Mars Hill Church Federal Way | Auburn, WA

• Samuel Choi
• Feb 18, 2010
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles

Planter Profile:

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church.

My calling to plant a church began as I was convicted with three questions in January 2007.

1. What is gospel-centered ministry?
2. What does it mean to be missional?
3. What does evangelism look like where I live?

In 1991, as a freshman in college, I have been captured by the vision to see a world changing movement like the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.

This desire led to the pursuit of theological training at Westminster Seminary in California where I graduated from in 2000 and the ordination in 2003 in the Pacific Northwest Presbytery of PCA.

This desire led me to pursue a gospel-centered missional church and evangelism where I live and led me to Acts 29 and Mars Hill Church where I fulfilled the calling by planting a Mars Hill campus in Federal Way area in September 2009. 

What were the biggest challenges you faced in planting your church (and/or currently facing)? 

Developing leaders in time to meet the growing need of spiritual care and formation in making disciples. 

Fund raising and communicating the financial need of a campus as a response to the gospel and to God's grace.

How did you build up your core? What advice would you give to guys in the core-stage?

I built up my core by being part of a sending campus and recruiting the core group from an existing dynamic missional church, Mars Hill Church West Seattle campus.

How did you become involved with Acts 29? What have been the biggest benefits of being in the network? 

I became involved with Acts 29 by participating in Resurgence Conference in February 2008 and Pastors Training Program (Church Planter's year long training program at Mars Hill Church). 

The biggest benefit has been the vision of planting church planting churches to continue the gospel movement in the world. 

What advice do you have for men who are wrestling with the decision to plant? 

Focus on their call, how they are shepherding their wives and children, and how they provide for them. 

How do you pastor your family?

I personally disciple my family be leading them in prayer (devotions, meals, and bed times).

I teach my wife by going through a book and children by doing a verse of the week.

How can we pray for you?

Pray for growing in grace, developing leaders who make leaders, and making gospel communities that glorify and enjoy Jesus.

Church Profile: Mars Hill Church
Launch Date: September, 2009
Location: Federal Way  

Mission, Vision, Values of Church

Mars Hill Federal Way desires to live for Jesus to bless the diverse communities of Federal Way the mid-Puget Sound area.

Lord willing, the campus will serve as a hub for multi-cultural ministries and missions for the glory of God.

How do we bless the diverse communities? Gospel, Mission, Community

Gospel – “MHC lives for Jesus as a city within a city” What is a biblical ministry? A biblical ministry is based and centered on the story of God – the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Mission – “Knowing culture, loving people” Who is involved? The Father, the Son, the Spirit and the Bride (individual saints as well as the body of Christ) A biblical living is based and centered in the triune God (Father, Son, and Spirit)

Community – “Seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus.” How is it done? Transformation in community. A biblical community is based and centered on the unity and the continuity of the mission of God

What is your philosophy of community in your church and what does that look like practically in your church? Of evangelism?

The philosophy of community is that of "gospel" community in which a group of disciples gather to make disciples in sharing their testimonies, confessing sins to one another, doing life together in community and being on mission by reaching out to nonbelievers.

What are some examples of God's grace that you have seen in your life and/or the life of your church?

Examples of God's grace are numerous not only in number of worship attendees, members, ministry volunteers, and community groups, but also in the changed lives in community groups and the changes we experience as we grow in sanctification becoming more like Jesus.