In this episode of The Starfish and the Church, we had a powerful conversation with my friend Jeff Vanderstelt, who stepped into the chaos after Mark Driscoll’s departure from Mars Hill.
This is the story the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast chose not to tell you.
We covered:
- What really happened after the rise and fall
- The painful realities of spiritual abuse
- How shared leadership and humility brought healing
- The role of naming trauma and creating space for recovery
- What redemption looks like when Jesus—not a personality—is the hero
Jeff shares how he led with love, walked alongside wounded people, and helped a broken community rediscover health, unity, and mission. He also challenges us to be “with people in their pain,” echoing the beauty of Emmanuel—God with us.
The Starfish and the Church