Just a bit ago, Brandy Zadrozny posted an article at the Daily Beast that essentially summarizes the scandalous aspects of Mars Hill Church’s decline.
Probably the most controversial aspect of the article is Mark Demoss’ contention that Driscoll reached out to those he knew were at odds with him. That is going to inflame many former Mars Hill members since so many of them have not heard a word. I know a few, in particular, who reached out to Driscoll on multiple times without any response.
Category: Mark Driscoll
Hillsong Plans to Open Megachurch in Phoenix
Oh boy; didn’t Brian Houston get the memo about Mark Driscoll’s The Trinity Church?
Hillsong plans to go big in the valley.
Hillsong Church, a global church founded in Australia with 15 locations and over 100,000 in weekly attendance, announces the launch of its third U.S. congregation in the Phoenix, Arizona, area on Feb. 21, 2016. The Phoenix site will initially offer six Sunday worship experiences on three campuses with additional sites under consideration.
“After 15 years of serving as a large, vibrant, multisite church in the Phoenix metro area, and after much prayer and planning, we are excited to announce that we have become the 16th global campus of Hillsong Church,” said Hillsong Phoenix Lead Pastors Terry and Judith Crist.
I know Phoenix is huge and growing but there is only so much oxygen, right?
Blast from the Past: Mark Driscoll's Greatest Fear About Mars HIll Church
Tim Gaydos asks Mark Driscoll what his greatest fear is for Mars Hill Church and you won’t believe what happens next!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of6OhomrezA&[/youtube]
A former Mars Hill member sent this to me. Spooky.
His elders followed his cautions and teachings closely but Driscoll said God changed things up.
Stay in touch! Like Warren Throckmorton on Facebook:
Amarillo Paper Reports on Mark Driscoll's New Church
With Jimmy Evans as the hook, the Amarillo Globe-News today published a story about Mark Driscoll’s new church.
Evans is a pastor at The Trinity Fellowship in the Amarillo area.
Along with Perry Noble and Robert Morris, we can add Jimmy Evans to the list of pastors who have taken a one-sided view of the situation in Seattle. Where is the effort to reach out to the former members and elders of Mars Hill?
One can read the report of elder charges here. This matter was never resolved. A group of elders investigated the charges and came back with a finding that Driscoll needed to be under the care of those elders. He resigned rather than submit to the very elders he appointed and the process he created.
Along with Noble, Evans’ concern is for Driscoll.
Evans said he’s looking forward to witnessing how the Lord will work in Mark Driscoll’s life and new church.
“It is exciting to see God’s redemptive power working in this situation, and I’m humbled to be a part of it,” Evans said.
Stay in touch! Like Warren Throckmorton on Facebook:
Former Mars Hill Elder Tells Perry Noble, "You Are in the Dark" about Mark Driscoll
On Tuesday (one day after I posted the news that Mark Driscoll had publicly announced formation of The Trinity Church in Phoenix), Perry Noble, pastor of NewSpring Church, spoke about Mark Driscoll’s return to ministry. (I am embedding it because the Facebook feature isn’t working currently. The link to watch it on Noble’s page is here)
On Noble’s Facebook page, former Mars Hill Church elder Dave Kraft left the following message:
Perry, I appreciate your heart in all of this, but do wish you had done your homework and exercised due diligence by finding out what really happened at MHC! I’m afraid you are in the dark about the truth of what transpired and why The Acts 29 network, Paul Tripp and 30 former elders believe that Mark Driscoll disqualified himself and needs to make some things right before stepping back into pastoral ministry! I appreciate your ministry, read your books and value your leadership wisdom.
I expected mixed reactions to Driscoll’s announcement. My guess is that the same polarization will pick up about where it left off.
Who Matters in Perry Noble’s Christian Army?
I doubt many would deny that there is a trail of loose Mars Hill ends from Seattle to Phoenix.
Mars Hill Church had millions in assets. Much of that money was given by people who are now disillusioned and skeptical about organized church. They deserve an accounting of their funds. They have reason to believe Mark Driscoll could secure that for them. I believe they are correct and will believe that unless Mark Driscoll provides evidence to the contrary.
More important than the money is the damage done to the trust of former members. To them, Driscoll’s assurance that he is healing up seems self-absorbed. It seems as though Perry Noble cares more about Driscoll’s return to ministry than the people who lost their confidence in church. Noble’s concern is clearly for Driscoll but I hear nothing about the people in Seattle who have desired all along to hear from Driscoll and makes things right.
At 4:00 into the clip, Noble mentions the former members:
Some people have said, Perry, he hurt people. So have you. So have you. Do we want to talk about the people he’s hurt, or do we want to talk about the people maybe you’ve hurt. Cause did he hurt people, did he misuse his power? Did he abuse people? I don’t know. But I think he’s got ministry left in him, I think Jesus still loves him, I don’t think God removed his calling from Mark’s life and um, he may have hurt people but you know what, he’s learned from it and he’s going to step into this season of ministry with a brand new focus and I praise God for that.
Noble’s concern is about how Driscoll is doing: since Driscoll allegedly has learned from his experience, all is well. He’s got a new focus and that’s what matters. Why don’t the former members matter? Why doesn’t Perry Noble try to find out if Driscoll abused his power? He speaks about the hurt ones without knowledge of them.
This cavalier attitude toward the wounded in Seattle comes across as insensitive. Noble says Christians are the only army who shoot their wounded. In Noble’s version of Christianity it is also fine to leave the wounded bleeding on the battle field. His Christianity rehabs the generals and leaves the foot soldiers to fend for themselves.
What is amazing about real Christianity is that reconciliation is still possible. Based on my conversations with former Mars Hill Church members and leaders, it isn’t too late for everyone to heal up together.