Final Mars Hill Update.

Friends.

We at Mars Hill have shared a wonderful relationship with Skyline, another young church in downtown Oklahoma City. We have been exploring the nature of this partnership over the last nine months. It has become evident to both communities that we can accomplish far more together than we ever could apart.

From the beginning, we have sought to become an extended spiritual family sharing life and mission together. Our family is growing and our Missional Community is being joined by other Missional Communities all across the metro area:

Northeast Edmond (Wednesday at 6:30)

Led by John & Tiffany Gwynn

South Edmond (Wednesdays at 6:30)

Led by Aaron & Vanesa Niles

North OKC (Wednesday at 7:00)

Led by Joshua & Amy Newberry

NW OKC #1 (Sundays at 6:00)

Led by Doug & Melissa Mason

NW OKC #2 (Wednesday at 6:30)

Led by Jeremy & Stephanie Hume

Brian & Kathy Lovelace

Paseo (Wednesday at 6:30)

Led by Rex & Lanie Barrett

Quail Creek (Wednesdays at 6:30)

Led by Matt & Megan McClintock

This network of Missional Communities will come together to celebrate the King and his Kingdom on Sunday mornings at 11am. The KAMPs Gathering will no longer take place on Sunday evenings.

Together, we will now be referred to as Skyline - A Network of Missional Communities Following The Way of Jesus and Integrating God's Mission for The World Into Our Daily Lives.

Skyline Gatherings are held at 123 Robert S. Kerr - OKC, OK 73102.

The Skyline mailing address is PO Box 1216 - OKC, OK 73101.

Please begin making tax-deductible financial contributions to "Skyline".

We are in the process of re-launching a new website at www.SkylineOKC.com.

I encourage you to subscribe to receive email updates at www.ProjectOKC.com to stay up to date on missional living opportunities taking place in urban OKC. Please mark your calendars and make plans to participate in the AIDS Walk of Oklahoma City on Sunday, October 5th at 2pm.

Many of you have been attending Skyline over the last several months of transition and I look forward to many more of you merging your life into the life of this newly forming community. I will be teaching this Sunday at Skyline concluding a conversation on what we believe. Next Sunday, September 28th we will begin a new conversation through the book of James.

Please let me know if you have any questions and how I can be of service. My new email address is Ben@SkylineOKC.com.

Better Together.

Ben.

This Sunday - September 7th.

Friends.

I hope that you've had a good week.

I look forward to gathering together this Sunday - September 7th, 5:30pm at KAMPs.
Please bring a finger food item to share with the group.
Let me know if you have any questions.

See you soon!

Take Care.
Ben.

KAMPs Missional Community.

Summer seems to be a natural season to step back, slow down and simplify. Christianity and the accompanying church life has become increasingly complicated. Jesus said that the essence of Christianity could be summed up in two inseparable commandments: Love God and Love Your Neighbor. Simple yet more powerful than we know. This summer we have committed to learning and living out the wonders of loving God and others simply and powerfully. Summer has been a time to rest from work and now the summer season is coming to a close and we enter into a new rhythm - a time to work from a place of rest.

We will be getting together at KAMP's to further explore what an extended spiritual family on mission together looks like on Sunday, September 7th & 14th at 5:30pm. This will be a focused dialogue on the future expression of the Mars Hill Kamps Gathering and our growing partnership with Skyline. I encourage all those who have invested, loved and shared in this journey to attend.

The Gods Aren't Angry by Rob Bell screening at KAMPs on Sunday, August 24th at 5:30pm. Where did the first caveman or cavewoman get the idea that somebody, somewhere existed who needed to be worshipped, appeased, and followed? And how did the idea evolve that if you didn't say, do, or offer the right things, this being would be upset, agitated, or even angry with you? Where did religion come from?

There will be a back to school event for all Refugees this Sunday, August 17th from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Flower Garden Park. This event will include food, activities for kids and a back pack giveaway. We will be providing all Refugees in OKC and all the students living at Jamie's Landing apartment school supplies for the upcoming school year. Please make plans to be a part and consider now how you can give financially to this effort. We will be providing everything for burgers and dogs but we need you to bring an easy side or dessert in bulk (we may be feeding up to 150 people).

I will be concluding the teaching conversation through Galatians and transitioning the conversation to explore Missional Communities at Skyline ( www.SkylineOKC.com ) this Sunday, August 17th at 11am.

I look forward to connecting and celebrating with you on Sunday!

Working From Rest.
Ben.

Thought From Jim Wallis.

Just heard a piercing thought from Jim Wallis, author of God's Politics and Great Awakening.

He said, "We have growing churches and dying neighborhoods."

Let that bounce around your head and heart.

Talk To Our Father.

I wanted to pass along a matter of prayer from a member of the KAMPs Community. I assured them they we would join them in prayer and pain, even now. I prayed that the SHALOM of God would surround and invade. Would you talk to our good Father about this family?

