Happy Hump Day Reader,

Let’s be honest.

You prayed. You believed. You did everything you knew to do.

And it still happened. The breakup. The loss. The silence.

That quiet question you’ve been carrying?

“Where was God when it all went wrong?

This week at Mars Hill Anywhere, we didn’t avoid it. We faced it head-on.

Not with polished answers, but with real faith that holds when everything else falls apart.

If you missed the message, this is your moment to catch the replay and start the 5-day devotional that walks with you through the hard questions.

You’re not alone. And God is not absent.

Sermon Overview

Title: Where Was God When It Happened?

Scripture Focus: Hebrews 12:26–28, Matthew 7:24–27, Romans 8:28, Haggai 2:6–7, John 15:2

This week, I preached a message for anyone who has ever looked at the mess around them and asked, “God, where were You?”

The betrayal. The loss. The silence. The prayer you prayed didn’t seem to work.

We do not always say it out loud, but we carry the weight of that question. If God is good, why didn’t He stop it?

Here’s what God showed me. He does not always stop the shaking, not because He is absent, but because He is doing something deeper. He is not breaking you. He is breaking what has been holding you back.

In this sermon, I taught what it looks like to build a faith that holds when everything around you is falling apart. I shared how Jesus told us to build on rock, not emotions. What survives the shaking is what was built on Him.

I also spoke directly to the frustration that comes when you ask God to fix it, and it still falls apart.

This message was not about church clichés. It was about real faith in a real God who is still present, even when He feels silent.

If you’ve ever wrestled with doubt, disappointment, or silence, this message is for you. You are not forgotten. You are being fortified.

Let’s stop trying to hold together what God is trying to shake loose. Let’s build on what cannot be moved.

▶️ Missed it? You can watch it here​

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Also Worth Noting: ✍🏽 Latest article on Substack: This one hit a nerve. If you’re always holding it together for everyone else, this is for you. The Four Faces of Fear (And Why You Keep Falling For Them) 🎥 Short on Time? I Got You ​Check out my new YouTube Shorts. These are quick, honest, and built for real life. Leaders Are Readers: My Fall Reading List 5 Reasons Helping The Wrong People Is Bad For You Stop Reopening a Door Life Already Closed 📲 Have You Heard About Our App? Everything you need to grow spiritually is right on your phone. We call it #ChurchInYourPocket. Download The App Where Was God When It Happened? - 5-Day Devotional

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Here’s What You Need to Know This Week:

What: Sunday Worship (Online Only)

When: Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 10:30 AM CST

Where: Online at MarsHillChicago.org
​Watch on Facebook: @MarsHillChicago​
Watch on YouTube: ClarenceStowersTV​

You’re Invited: In-Person Worship at Mars Hill Anywhere

Date: Sunday, November 23, 2025

Time: 10:30 AM Central

Location: 7941 47th St., McCook, IL

Online: Live on YouTube and Facebook

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.

Community Resource Guide

We also released something practical to meet real needs in this moment.

​The Community Resource Guide is now available. It’s filled with help for:

• Food and grocery support
• Mental health resources
• Housing and shelter information
• Emergency assistance for bills and utilities
• Hotlines and local support programs

This guide is free and easy to share. Download it. Use it. Send it to someone who needs it today.

📥 Download the Guide​

Together, we’re not just surviving. We’re standing strong and looking out for one another.

How to Support Mars Hill

Your 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
PO Box 6159
River Forest, IL 60305

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 Weekend

✔️ Watch the sermon

✔️ Download the devotional

✔️ Give to what God is doing at Mars Hill

✔️ Forward this to someone who feels like they don’t have enough

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! ⏰