist Church, we're excited about the future and the opportunities that Mars Hill Anywhere presents. We believe that by embracing modern technology, we can reach more people and make a bigger impact on the world. So why not join us today and see what Mars Hill Anywhere can do for you?

At Mars Hill, we understand that the church is not just a building, but a community of believers who come together to support and uplift one another. 



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Mars Hill Anywhere Platform: Bringing the Church to You

What is the Mars Hill Anywhere Platform?

The Mars Hill Anywhere Platform is not just another online tool; it's a revolutionary step towards redefining what it means to be a church in the modern age. Recognizing that the essence of a church is its community and not the walls that house it, we've developed a platform that bridges the gap between physical distance and spiritual connection.

Key Features:

  1. Virtual Gatherings: Attend services, bible studies, and group meetings from the comfort of your home or anywhere in the world. Experience the same warmth and fellowship as you would in person.
  2. Interactive Worship: Engage in live worship sessions, submit prayer requests, and participate in communal activities, ensuring that you're not just a passive viewer but an active member of the congregation.
  3. Community Building Tools: Connect with fellow believers, join discussion groups, and find local meet-ups or events. Create and nurture relationships that go beyond Sunday services.
  4. Resource Library: Access a vast collection of sermons, teachings, and other resources to deepen your faith and understanding, available 24/7.
  5. Personalized Experience: Tailor your platform experience based on your interests, needs, and spiritual journey. Receive content recommendations, join groups that resonate with you, and grow at your own pace.

Why Choose the Mars Hill Anywhere Platform?

  1. Flexibility: Whether traveling, unwell, or simply preferring to engage from home, the platform ensures you're always connected to your church community.
  2. Inclusivity: No matter where you are in your faith journey, there's a place for you here. From newcomers to long-time members, everyone is welcome.
  3. Safety: When physical gatherings might be challenging or risky, the platform offers a safe and secure way to stay connected.
  4. Growth: With many resources and community support, your spiritual growth is limitless.

Join Us in this New Chapter

At Mars Hill, we believe that faith is a journey best traveled together. The Mars Hill Anywhere Platform is our commitment to ensuring that no matter where life takes you, your church family is just a click away. Join us, and let's redefine what being a church in the digital age means.

The Mars Hill Anywhere Platform is not just another online tool; it's a revolutionary step towards redefining what it means to be a church in the modern age.



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The Mars Hill Anywhere Platform: A Comprehensive Overview

At Mars Hill, we believe in creating a holistic ecosystem that caters to the diverse needs of our community. The Mars Hill Anywhere initiative is not just a platform; it's a comprehensive suite of tools, services, and experiences designed to nurture your faith, growth, and leadership. Here's a breakdown of what's involved:

  1. In-Person Gatherings: While our digital tools are expansive, nothing can replace the warmth of face-to-face interactions. Our in-person gatherings are spaces for worship, fellowship, and growth, allowing you to connect with the Mars Hill community in a tangible way.
  2. Live Streaming Across Platforms: Whether you're on our official website at [marshillchicago.org](http://marshillchicago.org), YouTube, or Facebook Live, you can access our services in real-time. Experience the power of collective worship, no matter where you are.
  3. The Gathering - Digital Discipleship: Our midweek service, The Gathering, is more than just another online meeting. It's a dedicated space for digital discipleship, designed to help you deepen your relationship with God from wherever you are.
  4. 1:1 Coaching: Life is a journey, and we're here to support you every step of the way. Our 1:1 coaching sessions are tailored to help you reach your personal goals and continuously improve, even if just by 1%.
  5. Stay Informed with Text Alerts: Never miss out on what's happening at Mars Hill. Our text alerts keep you in the loop about events, updates, and important announcements.
  6. The Clarence Stowers Leadership Podcast: Leadership is often a lonely journey, but it doesn't have to be. The Clarence Stowers Leadership Podcast shines a light on the often-overlooked leaders, offering insights, stories, and inspiration for everyone.
  7. The Breakdown - Weekly Insights: Understanding God's word is a journey, and we're here to guide you. The Breakdown is a weekly newsletter that delves into Sunday's sermon, providing clarity and a 5-day devotional to help you reflect and grow throughout the week.