"Hey if you don't mind could you guys pray for my family? Especially my brother matt and his wife stephanie...she was pregnant with triplets and was due in late October, but she went into labor and long story short they lost all 3 babies yesterday...they are up in Missouri right now and they are both just ridiculous amazing people and really torn up obviously right now...thanks"

KAMPs Missional Community.

Summer seems to be a natural season to step back, slow down and simplify. Christianity and the accompanying church life has become increasingly complicated. Jesus said that the essence of Christianity could be summed up in two inseparable commandments: Love God and Love Your Neighbor. Simple yet more powerful than we know. Living out the gospel means desiring for one's neighbor and neighbor's family that which one desires for one's self and family. Living out the gospel means bettering the quality of other people's lives spiritually, physically, socially, and emotionally as one betters one's own. This summer we are committed to learning and living out the wonders of loving God and others simply and powerfully.

The Gods Aren't Angry by Rob Bell screening at KAMPs on Sunday, August 24th at 5:30pm. Where did the first caveman or cavewoman get the idea that somebody, somewhere existed who needed to be worshipped, appeased, and followed? And how did the idea evolve that if you didn't say, do, or offer the right things, this being would be upset, agitated, or even angry with you? Where did religion come from?

There will be a back to school event for all Refugees on Sunday, August 17th from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Flower Garden Park. This event will include food, activities for kids and a back pack giveaway. We will be providing all Refugees in OKC and all the students living at Jamie's Landing apartment school supplies for the upcoming school year. Please make plans to be a part and consider now how you can give financially to this effort.

Rex and Lanie Barrett are leading a new church planting endeavor in the Paseo Arts District. They will begin building community on Wednesday nights beginning August 6th. We encourage each of you to consider participating and spreading the word. Email RexBarrett@mac.com for more info. Rex will be sharing at the KAMPs Gathering on Sunday, August 10th at 5:30pm.

There will be no KAMPs Gatherings on Sunday evening, August 3rd.

Our friends at Crosstown Church have invited members from the downtown Church (Big "C") to join them for a downtown prayer journey on Tuesday, July 29th at 7pm. The group will meet and the prayer journey will begin at the Myriad Gardens.

I will continue the teaching conversation through Galatians at Skyline (www.SkylineOKC.com) this Sunday, July 27th at 11am. The morning Gathering will be followed by a shared meal together. That evening we will be getting together at KAMP's to further explore what an extended spiritual family on mission together looks like.

I look forward to connecting and celebrating with you on Sunday!

Free To Live.

Ben.

KAMPs Missional Community.

Headed to New Life Church (www.NewLifeChurch.org) in Colorado Springs for the annual Desperation Conference (www.DesperationOnline.com). Really looking forward to hanging with friends there. So, I'm sending out the KAMPs Missional Community update early this week.

Summer seems to be a natural season to step back, slow down and simplify. Christianity and the accompanying church life has become increasingly complicated. Jesus said that the essence of Christianity could be summed up in two inseparable commandments: Love God and Love Your Neighbor. Simple yet more powerful than we know. Living out the gospel means desiring for one's neighbor and neighbor's family that which one desires for one's self and family. Living out the gospel means bettering the quality of other people's lives spiritually, physically, socially, and emotionally as one betters one's own. This summer we are committed to learning and living out the wonders of loving God and others simply and powerfully.

Our friends at Crosstown Church have invited members from the downtown Church (Big "C") to join them for a downtown prayer journey on Tuesday, July 29th at 7pm. The group will meet and the prayer journey will begin at the Myriad Gardens.

Fusion Church ( www.FusionOKC.com ) will be hosting Servants Training Weekend July 18-20. When Jesus left the most exclusive gated community in the universe and relocated among us, He sparked a revolution: an upside-down revolution of love and justice. Join us for an introduction to a radical new way of doing justice in the inner cities of the world.

We will join Fusion Church for a combined Gathering on Sunday, July 20th at 5pm. Craig Greenfield from Servants to Asia's Urban Poor (www.ServantsAsia.org) will be sharing on "Solitude, Community & Mission". Servants to Asia's Urban Poor is an international movement: a network of Christian communities living and working amongst the urban poor in Asia's mega cities, participating with the poor to bring hope and justice through Jesus Christ. Fusion is located in the Plaza District, 1755 NW 16th Street (between Classen and Penn).

I will continue the teaching conversation through Galatians at Skyline (www.SkylineOKC.com) on Sunday, July 27th at 11am. The morning Gathering will be followed by a shared meal together. That evening we will be getting together at KAMP's to further explore what an extended spiritual family on mission together looks like.

Remember and reconsider the words of Jesus in Matthew 5. This is what he said: "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. You're blessed when you're content with just who you are-no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being care-full, you find yourselves cared for. You're blessed when you get your inside world-your mind and heart-put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

Be Blessed.

Ben.