“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!

When Tayler was young, she experienced the trauma and pain of abuse. For many years, she was confused and angry with God. After returning from New York to Orange County to care for her family, Tayler took a step of faith and began coming to Mariners. 

She experienced God’s love through her church family and healing through our Care & Recovery Ministry. Through the support of her community and God’s leading, she began singing again for the first time since the pain of her childhood. 

Watch and see how God moved powerfully in Tayler’s life and gave her a beautiful purpose serving others with her gifts!

“Today, I wake up in prayer. I know I have something bigger than me that I can lean on and rely on.”

After her parents divorce, Laurie fell into patterns of drug use and addiction. She left her family and her children and was repeatedly incarcerated, but eventually, she realized something needed to change. She checked herself into The Villa Treatment Center, where she started attending Mariners Santa Ana each Sunday.

At Mariners Santa Ana, she experienced God’s presence in a new way and decided to put her faith in Jesus and say “I Believe.” She got baptized and started reading her Bible, growing in her faith. Since putting her trust in Jesus, Laurie has seen incredible restoration in her family relationships and in her own heart.

Watch and see how Jesus transformed Laurie’s life and gave her true hope in Him!

“In my old life, there was no peace. In my new life, there is—He gives me grace each and every day.”

Mark worked for the LA Police Department for 29 years, seeing brokenness in the world every day. His heart became hardened as a result, and his personal and family life suffered. He felt ready for a new chapter in his life. When his friend invited him to come to Mariners, he agreed.

Mark got involved with the Safety Team at Mariners, and after weeks of volunteering and hearing the sermon multiple times each weekend, he made the decision to sign up for Rooted. Through Rooted, he decided to put his faith in Jesus and say, “I Believe.” Mark experienced the radical love and forgiveness of Jesus, finding peace in his life.

But God wasn’t finished yet. Watch and see how He used Mark’s story of transformation to impact his family!