Embracing the Future, Together

The Mars Hill Anywhere ecosystem is our commitment to ensuring that every community member has the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive in their faith journey. Whether you're joining us online or in person, we're here to walk alongside you every step of the way.

The Mars Hill Anywhere initiative is not just a platform; it's a comprehensive suite of tools, services, and experiences designed to nurture your faith, growth, and leadership.



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The Importance of a Subscription Model for Sustaining Mars Hill Anywhere

The landscape of church operations and community engagement has undergone significant transformation, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. While the essence of the church remains unchanged, the methods by which we connect, worship, and sustain our operations have evolved. As we navigate these changes, it's crucial to explore innovative financial models that can support the growth and sustainability of Mars Hill Anywhere. Here's why introducing a subscription model as an additional way to give is vital:

  1. Predictable Revenue Stream: Traditional tithes and offerings, while deeply appreciated, can be unpredictable. A subscription model provides a consistent and predictable revenue stream, enabling better financial planning and ensuring the church's digital and physical operations run smoothly.
  2. Expanding Digital Infrastructure: The hybrid model of Mars Hill Anywhere requires significant investment in digital infrastructure, from live streaming equipment to online platforms and tools. A subscription model can help offset these costs and ensure our digital offerings remain top-notch.
  3. Supporting Expanded Services: With initiatives like 1:1 coaching, The Gathering, and The Clarence Stowers Leadership Podcast, Mars Hill offers more than just Sunday services. A subscription model can help fund these additional services, ensuring they remain accessible and high-quality.
  4. Building Resilience: Post-COVID, many churches face financial challenges. Diversifying our revenue sources through subscriptions can make Mars Hill more resilient to external economic shocks and ensure we can continue our mission regardless of external circumstances.
  5. Deepening Community Engagement: A subscription model can foster a sense of ownership and more profound engagement within the community. Subscribers might feel a heightened sense of commitment and involvement, knowing they're directly sustaining the church's initiatives.
  6. Flexibility for Members: While tithing is a deeply personal act of worship, a subscription model offers an alternative for those who prefer a more structured way of giving. It allows members to choose the best method with their financial planning and personal preferences.

A Forward-Thinking Approach

Introducing a subscription model is not about replacing traditional tithes and offerings but complementing them. It's a forward-thinking approach, recognizing the evolving needs of our community and the changing dynamics of church operations in the digital age. By embracing this model, we're ensuring the sustainability of Mars Hill Anywhere and paving the way for continued growth, innovation, and deepened community engagement.

Introducing a subscription model is not about replacing traditional tithes and offerings but complementing them. 



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Join Us in Shaping the Future of Mars Hill Anywhere

At the heart of Mars Hill lies a community bound by faith, love, and a shared vision. As we navigate the evolving landscape of worship and fellowship, your support becomes the cornerstone of our growth and outreach.

  1. Tithes & Offerings: Your regular tithes and offerings are more than just financial contributions; they're acts of worship, trust, and commitment to our shared mission. Each penny fuels our endeavors, ensuring that the Word reaches every corner and every heart.
  2. Special Offerings: Occasionally, we embark on projects that require a little extra – a community outreach, a mission trip, or infrastructural enhancements. Your unique offerings can make these dreams a reality, creating lasting impact and memories.
  3. Becoming a Subscriber: Dive deeper into the Mars Hill experience by becoming a subscriber. Not only do you gain access to exclusive content and benefits, but you also play a pivotal role in ensuring our church's sustainability in the digital age: every gesture, big or small, stitches together the fabric of our community. Whether giving through tithes, unique offerings, or subscribing, you champion a vision of unity, growth, and boundless faith.

Support Mars Hill Anywhere today as a beacon of hope, love, and transformation.

The Great Facebook & Instagram Outage Lesson: Dig Your Own Unshakable Well

The Great Facebook & Instagram Outage Lesson: Dig Your Own Unshakable Well

by | Mar 6, 2024 | Communication, Current Affairs, Decisions, Empowerment

In the early 2000s, the board of directors forced Steve Jobs, Apple's co-founder, out of the company. Jobs had been a critical figure in the company's success, having overseen the development of iconic products such as the Macintosh, the iPod, and the iPhone. However, he clashed with the board over his management style and the company's direction, leading to his ousting.

