Mars Hill announces another “beach baptism event on Alki”

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That video clip and another one we posted on YouTube after the 9/14/07 Mars Hill Church baptisms at Alki remain the most-viewed WSB videos ever (while also among our lowest-quality clips, since we got our first video camera just three days earlier). In the ten months since, not only have we gone through some changes, so has the Mars Hill-West Seattle website, where we just found this update with word a new round of Alki baptisms is planned during an end-of-summer barbecue, 6-9 pm August 26th. While the post proclaims, “A West Seattle summer would not be complete without a beach baptism event on Alki,” at this point it’s not described as a regional event, unlike last year, which MH leader Mark Driscoll declared “the biggest mass baptism in Seattle history” (WSB coverage here).

austin July 21, 2008 (3:23 pm)

Weird!

Zenguy July 21, 2008 (3:56 pm)

I am all for giving people a sense of belonging and a vision of hope. I take issue with Mars Hill’s teachings that the man is the head of the household and the wife should submit. This is definitely NOT the free thinking West Seattle I grew up in and love so much.

sunnystucco July 21, 2008 (3:59 pm)

AWESOME!

Vanessa July 21, 2008 (4:08 pm)

How do these people keep getting a permit to do this? Not only do they violate a lot of rules (respect for other users of the beach, no amplified music, basic tolerability, ok it may not be worded like that), but they make the beach basically unusable for anyone else, since they completely take over. I live two blocks back from the beach, and the sound system is still so loud, and generally rocks so late, that I try to make sure that I am out of town on these “outreach” weekends. You want to reach out? Try some consideration. It’s our beach too, even when you are there. Let alone the fact that you are turning some personal commitment to God into a public spectacle so you can prove something to the unbelievers, you are also turning us off by ruining the peace, parking and neighborhood.

sunnystucco July 21, 2008 (4:21 pm)

Well, Jesus is supposed to be the head, the husband is to submit to Jesus, then the wife to her husband, because he is supposed to be living, loving and treating her like Jesus. Of course when one or the other is not holding up to their covenant to each other and do not demonstrate the love of Jesus to each other there enter the problems of marriage…

Which is why Mars Hill provides so many, many resources, i.e. counseling, groups that are ready and willing to help you in your struggle. The thing I like about this place is that they really hold all accountable, especially the men and when I say all that includes the leadership as well. I have found real help for my husband and I there, free counseling, redemption groups, men’s groups and true fellowship on a very deep level that goes straight to my heart’s problems and battles.

You don’t have to agree with me, I’m just letting you know that my experiences at MHWS have been nothing but helpful, inspiring, uplifting and encouraging in dealing with my marriage. They have GREATLY helped us. Thanks for reading.

mellaw6565 July 21, 2008 (4:40 pm)

Hey – it’s a free wet t-shirt spectator’s event! What could be better:) LOL!

mike July 21, 2008 (5:09 pm)

This is what crazy looks like, folks.

Mr.JT July 21, 2008 (5:54 pm)

If you don’t come up does that mean your a witch ?

austin July 21, 2008 (6:11 pm)

Only if you weigh the same as a duck.

Imbibe July 21, 2008 (6:23 pm)

Mike, Mr. JT, and austin – you’re killing me!!!
sunnystucco, you’re scaring me . . .

Peaches July 21, 2008 (6:37 pm)

Creepy. . .

CountingCoup July 21, 2008 (7:04 pm)

Great, after watching bus after bus (usually empty) come to and fro last year, I wonder if I can get a free bus ride downtown and back for a mere dunking?

JanS July 21, 2008 (7:25 pm)

gee, I don’t know…my summer can be be complete without a dunking in ..ick..cold Puget Sound…

didn’t that old hymn say…”shall we gather at the river”? Isn’t there a river somewhere where they can do this that wouldn’t impact a whole neighborhood?

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/w/swgatriv.htm

Erik July 21, 2008 (7:37 pm)

After the last couple of days playing beach volleyball the sound actually felt good for a quick dip, even for this olde fart.
If nothing else I plan on scoring a cheeseburger (it did say BBQ), jesus needs to feed us heathens too. :-)

ikahana July 21, 2008 (7:49 pm)

John the Baptist didn’t need no stinkin’ wetsuit.

To each his own, if folks feel the need to do this, have at it. Ritual is good. This is about as traditional as Jello Low Fat pudding, and in my mind about as important, but then again I worship trees and coffee so who am I to judge? Then again, I do so without trying to convert and without trying to draw attention to myself most of the time.

miws July 21, 2008 (8:02 pm)

“Well, Jesus is supposed to be the head, the husband is to submit to Jesus, then the wife to her husband, because he is supposed to be living, loving and treating her like Jesus.”

So, who submits to whom here?

The man is to submit to Jesus, the woman to submit to the man, but then the man is to treat the woman like Jesus.

Does the man then submit to the woman? Do they submit to each other?

I’m confused….

Mike

Jill July 21, 2008 (8:07 pm)

Oh great, thanks, Jan. Now I’ll have the chorus of that hymn stuck in my head all night, lol! :)

Peaches July 21, 2008 (8:33 pm)

Whole lotta submitting goin’ on. . .

