The official story of Mars Hill's hardest season is now on Amazon. And we're reading it together.

Mars Hill Family,

You were there.

Some of you were in the room when we announced the building was gone.

Some of you watched from a screen, wondering if the church you loved was over.

Some of you joined after, never knowing the full weight of what this family walked through.

I've never told the complete story. Until now.

Two things in this email. Both of them are invitations to stop doing faith alone.

⓵ The Story We Never Fully Told

My new book, When Faith Feels Far, is the official account of what happened when Mars Hill sold our building and became Mars Hill Anywhere.

Not the highlights. Not the cleaned-up testimony. The real thing.

The night I couldn't sleep because I didn't know if the church would survive. The silence from God lasted longer than any sermon could cover.

The fear I never let you see. The loneliness of carrying something I couldn't explain to anyone.

And the slow, stubborn, painful process of rebuilding my faith from the foundation.

This is our story. If you lived through it, you'll finally see the parts that happened behind closed doors. If you're new to Mars Hill Anywhere, this is where we come from. This is the fire that forged us.

The book is available now on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats.

Get the Book on Amazon →

And we're not just reading it. We're walking through it together.

Life Groups are launching around all 16 chapters. A room full of people having the conversations most churches avoid. Not a lecture. Not a Bible study with easy answers. A space where you can say "I'm struggling" and someone across the table says "Me too."

Life Group details, dates, times, and how to join, are coming soon. If you want in, stay close. This is going to be different.

This Sunday is Valentine's Weekend Worship at Mars Hill Anywhere.

⓶ Valentine's Day Weekend: Pull Up or Log On

This Sunday is Valentine's weekend. And the best gift you can give yourself or someone you love is to be in a room where God is moving.

We want you with us.

Sunday, February 15, 2026

10:30 AM CST

Pull up in person:

7941 W. 47th St., McCook, IL

Bring your valentine. Bring your kids. Bring yourself. Come as you are.

Log on from anywhere:

Our series "A Feature, Not a Bug" continues with Week 3. Whether you're in the building or on the stream, you belong here.

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.

With love and expectation,

Pastor Clarence E. Stowers, Jr.

P.S. I held this story for years. Not because I was ashamed of it. Because I wasn't ready to tell it right.

Now it's written. Now it's in your hands. And now we get to walk through it together.

So tell me: When was the last time your faith felt far? And what, if anything, brought you back?

I read every reply. This is a conversation, not a broadcast.

Hit reply. Let's talk about it.

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