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.

Lessons You Wished You Learned Earlier In Life

Lessons You Wished You Learned Earlier In Life

by | Jun 19, 2019 | Empowerment, Accountability, Decisions, Encouragement, Excellence, Goals, Motivation, Quotes, Self-Leadership, Success, Vision

In 2005, Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computer gave the Commencement Speech at Stanford University. Hidden in that speech is a powerful quote that resonates.

He said, “You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life”.

The idea behind this quote is that, as much as we try to plan our lives ahead in advance, there’s always something that’s completely unpredictable about life that teaches needed lessons. Unfortunately, people wait too long before learning those needed lessons.  In today’s post, I’m sharing three of the nine lessons that people learn too late in life.  

If you're a teenager, in your early 20s, 30s, or 40s, or if you're just young at heart, I promise you will want to read this 3-part series, and can save yourself from the mistakes that most people make and regret for the rest of their lives. Let's begin the countdown with the ninth lesson, people will criticize you.

“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future..."

- Steve Jobs -

9.  People Will Criticize Me, So What?

Regardless of who you are, someone will criticize you. The fear of criticism kills momentum and gets in the way of creating the life that you want. If you're afraid what other people say and think about you, you might as well stay inside and give up now.

Remember this: The more successful you become, the more haters you’ll attract. It’s like that, and that’s the way it is. So, you have to decide who do you want to be. Do you want to live and become your friend, your parents, or somebody else?  

Or, do you want to live and create your own life? Remember, don't be afraid of criticism, do the things that you want to do, and live the life that you want to live. Let's continue with the countdown with the eighth lesson, you are responsible for your own happiness.

Remember this: The more successful you become, the more haters you’ll attract. 

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8. I Am Responsible For Creating My Own Happiness

Guess what? Happiness is your choice. Unfortunately, a lot of people think that happiness is something that some people have and some don't. But, the truth is, happiness is YOUR choice.

Here are two important truths I’ve discovered about happiness:

  1. Happiness is not an easy choice.
  2. It takes a daily work to be happy.

What does progress have to do with happiness? Happiness comes from making progress. If you're making progress towards your goals, you're going to experience happiness. Unfortunately, many people don't learn this until too late in life. Additionally, they may complain about getting the short end of the stick and choose to remain unhappy.

If you want to experience happiness, you have to take consistent daily action towards choosing happiness. Let's conclude today's countdown with the seventh lesson, be yourself.

Happiness comes from making progress. If you're making progress towards your goals, you're going to experience happiness. 

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“Don’t rely on someone else for your happiness and self-worth. Only you can be responsible for that.” 

- Stacey Charter -

7. Be You - Do You

I once heard someone say, “why be a cheap copy when you can be a great original”? 

Unfortunately, too many people wait too long to learn this valuable lesson. If you don’t have a firm grip on who you are, you’ll be tempted to borrow and live someone else’s life. 

Furthermore, many people (parents, friends, associates, colleagues, etc.) have opinions on who you should be. In fact, they’re willing to offer their unsolicited advice. The sooner you're  your own person, the sooner that you're happy with that person. Take Oscar Wilde's advice, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken". 

I trust you found value in today's post and I'd love to hear your feedback on what lessons you've learned. 


”You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."

- Maya Angelou-

Never Again Return to What Hasn’t Worked

Never Again Return to What Hasn’t Worked

by | Aug 16, 2016 | Encouragement, Book Reviews, Decisions, Empowerment, Leadership, Motivation, Self-Leadership, Success, Vision

Depending on who you ask, success looks different and has many definitions.

Although some define it differently, successful people have common trains. According to Dr. Henry Cloud, author of Never Go Back: 10 Things You’ll Never Do Again,

Successful people have certain realizations, or awakenings, that change the course of their lives forever in a positive way. These realizations are essential to a good life and are both scientifically and spiritually backed.

He describes ten of those awakenings in Never Go Back: 10 Things You’ll Never Do Again. The first awakening, Never Again Return to What Hasen’t Worked hit me like a ton of bricks.

