Ex-Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll buys historic Arizona church building despite racketeering lawsuit

Chiqui Guyjoco Friday, July 08, 2016

Mark Driscoll preaching at Mars Hill Church, set against a large backdrop that reads "Ten Commandments: set free to live free." 24 October 2013 | Creative Commons/Ruthanne Reid

Former Mars Hill pastor Mark Driscoll announced the purchase of a historic church building in Arizona for his new church, The Trinity Church, despite facing a racketeering lawsuit.

"It's your generosity that has helped to make this happen, and to each one of you, I'm very humbled and grateful. Thank You!" wrote Driscoll on the official website of his new church.

He just made a public announcement on the purchase of the Glass and Garden Drive-In Church in Scottsdale, Arizona and marked Aug. 7 as the official launch date for his new church family.

Driscoll already made his desire to acquire the mid-century church building publicly known when he chose it as the venue for his new church's first gathering last Easter Sunday, March 27.

At that time, the website quoted the pastor as saying, "I have been in hundreds of churches and never seen one like this. It is quirky. Upon entering it for the first time, our children said it reminded them of a space ship."

Driscoll reportedly prayed months for a "church building with 1,000+ seats along the 101 Freeway" and considered the church as "supernaturally provided."

"God is planting The Trinity Church and we are following his leadership. God has a plan that has been fifty years in the making," said Driscoll, who also recounted how his youngest son prayed for the 50-year-old church building.

"God answered his prayer! God has provided a home for The Trinity Church," declared Driscoll.

The pastor referred to "generous donations" from family and friends of The Trinity Church as the source for the purchase.

In February, former supporters of Mars Hill slapped Driscoll and Sutton Turner, Driscoll's chief elder, a lawsuit for using church donations on unauthorized purposes. The plaintiffs also charged the accreditation organization for Christian nonprofits, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, as co-conspirators.

According to The Christian Post, Driscoll, also dubbed by Forbes as one of the "most prominent and celebrated pastors" in America, left Mars Hill Church in 2014 amid controversies of plagiarism and cultivating an abusive work environment.