Page 3 - Mars Hill Productions 2017 Year-update
P. 3
anything, and apart from Him we can do nothing! As previously enough and the commitment to those on your team and in
stated, God created us for His glory. What brings God glory is your community is deep enough, then you will persevere! The Power of Partnering in a Digital World
not what we do for Him, but what He does through us. We are
His instruments; conduits of His life. As such, that life must Providence - This is defined as the protective care of God.
be fed. I believe my role as “president” of Mars Hill includes a Without that, all else is meaningless. “Unless the Lord builds
pastoral responsibility to foster a culture that feeds the life of the house, those who build it labor in vain.” - Psalm 127:1. Some of the stories below are about ministry in regions of the world where security is a significant issue. If hostile people
Christ in every person involved in this ministry. It is said that hindsight is 20/20. Looking back, I see clearly that were to track these stories back to our ministry partners, the ministry activity, and sometimes even the lives of those involved,
That is why we publish updates like this one; so that donors Mars Hill has not been my story. Nor has it been the story of could be at risk. For this reason, we hope you will understand why we use symbols (****) to guard the identity of certain
and intercessors may be encouraged by the way God has used the staff, the board or those who surround us with prayer and people and places.
them to help make the ministry possible. That is why, from giving. This has been God’s story, in which our stories play a
the beginning, both our staff and board have prioritized time part. Our stories derive their meaning and value from His story. Millions of M***** Seekers View Clips from The HOPE
together in the Word, and in prayer. That is what keeps us in If we were to study a 50% completed Persian rug on the Thousands Engage in Conversation
sync with our common purpose, and the God of all purpose. loom, we would see in the first half, a complex pattern. From
I also believe it is important to remember that what we are that pattern, we could not only anticipate the next few inches Our ministry partners in ******** use a Facebook page designed to reach
M***** seekers who would like to know more about the God of the Bible.
doing now, in this world, is really training for what we will to be weaved, we could know that, by the hands of a master The HOPE is made up of 36 Biblical events, which are organized into 12
be doing for eternity. The implications of that truth should weaver, the second half will identically mirror the first half. Chapters. These partners have uploaded video clips of the 36 events in a
profoundly affect how we view and treat the people we God is the ultimate master weaver. The tapestry of His story special section of their Facebook page to highlight the unified story.
interact with at every level in this ministry. will incorporate our story exactly as it is intended. This truth
can give us confidence and comfort, and change the way Some of these clips have had millions of views, and as a result, thousands of
Perseverance – Oh the value of “a long obedience in the we respond to any circumstance. It can keep us reliant on online conversations have begun between our partners and M***** seekers.
same direction!” Eugene Peterson borrowed this phrase from God, rather than our own fleshly tactics, to move the ministry This is a very fruitful and dangerous strategy. Some of the conversations
Friedrich Nietzsche for the title of one of his books. The point forward. were with very hostile viewers seeking to eliminate Christians. This clip from Facebook on a mobile phone
of it is that some things not only take time, but often, a great Through the years, there’ve been times we’ve misstepped, shows 10.4 million views of the burning bush
amount of effort over a long period of time. scene from The HOPE.
thinking we were doing the right thing when we were really Helping End Theological Famine
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Mars Hill! Certainly, veering off track. But God has always been faithful to correct
creativity and commitment to a standard of excellence have our course. Forty years of ministry has shown me that His Globally, 85% of evangelical churches are led by pastors who have no access to formal education
played a role in the story of what God has done through this grip on us is always more important than our grip on Him. It or training. To aid in relieving this theological famine, The Gospel Coalition has been translating
ministry. But without hesitation, I can say that the greatest is a wonderful thing to realize that our inability to follow God theological and biblical resources (ie; John Piper books, study bibles, etc.) for the pastors and elders
factor in whatever impact we’ve had is perseverance . . . that perfectly does not affect His ability to lead us perfectly. I love of churches in these least reached areas. Mars Hill has been invited to collaborate with The Gospel
“long obedience in the same direction.” Psalm 57:2 from the ESV Bible, “I cry out to God Most High, Coalition by making The HOPE available in a variety of new ways so international church planters can
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” All glory to God!!! be equipped to teach the meta-narrative of scripture to their congregations.
