“I feel like it’s so important as leaders to really just reflect that image of Christ upon them, because that’s what my leaders did for me.”

Tyee started attending Mariners in fourth grade, and in his middle school years, he joined a junior high Life Group. As someone who grew up in a single-parent household, seeing his Life Group leaders consistently showing up and caring for him left a huge impact. When he came back to serve at HSM Summer Camp, he made the decision to fully surrender his life to Christ and God’s calling on his life. 

With his personal faith journey so affected by junior high and high school ministry, Tyee wanted to get involved. He signed up to volunteer and started leading a junior high Life Group. In the same rooms where his leaders once served him, he was now serving, sharing the love of Jesus with junior high students.

Watch and see how God used Tyee to serve the next generation!

“The Lord saved me to be a disciple for Him—and He brings me joy.”

When he was 14, Ryan was in a major car accident. The injuries left him in a month-long coma, and the doctors told his family he likely wouldn’t make it. When he miraculously woke up, Ryan had lost much of his memory. He had to relearn how to walk, talk, and read—and even remember his family and who he was. As Ryan grew up, he was teased and judged for being different, and he became angry at God. He turned to alcohol to fit in and numb his anger, but felt empty.

One day, Ryan got on his hands and knees and surrendered to the Lord. He realized Jesus had never left him, even when he had turned away in anger. He started attending Mariners Oceanside, went through Rooted, and got plugged into a Life Group with other men. He now serves as a volunteer photographer at Mariners Oceanside, grateful to be alive and living life for Jesus.

Watch and see how Ryan found fresh joy in surrendering to Jesus!

“It’s really easy to get stuck on whatever troubles you’re dealing with at the time, but the ability to be grateful for the other things around you is so vital to be able to have hope and faith in Christ.”

Twenty weeks into their pregnancy journey, Jared and Kelley received painful news: their son had a rare, congenital heart defect. At the time, the couple had started attending Mariners and got connected with an incredible Life Group. Their Life Group came alongside them with support, praying for them and pointing them back to Jesus as their Perfect Comforter. 

After five months in the NICU, Jared and Kelley lost their son. On his last day, nurses and doctors at the hospital surrounded them in prayer. Through the support of their Life Group community, Jared and Kelley continued to grow in their faith and trust in Jesus, even making the courageous decision to step into serving with Junior High Ministry. 

Watch and see how Jared and Kelley trusted God through a season of loss, finding their ultimate hope in Him.

“I am plugging in and feeling accepted, loved, and seen from the parking lot attendants to the greeters…I started volunteering at Next Step and now serve there regularly and I have never been happier. I have purpose and something to look forward to. I am not ‘all by myself.’”

For Cynthia, every day had become a challenge. Throughout her life, she had experienced the loss of her marriage, her job, and her father, and earlier this past year, she also faced the grief of losing her young adult son in a tragic accident. Though she clung to her faith in God, she had stopped going to church. 

One day while scrolling Instagram, Cynthia saw a post for a new congregation in her city, Mariners Trabuco Canyon. In a brave step of faith, Cynthia came alone one Sunday and was warmly welcomed by one of our volunteers, who she later learned had also recently lost her son. After visiting the Next Step Area, she signed up for Rooted and got connected in community with an incredible group of women who became her long-term Life Group. Now, she is actively serving and growing as a part of her new church family. 

“I pray that God speaks through the melodies and lyrics to those struggling or who are sick, that they would experience a new sense of hope. I want them to be refreshed and joyful.”

Soon after Josh got connected at Mariners Santa Ana, he felt called to serve on the worship team. As a longtime drummer, Josh became a huge blessing to his congregation, diligently practicing, researching and rehearsing, and using his gifts to lead God’s people in worship. Despite working long hours at work, Josh saw a community of young musicians in need of mentorship and made the decision to start hosting workshops throughout the week to train others. 

His heart for Jesus and care for God’s Church have made a lasting impact on Mariners Santa Ana, including our Spanish service, where he supports the translation and implementation of new songs. Josh currently serves as the Senior Coach for the worship ministry of his congregation, actively praying and caring for all the worship volunteers under his leadership. His motivation for serving remains the same: to see people experience God’s transforming power in their lives, as he did. 

“What I want kids to know about Jesus is just the love He has for you, and how He really is truly fighting for you in every moment…When you follow Him and you let Him change your heart, He really can do miracles.”

Growing up, Matthew heard about Jesus from friends, but he had not made the decision to follow Him. After the painful loss of a relationship, Matthew decided to surrender fully to Jesus and began searching for a church community. While surfing, a friend invited him to Thursday Nights at Mariners. For the first time in his life, Matthew had a home church where he could worship and hear from God’s Word with other young adults. 

A few weeks later, he signed up for Rooted where he grew deeper in his walk with Jesus and learned about the opportunity to serve at the Bridge, our weekend gathering for 4th and 5th grade students. He humbly followed God’s calling and stepped in as a boys’ small group leader, unpacking each message and praying with the students under his care. Through serving, Matthew has seen God use him to bless the next generation and grow in his own faith as he is learning and sharing the good news of Jesus with others. 

Watch and see how God worked in Matthew’s life and is using him to impact others!

“My relationship with Jesus has grown exponentially. I feel like I have more of those roots—like I’m a watered seed that’s growing and bearing fruit.”

When Kevin and Lin-Z first moved to California, they felt spiritually lost. They were both followers of Jesus, but felt stuck in the routine of day-to-day life: working, going home, going to church on Sunday. Their walk with God felt shallow and isolated, so they decided to make a change and sign up for Rooted.

During Rooted, Kevin and Lin-Z met an amazing community of believers that became a Life Group. As the couple began to pursue starting a family, they experienced difficulties. Their Life Group rallied around them, praying over them and reminding them to keep their eyes on God through it all. Kevin and Lin-Z were blessed with their first son, and they had the joy of getting to tell their Life Group the incredible news! 

Watch and see how Kevin and Lin-Z experienced the beauty of pursuing God in community!

“In the midst of serving there, that feeling in my heart, that deadness in my heart that I was going through—I feel like God was breathing life into me.”

When Mariners Oceanside first began as a new congregation, Shirley joined the launch team and stepped in to serve. But after going through a season of intense loss, she decided to take a step back. Through that season, she felt an emptiness growing in her heart.

Shirley heard that Mariners would be launching a new congregation in Anaheim. She felt God encouraging her to be a part of the launch—and she responded with a faithful “yes!” Each week, she made the drive to Anaheim and helped wherever she was needed, setting up chairs, serving coffee, and greeting guests coming in the doors. As she served and responded to God’s direction, Shirley felt fresh joy come alive in her heart.

Watch and see how Shirley experienced the joy of serving when she responded faithfully to God’s call!

Ferny and Omar both put their trust in Jesus while attending a church together in Orange County. After their church closed its doors, Ferny and Omar got connected at Mariners Santa Ana by going through Rooted and transitioning into a Life Group with other married couples, who supported and encouraged them to keep growing in their faith.

When they experienced a miscarriage, their community at Mariners Santa Ana came around them in prayer and showed them God’s love. Through their trust in Jesus and the care of their church family at Mariners Santa Ana, Ferny and Omar found hope and healing in the midst of their grief. 

Watch and see how Ferny and Omar grew in their faith together with their community at Mariners Santa Ana!