This Sunday Is Online Only 🎥 What They Don't Want You to Know About America
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Happy Thursday Reader, They lied to you. Your teachers lied. Your textbooks lied. Your government lied.And the worst part? You believed them.You believed racism was a bug in the system that good people were trying to fix. You believed if we just elected the right leaders, passed the right laws, had the right conversations, it would get better. But what if I told you the system isn't broken? What if the system is doing exactly what it was built to do? Last Sunday, we opened our new series "A Feature, Not a Bug" with a message that named what many feel but few will say: the crises we keep calling "failures" are actually features of a system designed to protect racial hierarchy over shared prosperity.If you missed it, this is the message you need to hear. Last Sunday’s Message Rewind: The System Is Working (Just Not for Some)Big Idea: Racism in America isn't a bug in the system—it's a feature. These outcomes aren't accidents, they're the predictable result of a system designed to protect racial hierarchy over shared prosperity. Scripture: Acts 17:26, Psalm 68:5-6, Isaiah 58:6-12, Amos 5:24 Key Takeaways: ①Racism in America isn't a bug. It's a feature, designed, implemented, and protected. When hospitals refused to integrate, when Reagan defunded universities the moment Black students enrolled, when the FHA wrote "Do not lend to Black neighborhoods" into federal policy that wasn't incompetence. It was a plan. ② If you keep treating a feature like a bug, you'll never fix the system. Stop being shocked when the system does what it was designed to do. Start being strategic. Build wealth anyway. Educate your children anyway. Vote anyway. Organize anyway. Create anyway. ③ God didn't design you to endure injustice. He designed you to dismantle it. Isaiah 58 says: "You will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes." You're not a victim waiting for rescue. You're a rebuilder. You're a restorer. You're a threat to every system designed to keep you down. This Week's Practice: Learn one piece of Black history that was hidden from you and share it with someone. Don't lose hope. We've endured worse. Missed Last Week? Catch the ReplayIf you missed Week 3 or want to watch it again, the sermon-only version is live now: 📲 Catch the Replay & DevotionalI strongly encourage you to spend time with this timely message this week! You can catch the full replay and continue studying this theme:
▶️ Missed it? You can watch it here​
New Podcast Series Launched for 2026You look successful on paper. You’ve built a career, proven yourself, earned your seat at the table. But your peace is fragile. Your decisions feel heavier. And you’re tired of advice that doesn’t match the complexity of your life. This week’s podcast episode is for you. 👉 Listen Now: Episode 41: Start Here: Is This Podcast For You?​ In 7 minutes, you’ll learn:
If you’ve been curious about the podcast but didn’t know where to start, this is your episode. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you listen. 🗓️ AnnouncementsJoin Us This SundayThis Sunday: "The Color of Care: How Segregation Poisoned America's Healthcare" What: Sunday Worship (Online Only) When: Sunday, Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 10:30 AM CST Where: Online at MarsHillChicago.org You’re Invited: In-Person Worship at Mars Hill AnywhereDate: Sunday, February 15, 2026​ We’re gathering this Sunday, and you’ve got two ways to be part of it: ✅ Pull up and join us in person at our McCook campus ✅ Log on and worship with us live online from wherever you are However you show up, don’t miss this moment. God is speaking, and faith is being rebuilt. Bring your family. Invite a friend. Get in the room or tap in online. Let’s go after God together. How to Support Mars HillYour generosity fuels everything we do, from in-person gatherings to digital discipleship. If you’ve been encouraged by this ministry, here are a few simple ways to give and get involved: Give:Support the mission securely at marshillchicago.org/giving, in our mobile app, or by texting MHGIVE to 33777. You can also mail checks to: Mars Hill Baptist Church Serve:Use your gifts to make a difference online or in person. Visit our site to see current serving opportunities. Pray:Lift up our leaders, our church family, and the people we’re reaching. Prayer is a powerful form of participation. Invite & Share:Send this email to a friend, invite someone to service, or repost something that encouraged you. Every share matters. You’re helping us reach people with hope, truth, and love, whether they’re across town or across the country. 🔥 Your Move This Week ⓵ Pick one podcast episode and listen during your commute or workout. ⓶ Read one Substack article and try the practice. ⓷ Write your one God-truth sentence and say it out loud every morning. You cannot live a new life with the same old story running in your head. This week, we're rewriting it. See you Sunday (online)! With love and expectation, Pastor Clarence E. Stowers, Jr. P.S. Don't forget to "Log on” with us online this Sunday at 10:30 AM Central for our online service. Set your reminder now! ⏰ Last Sunday, I challenged you to learn one piece of Black history that was hidden from you and share it with someone. This isn’t just a history lesson. This is war against erasure. This is resistance against the lies that keep systems in place. So tell me: What piece of Black history did you learn this week that you never knew before? I read every reply. This is a conversation, not a broadcast. Hit reply. Let’s talk about it. More From This Week:
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