Mercy Hill Ernie Evangelista Mercy Hill Ernie Evangelista

FERVENT: Mercy Hill Ministries

If you've been around Mercy Hill for any length of time, you've heard us talk of being the Church and not building a church. This is not simply some cute catch phrase adorning our website, but rather something that helps direct us as we plan events and start new ministries.
Building or Being? If you've been around Mercy Hill for any length of time, you've heard us talk of being the Church and not building a church. This is not simply some cute catch phrase adorning our website, but rather something that helps direct us as we plan events and start new ministries. To me, BEING the church is about glorifying God in all we do, living in unity within the congregation, meeting each other's needs and building one another up in Christ, and living-out the Gospel in our homes, workplaces, and communities. And the ministries of the church is what helps facilitate the being the Church. That's it. But often times, the ministries of the church are thought of as ways to grow or build the church, and most often, this is thought of numerically. We ask questions like, "What can we do (what ministry can we add) to attract more people; to increase giving?" That's "building" the church mentality. The funny thing is Christ said that HE would build HIS church (Matthew 16:18). It's not our job- that's His job. Our job is the being. We simply do our best to create an atmosphere where we can truly be the radiant Bride of Christ that He is building. Through things like the Sunday morning service, the City on a Hill Outreach, Greeters, Hospitality, Children's Church, and Gallery Nights- we are engaging in opportunities to glorify God, build-up one another, and reach out to a lost and hurting world. BE THE CHURCH. Please join with us today as we focus our prayers on the ministries of Mercy Hill Church. Pray that God would provide all that is needed for us to effectively be His Church: His Holy Spirit, His wisdom, compassion, humility, our participation, and finances.
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