Join us for the best week of the summer at one of five locations throughout Orange County (you heard us right, FIVE locations!) August 9-13. 

This year, we’re taking things to the next level and bringing VBS Summer Games to our Mariners Congregations in Huntington Beach, Tustin, Mission Viejo, Santa Ana, and North Irvine. Through over-the-top opening ceremonies, captivating Bible stories, crazy competitive games, and creative art projects, kids entering kindergarten through 5th grade in fall 2021 will learn about the race they were born to run! 

We have an incredible opportunity to serve and love the kids and families of Orange County, and we want you to be a part of it. VBS at five locations is only possible because of people like you teenagers, college students, parents, and others, who invest a few days of their summer to serve their cities and reach the next generation with the good news of Jesus.  

We invite you to sign up to serve at one of our locations and help make this year’s VBS unforgettable! Why? Because VBS is so much more than a fun week. It has a HUGE impact on kids, both relationally and spiritually. We believe that when you serve, God does something big in you as He does something even bigger through you. 

Register your kids and invite your friends and neighbors to join you for VBS in your city. We also invite you to consider serving the next generation this summer and giving your time to make Summer Games VBS awesome for all our kids. We can’t wait to partner with you! 

 Don’t hesitate–choose your VBS location and register today here!

https://vimeo.com/573145619

“I think my understanding of hope has changed because I think hope isn’t found in circumstance. It’s found in knowing that God is going to walk me through the fire, that He enters into it with us—and that makes it that much more reliable,” Summer said. 

On February 15, 2020, Summer woke up and realized her husband, Brian, wasn’t there. Shortly after, a coroner came to the door and informed her that Brian had passed away the night before. After years of struggling with mental illness, Brian lost his life to suicide.

“There’s absolutely nothing like facing hope being ripped away in that type of moment,” Summer said. With her family beside her, Summer called a trauma therapist, who told her to take it one day, and one step, at a time. “I knew that the next step to take was to just seek Jesus and to trust that He was going to walk us through it,” Summer said. 

She went to Mariners the next morning, and discovered a group of people waiting for her in her normal row, ready to pray with her and surround her with love. In that moment, Summer knew God was with her, and her church community was there for her. Throughout the last year, she’s experienced God’s faithfulness and found hope in Jesus. 

Now, she walks through seasons of grief with others and supports and loves them like others have loved and supported her. She is a part of a group of other widows, where she encourages and gives each hope to others facing unimaginable grief. 

“We are going to go through hard things, but God is going to stand beside us and walk with us in the midst of it,” Summer said. 

If you’re facing grief and loss like Summer, you are not alone. Remedy, our Care & Recovery Ministry, is Christ-centered recovery program for anyone experiencing challenges in life arising from hurts, habits, or hopelessness. Join us on Monday nights at 6:15p at Mariners Irvine and walk alongside others finding hope and healing in Jesus. Learn more here. 

Have you ever wondered what’s next in your faith journey? 

Maybe you’re new to Mariners or new to your faith, and have lots of questions. Or maybe you have been a part of Mariners for a long time, and are ready to get more involved by serving on a ministry team or connecting with others in community. 

No matter where you are spiritually, there’s always an opportunity for you to grow and go deeper in your faith. At Mariners, we believe that everyone has a next step in faith and we’re passionate about helping you find yours. 

If you’re looking for community, want to grow in your relationship with Jesus, and want to discover your purpose and figure out how God has wired you to fearlessly change the world, Next Step is for you. 

Next Step is a 60-minute experience that will help you find your place in the bigger story of how God is working in you! At Next Step, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about Mariners, have a live conversation with some of our pastors, and explore how you can get involved in what the Lord is doing through our church. 

Join us this weekend to discover how God wants to use you to inspire others to follow Jesus and fearlessly change the world. 

Find out more information here.  

Where do you find hope when you need it most? 

This weekend we’re launching our brand-new, summer teaching series, Hope in Hopeless Times, unpacking the book of f 1 Peter. The people of Peter’s day were a lot like us. They felt overwhelmed, and, at times, filled with despair and frustration. Peter’s first letter still speaks to us, like it did to the early church thousands of years ago, reminding us of the unwavering, unshakeable hope we have in Jesus. 

We’re not going to skip a verse in 1 Peter so don’t skip a week! Join us every weekend at one of our locations throughout Orange County, or online at marinerschurch.tv, and invite your friends and neighbors to experience this incredible series with you. 

Our amazing Mariners Creative Arts Volunteer Team has also created a beautiful series magazine filled with resources, original content, inspiring stories, and more to guide you as we explore the book of 1 Peter together.. Bring it with you to weekend worship services, and on the road with you when you’re traveling, to follow along with us week by week. Pick up a physical copy this weekend or download a digital version here. 

For more information, resources, and shareable invites, visit the Hope in Hopeless Times series page. 

I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6

Over the past year, one thing has remained true. God is good and faithful. We’re so grateful for how God has worked through Mariners Church to serve and reach our communities and our world with His love.

Because of your generosity, we were able to expand our impact, serve our cities, and reach even more people with the life-changing, good news of Jesus. 

Here are a few of the amazing things God has done through our church: 

• Throughout this past year, we invested heavily in our online services. Now, Mariners Online services serve people from all 50 states and 83 countries, with an average of 20,000 people worshiping online with us every weekend. 
• We increased efforts at the Mariners Food Pantry to serve those battling food insecurity and launched Mariners in the Gap to support families with childcare, academics, and after-school enrichment. 
• We launched weekend worship services at the OC Rescue Mission to share God’s love with the families at the mission. 
• Through Mariners Hosted Here, we’re now bringing our online services to 55 at-home gatherings, 61 senior living facilities, and 300 prisons across the United States. 
• Our Mariners in the Neighborhood locations will launch as four new Mariners Congregations this fall.

This is your generosity at work. Thank you for partnering with us to inspire others to follow Jesus and fearlessly change the world. 

Mariners remains committed to going as far as the generosity of our church will allow. As we prepare to begin our new budget year on July 1, we invite you to take a step of faith to give generously and be a part of advancing God’s message, and His mission, on Earth. We’re excited about all the new opportunities the Lord is bringing our way and can’t wait to see where He will take us next.