Growing up in a religious home I rarely had interaction with unbelievers. Spending time with non-Christians was thought of as wrong, sinful, and of the world. I had the wrong mindset, I thought of myself as better than unbelievers, holier, good, and right. I judged those around me based on their goodness and works, if they did anything I deemed wrong or different I looked down on them. I believed that my goodness, my works, and my aversion to the world would bring unbelievers to Christ.

Later in life Jesus opened my heart and I realized there is no good in me and it is only by God’s grace that I am saved. I fall short in every way and the only righteousness I have is Jesus’ righteousness. Without the grace and compassion that Jesus poured out on me, I would be in the same place as the unbeliever. I went from judging and looking down on non-Christians to having a heart of compassion. All of these years I had wasted, I knew the mission but never owned it with compassion and grace.

Years later I was placed in a specific job and really began to get it. I worked with 65 women, yes all women, there were frequent tears in the office, bad breakups, troubled family relationships, and tons of talking as you can imagine. I wrapped my mind around living for Christ and sharing the Gospel in word and deed. I spoke openly about Jesus in my life rather than my “good works”. The unbelievers around me actually wanted to share their struggles, pain, and tough situations with me. They wanted to hang out and spend time with me, which was quite a shift than my relationships growing up.

It all started with one gal, one breakup, and one office conversation where the word God popped up. This gal mentioned that she wanted to have the peace and hope that she knew only God could give. She had experienced church in her high school years but hadn’t thought about it since. I invited her to Mars Hill and over the course of the next 6 months she had her live- in boyfriend, her sister, and her boyfriends brother all coming with her. I still talk with this gal about Jesus and she asks great questions, she hasn’t fully given her life over to Christ but I know she is close and the Lord is at work in her heart.

I still meet regularly with another gal from the office who is a die-hard atheist and through our conversations it has been incredible to see her heart become more open to Jesus, each time we meet she schedules the next lunch or coffee date. Since leaving my job I still get emails asking for prayer in difficult situations that old co-workers are going through.

It is amazing to know the freedom and joy in Christ. I am no longer in bondage to good works, self-righteousness, and judgmental thoughts. I have been given a new heart, a new mind and a new life and I am excited to share this life saving gift with others. Let’s make a commitment this year as the women of Mars Hill to be intentional with unbelievers and see many women come to Christ and live for Jesus in our city.

Mars Hill Church Downtown lives for Jesus as a city within the city of Seattle: knowing culture, loving people, and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus. For more information, visit us HERE. For information on community groups and other ministries go HERE. For general questions, you may email us at downtown@marshillchurch.org.