marners history

Mariners Church began to take shape in 1963 with a small group of Christians who got together to pray, study and share the vision of reaching the Newport Harbor community with the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the months that followed, the vision of this first “Think and Pray” group began to spread to others through those people's individual ministries. As more families became involved, Bible studies and testimony meetings were begun in homes throughout the Newport Harbor area, and in 1964 this group organized the first Christian Leadership Week and Newport Beach Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, an important community outreach that continues today.

As people came to know Jesus Christ as their Lord, the need for continuing biblical instruction became apparent. In response, the original vision and ministry was expanded to include a regular time of worship, teaching of the Word, application of doctrine, and fellowship with other believers. It was clear that the Spirit of God was working to create a new local church with a distinct vision and ministry.

Mariners Church, as it was to be known, held its first worship service on Sunday, April 4, 1965, in a Newport Beach home. From there, the church moved to Monte Vista School, then to Mariners Elementary School (this is where the name Mariners came from), and then to Corona del Mar High School. In 1967 a full-time pastor was hired, and by 1969 the church was meeting in a small building on Pacific Coast Highway in Corona del Mar.

Taking one step of faith after another, this new family continued to grow, building and moving into new facilities at the corner of Bison and Jamboree in Newport Beach, and appointing pastoral staff to meet the needs of the growing community. Then, in 1980, a portion of the church, together with the senior pastor, made a decision to begin a new church, which grew to become South Coast Community Church in Irvine. Separated by a distance of only a few miles, the two churches ministered separately. But in 1995 God began to guide the paths of these two churches toward each other once again, in an amazing reunion and mutual commitment to serve Orange County as one church body. In 1998, we unified the church and expanded onto 25 acres on the campus in Irvine.

From the first meeting more than thirty years ago, to the thousands that celebrate together today, the time line that chronicles the collective history of Mariners Church bears the unmistakable stamp of God's guidance, presence and blessing. And as we stand today united on the threshold of a future filled with change, challenges, opportunities and growth, we have only to look to our heritage for an encouragement, unrefutable reminder - and an exciting preview - of God's unfailing anticipation of our needs and faithful provision in ways that will continue to build our family and accomplish His purposes.