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Never Again Return to What Hasn’t Worked

Make sure that if you ‘go back’ [to an old relationship, an old job, an old way of thinking] you’re not going back to the same thing . . . Remember there’s a reason it didn’t work. If you’re going back make very, very sure that reason is no longer there. . . Ask these questions: Am I different in some way that would make this work? Is the other person different in some way that would make this work? Is the situation fundamentally different in some way that would make this work? (pp. 17-18).

Everyone makes mistakes, even the most successful people out there. But, what successful people do better than others is recognize the patterns that are causing those mistakes and never repeat them again. In short, they learn from pain—their own and the pain of others.

[shareable cite=”Dr. Henry Cloud”]Never Again Return to What Hasn’t Worked[/shareable]

I once heard someone say,

A good thing to remember is this: pain is unavoidable, but repeating the same pain twice, when we could choose to learn and do something different, is certainly avoidable.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, do you agree or disagree?

[shareable]Successful people recognize bad patterns and mistakes and never repeat them again. In short, they learn from pain.[/shareable]

What To Do When Facing Dark Days and Sleepless Nights

What To Do When Facing Dark Days and Sleepless Nights

by | Jul 14, 2016 | Encouragement, Christian, Christianity, Current Affairs, Decisions, Empowerment, Leadership, Motivation, Self-Leadership, Success, Vision

What happens when you combine trust, faith, and hope?  They produce grit.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, grit in the context of behavior is defined as “firmness of character; indomitable spirit.”

In light of the recent deaths of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and five Dallas Police Officers, I decided to tweak this definition to be the ability to keep going despite setbacks, even when your efforts are not rewarded.  Grit is what you need when facing dark days and sleepless nights.

[shareable]Grit is the ability to keep going despite setbacks even when your efforts aren’t rewarded.[/shareable]

Grit (1)

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It’s What You Don’t See That Matters Most

It’s What You Don’t See That Matters Most

by | Jun 23, 2016 | Empowerment, Decisions, Encouragement, Leadership, Self-Leadership, Success, Vision

We’re all living and working in an increasingly fast-paced and ever-changing world.

Succeeding and excelling in today’s world requires you to consider certain traits to be effective. In order to thrive in a fast-changing world, effective leaders make and implement decisions, possess agility, and include others in decision-making. Regardless of their respective industry, effective leaders make decisions and implement strategies to implement their decision.

Youth Decision Making Concept, Feet in Red Sneakers from Above Standing at Ground with Decisons Title Printed, Top View

Making and Implementing Decisions

The critical task of leadership is making decisions.  Unfortunately, there’s no way to know the outcome of the decisions we make. Effective Leaders must decide where they’re going and how to get there.

Deciding where to go could be considered the vision. Having the plan to get there is the strategy. Once a leader decides where they’re going and how to get there the next critical task of leadership is implementation.

Ask yourself: What decision am I making and what’s my strategy to implement it?

[shareable]Deciding where to go could be considered the vision. Having the plan to get there is the strategy.[/shareable]

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Why You Should Be Working on Your Dream NOW!

Why You Should Be Working on Your Dream NOW!

by | Dec 17, 2015 | Current Affairs, Decisions, Empowerment, Encouragement, Goals, Motivation, Self-Leadership, Success, Vision

Living in Chicago is, as Charles Dickens says in the Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

It is the best of times (at least for Christians) because there’s a dark political, moral, and corrupt cloud hovering begging for light (Matthew 5:13-14).  It is the worst of times because we’re witnessing some activists, politicians, glory-seekers, and even preachers/pastors clamoring for the spotlight to build their platform. It’s sickening.

Dream Big, Set Goals, Take Action, concept, tags on the table.

Watching this tragic drama unfold reminds me of Tony Gaskins’ quote:

If you don’t build your dream someone will hire you to help build theirs.

According to this quote, if don’t wake up and begin pursuing your dreams, someone will recognize your abilities and recruit you to help build theirs. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong, improper, or illegal about helping others fulfill their dreams, remember God has something He wants you to accomplish that only you can accomplish.

However, it’s possible to work on both at the same time. Everyone has the same thing in common: 24 hours in a day. Since time is passing, why wouldn’t you be working, at least, part-time, on your dreams.

[shareable cite=”Tony Gaskins”]If you don’t build your dream someone will hire you to help build theirs. [/shareable] (more…)

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