Jo July 21, 2008 (9:18 pm)

Remember last year when they had to move the whole shebang further west down the beach because a baby seal was hauled out in front of the bathhouse?

flipjack July 21, 2008 (9:57 pm)

I think you have to read the Kama Sutra to really understand that submitting thing. I’m sure one of those positions will put it into perspective.

acemotel July 21, 2008 (10:00 pm)

The sumbitting is to Mark Driscoll, from their wallet to his bank account…….

MaryT July 22, 2008 (12:43 am)

I thought that Jesus taught people not to make giant ostentatious shows of their praying. This is freaking ANNOYING, and as an atheist I am appalled.

Bernicki July 22, 2008 (7:43 am)

It could be worse. We could live in Tennessee:
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_131778.asp

J July 22, 2008 (8:39 am)

I’m just waiting curiously for the investigative reporting on the finances of this (tax-exempt!) organization.

AJP July 22, 2008 (10:17 am)

Very interesting that most of the people who are bashing this church’s public declaration of faith would probably be A-OK with a similar size group of same-sex couples publicly declaring their affection and deeply-held values during a marriage ceremony.

I’m not a member of Mars Hill, and I personally disagree with many of their teachings, but I thought the value of tolerance and “live and let live” included those with whom you disagree.

I find it very sad that the same people who preach that we should tolerate different points of view don’t actually tolerate different points of view.

JumboJim July 22, 2008 (10:28 am)

If the folks from Mars need an alternative site I hear there is space available at the parks along the Duwamish. Nothing like having the flesh melted clean off your bones to say you’re truly cleansed…

Wes July 22, 2008 (10:36 am)

AJP, you hit the nail on the head.

Keith July 22, 2008 (12:15 pm)

AJP might be on to something… perhaps a Gay Kiss-In should be organized for Alki on the same day and time as Dunkapalooza. Let’s have a test of tolerance SMACKDOWN!

HP July 22, 2008 (12:22 pm)

AJP, well said.

sunnystucco July 22, 2008 (12:50 pm)

Bring it on baby and grab a burger too!

Erik July 22, 2008 (12:52 pm)

I could care less who’s meeting, I just want to know what kind of food I’m gonna have. I love crashing parties.
:-)

rjb July 22, 2008 (12:58 pm)

They better have a permit. I got married at Luna (Anchor) Park and had to pay $200 for an hours use.
.
And you can’t reserve any public park, even though you have a permit. So you can go lay down on a towel right where they are having their festivities with a nice big group of friends, and they can’t make you leave.

JT July 22, 2008 (4:22 pm)

AJP, a group that believes gays are abnormal sinners needing to repent and ask forgiveness for their wicked ways does not deserve tolerance or acceptance.

There is no gay organization in existence attempting to stop/convert xtians from being their true selves. There are no laws in any state prohibiting them from employment, housing, or private intimate behavior. In fact, there are laws in place to explicitly provide them with the right to express themselves.

To compare acceptance of genetics to acceptance of prejudice is appalling.

CountingCoup July 22, 2008 (4:40 pm)

JT ~ “exactly”….

AJP July 22, 2008 (4:47 pm)

JT– I understand your point, however I don’t think it does anyone any good to rudely make fun of people for their beliefs, even if you are the wronged party. Mark Driscoll has personally offended me by teaching entire sermons about how my religion is evil and wrong. And yet, I don’t feel it is appropriate to malign his church and its believers for having a celebration.

JT July 22, 2008 (4:55 pm)

AJP, being rude in general is inappropriate behavior. On that we agree and I have no desire to be rude to them or anyone else. You specifically referred to tolerance. I have no tolerance for this group or their beliefs and find it unacceptable to request it.

Kara July 23, 2008 (6:38 pm)

What are people so angry about. People that attend Mars Hill aren’t knocking on your doors, they don’t protest or carry signs…its just people that love Jesus.
I find it very refreshing to see a church that isn’t pushing their agenda on everyone…they can’t baptize all those people in the church in a tiny pool they need somewhere that can serve so many people.
Mars Hill also loves this city and wants to be a part of the community where their churches are.
I really think with how tolerant Seattle claims to be we need to open our hearts and minds a little more about Christians…they aren’t all alike.
Going to Mars Hill I don’t always believe in what Mark says, but that just confirms how great it is because I’m still my own person. I’m still going to be a democrat because I go to Mars Hill. I’m still going to go to the Gay Pride parade and support my friends even though I go to Mars Hill.
The reason why this church is doing so well is because Christians like me don’t feel like we have to fit in this tiny little stereotypical box.
I haven’t always been ok with religion…its something I continue to fight with…and sometimes Christians can get too holier than thou, but Mark makes me feel at home with Jesus. And Jesus is the one person I’ve never had a problem with and if Christians got back to the heart of it…the center which is Christ well he is the best example of all.
He broke bread with sinners and mingled with the poor and suffering…even if you don’t believe in him as God what a great person he was to try to be like.

Sorry, comment time is over.