Welcome to Global Story Week on the Mars Hill Blog. Enjoy these stories of gospel transformation, and visit marshillglobal.com to share your experience.

Changed By Jesus #42

By Mark in Melbourne

I am lead pastor of a church in Melbourne, Australia going for seven years now. For the first five years I was caught up in the “seeker sensitive” method of church, more concerned with pleasing and spoiling the attendees than faithfully preaching the gospel of Jesus. Jesus was only a general presence rather than Senior Pastor and the One to be lifted high above all else.

But one day a friend of mine introduced me to Pastor Mark Driscoll’s preaching, and God got a hold of me and ruined me for life! Through the ministry of Mars Hill I was compelled to lead our church through a transition of what mattered most: the elevation of Jesus and the faithful preaching of the Gospel…

Since then we had to endure some devastating changes, as many longtime ministry partners left us. As God changed my heart and vision, the church changed too, but not without a refining and cleansing process taking place. Painful, but absolutely essential.

Jesus has taken his rightful place of honour and authority in the church, and we have almost tripled in attendance within about eight months. I am loving this new journey and I am a transformed man. We are seeking God on future church planting opportunities and have already begun putting aside 10 percent of our offering to that cause. Thank you for the inspiration.

I am forever grateful to Jesus for directing me to the preaching and teaching of Mars Hill Church. I will never be the same again. Through your obedience I love Jesus more. The future looks amazing, and I have never been more stable and more focused in ministry as I am now. But better days are ahead!

Mars Hill Global

Serving the church and spreading the gospel. Help support this effort by giving to the Global Fund. More info at MarsHillGlobal.com