This Sunday Is Online Only 🎥 The Truth About Your Family's Wealth Gap
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Happy Tuesday Reader, What a Sunday. A full room. An engaged online audience. The Word hit, and the people received it. This is what it looks like when a hybrid church moves as one body. Whether you were in the building or watching from your living room, you were part of something real. Honoring Rev. Jesse JacksonToday we honor the life and legacy of Jesse Jackson. Rev. Jackson was a towering voice for justice, dignity, and economic opportunity. For decades, he challenged systems, opened doors, and reminded America that faith must walk hand in hand with action. His leadership stretched across generations and movements, always rooted in the belief that every person deserves respect and a fair chance. He was not perfect, but he was present. He showed up in the streets, in the pulpit, and on the world stage. His courage helped shape conversations that still matter today. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all who were impacted by his work. May we honor his memory not only with words, but with continued commitment to justice and service. Rest well, Reverend. Your labor was not in vain. Overview of Sunday's Message: "The Unattainable Dream"Big Idea: The racial wealth gap exists because federal policy actively built white wealth while systematically denying it to Black families. The effects compound to this day. Scripture: Leviticus 25:23, Jeremiah 29:5 (NLT) Three Takeaways: ⓵ The gap was designed. The FHA refused to insure mortgages in Black neighborhoods. They called it redlining. Between 1934 and 1968, 98% of government-backed home loans went to white families. The wealth gap is not a mystery. It is a receipt. ⓶ A denied loan is a denied inheritance. When the government blocked Black families from buying homes, they did not just block a purchase. They erased a timeline. Every generation after that denial starts further behind. ⓷ God's economy has a reset. Leviticus 25 says land goes back every 50 years. No family was meant to be permanently locked out. God refuses to let one generation's greed become the next generation's ceiling. This week's practice: Find a redlining map of your city at the University of Richmond's Mapping Inequality project. Look up your neighborhood. See what grade the government gave it. Then ask: What is one thing I can do this week to build what they said I could not? Watch the full sermon replay: ▶️ Missed it? Watch the Full Sermon Replay​
New Book: When Faith Feels FarMy new book just dropped on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. When Faith Feels Far: Finding Hope In Hard Seasons is for anyone who has ever wondered if God forgot their address. It is what happens when a pastor stops performing and starts being human. Get your copy now: When Faith Feels Far on Amazon​ 🗓️ AnnouncementsLife GroupsLife Groups are now in session. This is where real connection happens. If you want to go deeper, text LIFEGROUP to 33777 to join.Year-End Giving This SundayDate: February 22, 2026 Time: 10:30 AM CT Location: Online only Series: A Feature, Not a Bug (Week 4: The Price of Admission) This Sunday's service is online only. Where: Online at MarsHillChicago.org You’re Invited: In-Person Worship at Mars Hill AnywhereDate: Sunday, March 15, 2026​ We’re gathering this Sunday, and you’ve got two ways to be part of it: ✅ 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 Until next time, keep building. Keep planting. Keep refusing to let the red lines define your family's future. God did not design you to be locked out. God designed you to be the builder. See you Sunday (online)! With love and conviction, Pastor Clarence E. Stowers, Jr. P.S. I want to hear from you. After you look up your city's redlining map this week, tell me what you found. What neighborhood did your family live in? What grade did the government give it? And what did it feel like to see that with your own eyes? I read every reply. This is a conversation, not a broadcast. Hit reply. Let's talk about it. |