There is a reason I’ve listed perseverance after purpose and - Until All Have Heard,
people. If the understanding of your God-given purpose is clear Fred Carpenter - President, Mars Hill TGC & The HOPE The Farsi HOPE and Study Guide are on this TGC website: http://www.mahfeleenjil.com/the-hope-
Partnering to end film/. TGC intends to share The HOPE in all available languages with their global network of reformed
theological famine missionaries and church planters. Currently, The HOPE is the only video/film that TGC is planning to
Updating worldwide! use in this strategy. They like The HOPE’s versatility to aid in teaching Biblical theology to oral peoples.
The HOPE Telegram App Offers Secure Means for Sharing the Truth
Every month, SAT-7 Media broadcasts The Farsi, Arabic, and Turkish HOPE across the
Several scenes including Adam & Eve, Babel and Creation (above) will be updated. Arab-speaking world via satellite TV. In the Persian Gulf and parts of North Africa, SAT-7
The original idea for The HOPE may have come from a moment of creative inspiration, but the actual design of The HOPE uses the Telegram app as their primary audience relation tool to engage with millions of
was less about creativity, and more about “market research” with missionaries in the Body of Christ worldwide. Muslim viewers. Because Telegram users are not able to see or interact with other users,
the app is a safe and secure way for seekers to reach out with questions about programing
Before deciding to produce The HOPE, we asked many, many missionaries, “Do you even need another media tool?” and they have seen. SAT-7 recently approached Mars Hill requesting clips of The HOPE to
if so, “What should it look like?” The answer to the first question was a resounding, “Yes!” And from their answers to the use for a daily Bible study within the Telegram app. This project, coming soon, will share
next question, we came up with a list of criteria that The HOPE has to satisfy. For instance, a) It had to tell the whole story, The HOPE with as many as 80,000 people who currently engage with SAT-7 via Telegram. HOPE from the heavens via Satellite
from creation to Christ, b) It had to accomplish the first expectation, “a” in less than 90 minutes, c) It had to be adaptable Television, and on the ground via a
for any people group, and d) It had to be adaptable for any situation; i.e.- viewed entirely in a single evangelistic event or Here Today, Gone Tomorrow . . . but the Gospel Remains secure Web-based App!
viewed over time in segments for a discipleship study.
In May, the Southern Baptist’s International Mission Board, together with another one of
What resulted from taking this input seriously was a very different kind of media project than we had ever produced. In our ministry partners, built a website to covertly share the Gospel with M***** seekers
fact, our president and director of The HOPE says it violated most of the rules he learned in film school. If the chief goal in ****. This secure website was promoted in a variety of security sensitive ways, not the
was creative expression, he never would have made The HOPE. That said, the proof is, as they say, “in the pudding!” With least of which was word of mouth in the underground Church. The site was only up for 30
nearly 70 translations in use around the world and about 25 new translation projects in process, God is confirming how He days to keep its originators from being tracked.
led us in making The HOPE.
The HOPE was designed to be a living project. In this sense it is actually less like a typical motion picture that is released The site contained two video streams of The HOPE in **** and ********* as well as a
once for all time, and more like a software program with updated versions. As such, we are now on a track to update many first-of-its-kind download option for visitors to receive a copy of The HOPE. The website
of the images in The HOPE to give it a more contemporary feel, and to incorporate some of the things we’ve learned over In security sensitive areas was also equipped with a live chatroom, where 5 ***** speakers, based in the U.S., were
the years about what does and doesn’t work with different people groups in different parts of the world. You will hear more downloads of The HOPE are shared available 24/7 to follow up and minister to visitors. During that month, there were 357
about this in the coming year, so please pray for us in this process! in the underground Church. downloads of The ***** HOPE from within ****.
Page 2 Page 3