Following his departure from Apple, Jobs embarked on personal reflection and soul-searching. He realized that his mistake could have been relying more heavily on someone else's platform, which had resulted in his being removed from Apple. As a result, he decided to create his own platform, Pixar, a company that would allow him to showcase his unique vision for the future of entertainment.

Pixar initially started as a computer hardware company, but they quickly shifted their focus to developing animation software. Steve Jobs, the founder, recognized the potential of animation to transform the movie industry and went all-in to ensure Pixar's success.

In 1995, the company released its first feature film, Toy Story, a massive commercial and critical hit. Pixar continued producing blockbuster films, such as A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc., and Finding Nemo. I will revisit this story later in the article.

This week's brief outage of Facebook and Instagram served as a jarring wake-up call: the rented digital platforms we've come to rely on for our businesses and online presence are ultimately not under our control.



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The Great Facebook Outage Lesson

This week's brief outage of Facebook and Instagram served as a jarring wake-up call: the rented digital platforms we've come to rely on for our businesses and online presence are ultimately not under our control. While undeniably convenient, they can go dark at any moment, leaving us high and dry, scrambling to reconnect with our audiences and customers.

The lesson is as clear as a desert mirage: we must dig our own wells before the thirst sets in. By building a robust, self-sufficient platform that we truly own and govern, we insulate ourselves from the whims and failures of third-party rentiers.

This self-made oasis should comprise several key elements:

  1. A Website You Fully Own: No more renting digital real estate. Your website is your sovereign territory on the internet, where you make the rules and set the terms of engagement. It's your impenetrable home base, unshakeable by external forces.
  2. An Email List Under Your Control: With your email list, you own the direct line of communication with your tribe. There are no algorithms, no intermediaries—just an unbroken pipeline to the inboxes of those who matter most. This connection can never be blocked or disrupted.
  3. An Instantaneous Text Alerting System: In today's age of fracturing attention, reach your people immediately through the communication channel they're guaranteed to see. With your owned SMS systems, you're never accountable to someone else's pipes.
  4. Internal Team Collaboration Channels: Keep your crew connected, aligned, and productive through digital spaces you control and manage. Efficient teamwork and flawless execution are vital competitive advantages.
  5. Streamlined Opt-In and Follow-Up Processes: Effortlessly guide new leads into your world on your own terms. With automated systems under your watchful eye, every prospect can stay caught up when the rented streams run dry.

The lesson is as clear as a desert mirage: we must dig our own wells before the thirst sets in.



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By piecing together the different pillars of your self-governed platform, you can avoid being a "digital sharecropper" and subject to your landlords' whims. If the domains you rent fail, you can easily switch to your fully owned domain and continue serving your audience without problems. Let's return to Steve Jobs' story to see how he applied this lesson years later when he returned to Apple. 

He transformed Apple into a self-governed empire by creating iTunes, the Online Store, and an ironclad ecosystem, resulting in a self-sustaining oasis that was unshakable by external forces. 

The moral of Jobs' story is that true visionaries should build their empire on self-reliance and control their destiny by digging their own wells. Don't rent land to build your empire, as it can vanish overnight. Cultivate self-reliance by owning your platform.

Never be caught up with resources when you need them the most. Instead, take the initiative to cultivate a strong foundation that will provide you with the necessary tools to secure your future success. By doing so, you can ensure that your business or audience will continue to grow and thrive.

Remember that self-reliance is crucial in achieving this goal, as it will help you become more resilient in the face of any challenges.

When the rented domains inevitably fail, you can easily switch to your fully owned domain and continue serving your audience from the depths of your well-stocked waters.



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If you are ready to take the initiative towards securing your future success, start cultivating a strong foundation today. Don't wait until you are caught up with resources when you need them the most. 

Remember, self-reliance is key to becoming more resilient and achieving your goals. So, take action now and invest in yourself to ensure that your business or audience continues to grow and thrive!

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