Podcast

The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill

Aftermath

What happens to your faith when your church is torn apart?

Five days after resigning as lead pastor of Mars Hill Church, Mark Driscoll was once again in front of a crowd—this time, a packed conference of pastors who offered him a standing ovation in support. It only took 474 days for him to announce he was planting a new church in Scottsdale, Arizona.

But while Driscoll wielded his own force of personality to get as much distance from Mars Hill as possible, life in Seattle was a different story. A confused and hurting church was displaced, hundreds of people were out of their jobs, and the fiercest critics of the church practically threw a party.

In our series finale, we follow a few of those threads, which led some people to new ministries, others to new careers, and still others out of the church altogether. We’ll revisit the legacy of Driscoll’s teaching on gender, and we’ll ask whether or not he really preached good news and freedom.

We’ll also look for the presence of Christ, working in surprising and unseen ways to bring beauty out of the ashes of what was once Mars Hill Church.

As we end 2021, we’d love to invite you to join us as we continue to try to tell stories like this. Subscriptions are a great way to do that, and we’d love if you considered us with your end-of-year giving.

The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill is a production of Christianity Today

Executive Producer: Erik Petrik

Producer, Writer, Editor, Host, and Mix Engineer: Mike Cosper

Additional Editing: Resonate Recordings and Matt Linder<

Associate Producer: Joy Beth Smith

Music and Sound Design: Kate Siefker and Mike Cosper

Graphic Design: Bryan Todd

Social Media: Morgan Lee and Kara Bettis

Editorial Consultant: Andrea Palpant Dilley

Editor in Chief: Timothy Dalrymple

Special thanks to Ben Vandermeer

Opening song: “Resplendent” by Bill Mallonee and the Vigilantes of Love

Closing song: “All My Favorite People” by Over the Rhine

Transcription: Cheryl Penner

Transcript Design: Alecia Sharp

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