Aftermath
50Description
Five days after resigning as lead pastor of Mars Hill Church, Mark Driscoll was once again in front of a crowd—this time, a packed conference of pastors who offered him a standing ovation in support. It only took 474 days for him to announce he was planting a new church in Scottsdale, Arizona.
But while Driscoll wielded his own force of personality to get as much distance from Mars Hill as possible, life in Seattle was a different story. A confused and hurting church was displaced, hundreds of people were out of their jobs, and the fiercest critics of the church practically threw a party.
In our series finale, we follow a few of those threads, which led some people to new ministries, others to new careers, and still others out of the church altogether. We’ll revisit the legacy of Driscoll’s teaching on gender, and we’ll ask whether or not he really preached good news and freedom.
We’ll also look for the presence of Christ, working in surprising and unseen ways to bring beauty out of the ashes of what was once Mars Hill Church.
As we end 2021, we’d love to invite you to join us as we continue to try to tell stories like this. Subscriptions are a great way to do that, and we’d love if you considered us with your end-of-year giving.
“The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is a production of Christianity Today
Executive produced by Erik Petrik
Produced, written, and edited by Mike Cosper
Joy Beth Smith is our associate producer.
Music and sound design by Kate Siefker and Mike Cosper
Our theme song for this finale is “Resplendent” by Bill Mallonee and the Vigilantes of Love.
The closing song this week is “All My Favorite People” by Over the Rhine.
Special thanks to Ben Vandermeer
Graphic design by Bryan Todd
Social media by Kara Bettis and Morgan Lee
Editorial consulting by Andrea Palpant Dilley
CT’s Editor in Chief is Timothy Dalrymple.
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United States
This is just sickening. American evangelicalism is putrified, irredeemable garbage. This isn't just Mark Driscoll. He's just a symptom of a much greater disease.
Ultimate Fighter Jesus. You're such a dipshit loser, Mark.
Yeah, the emphasis on "storytelling" is overrated which is why you have basket cases like Driscoll still slithering around and Don Miller is selling snake oil.
This was a beautifully written and presented answer to my prayers about the Church and its imperfections, and how God can use our broken experiences for redemption and wholeness. I have a lot of negative church experiences, but through it all God was there to help me heal and to eventually see the big picture about his grace and truth. It was ironic that during the last episode I was led to tears at just the part where the narrator recommended weeping as the natural response to the hurt caused by Mars Hill. I wept for them and for me, and all the hurt I have caused to others. I cried with hope, knowing that God will bring all things together in triumph in the end. I look forward to more from CT that is illuminating and healing.
Heartbreaking and redemptive. This series has taken me on an emotional rollercoaster, finale episode included. To see redemption in the midst of such trauma brought me to tears several times. I will continue to pray for healing for the broken, those who were broken and for those who did the breaking. I have never experienced a more moving podcast series. Well done CT.
This is so heart breaking but let's see what God can do now! Listen prayerfully. What happened at the end with the song overtaking the narrative?
Every person in church leadership should listen to this last episode. To know the power they have over people and the potential harm they can deal on people. The Bible and 2 therapy classes in Bible college does not prepare people to be therapists in churches and it does damage. And how humility is needed.