In late 2014, Mars Hill closed its doors as Pastor Mark Driscoll and all the key staff left and disbanded the church as it then was.
What happened at Mars Hill, though, was not all bad.
I interview Justin Dean about the good that happened, what he learned, what could have been better, and what it feels like to be on the inside of a collapsing organization.
Welcome to Episode 79 of the Podcast.
Guest Links: Justin Dean
Links Mentioned in this Episode
5 Early Leadership Lessons from the Dissolutions of Mars Hill
3 Takeaways From This Episode
Despite the controversy surrounding Mars Hill, there other ways Christ’s work was thriving. Justin tells us what was going well during the dissolution of their ministry and how he handled the pressure.
- God was still using the church. Though others were talking about the reputation of Mars Hill, you couldn’t deny that God was ultimately at work because of those who were positively impacted. God was still using the church to change lives thanks to a Biblically-based foundation that wasn’t compromised. It was the focus of the mission that drove people to the church and to God.
- Be candid and transparent. While issues among leadership and the church were being discussed, Justin says that transparency with others salvaged integrity. Aside from legal things that couldn’t be disclosed, he emphasized that you can still maintain relationships by disclosing information that was helpful and relevant. And be tactful! “You can show them the respect they deserve to have, but you don’t have to disclose everything.”
- Show grace in criticism. In the midst of controversy, there will be trolls. Justin says he learned to show them grace, regardless of the situation. When someone has genuine criticism, those people have a particular context that shapes their opinion, and it will be something different than what you’ve experienced. When you converse with them, the best approach is to address them with understanding of their point of view, and then move on. You don’t have to engage back and forth.
