Private - Downtown Seattle 2009-10

Gender

Female

Which describes your role at Mars Hill?

I was one of the above but prefer not to specify.

What Mars Hill location(s) did you attend?

Downtown Seattle

What years were you involved / attending?

2009, 2010

How did you first hear about Mars Hill?

Moved into the apt building across the street from the downtown campus

What was the circumstance of your first time attending Mars HIll?

Attended with my husband in search of a home church after we relocated to downtown Seattle, it was close and we had heard of Mark Driscoll before, so we gave it a try.

What were your first impressions?

I wasn't crazy about the megachurch, multiple sites style. I mean, this guy is a good preacher but can't he let others plant churches and preach/use their gifts as well? But we like how close it was and have always tried to not "church shop." We tend to go to the first place we try, unless their are major concerns right away. We assumed God had placed us across the street for a reason.

Why was Mars Hill your church home?

Mostly the location/proximity to our place. We made some friends too and got involved in a comm group.

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a positive impact on you?

We liked the sermons after we got used to the mega church telecast thing. The worship was great. We made friends who lived in our area.

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a negative impact on you?

In the short time we were involved (a little over a year) TWO people in our community group were "disciplined" and basically kicked out of the church. It was horrible and I felt a misinterpretation of scripture. And the worst part...I'm not even sure they were really believers, they were seeking for truth. What a horrible way to represent Christ.

What would you like to have changed about Mars Hill?

How they kicked people out. It was ridiculous to claim it was "discipline." Many of these people didn't know how to live out their Christian faith and needed guidance. Not being exiled from the church. Also, though I liked that Mark Driscoll taught convicting sermons about giving and tithing, he acted like it should all be given to his church, and in my opinion sometimes God calls us to give elsewhere.

Which describes you?

I left Mars Hill prior to closure.

Please describe why you left Mars Hill and what that experience was like.

I left because we moved away from Seattle. But we were close to leaving back in 2010 when we saw people kicked out of our comm group.

How would you describe the reason for Mars Hill's closure to an outsider.

The pastor and his practices were not kept in check. People got hurt and that damaged the image of a church already under great scrutiny by the public because of its large congregation and controversial pastor.

What's changed for you since your time at Mars Hill came to an end?

I have not felt guilty for being a member of a church that has harsh practices that I don't approve of.