https://vimeo.com/565843717/2d62ff5667

“When I heard their stories, I felt like I knew them all my life. It reminded me of the process I had to go through to leave my country and come over to the United States,” Ali said. 

Ali came to the United States at a young age seeking advanced medical care after losing one of his legs in an accident. As an adult, he became friends with a few people from Mariners Church who invited him to sign up for Rooted. At the end of his Rooted experience, Ali said “I believe” for the first time and made the decision to follow Jesus. 

When Ali signed up to serve with Voice of the Refugees (VOR) and deliver food to refugee families, he wasn’t sure what to expect. As a refugee himself coming from a region that had experienced a lot of conflict, he didn’t know how people from other countries would receive him. “I wasn’t sure what type of people I  would be meeting and talking to. I was a bit nervous about it,” Ali said. 

One of the first families he met was from Iraq, a country that had been at war with Ali’s home country of Iran for several years when Ali was young. The father of that family was a former soldier who apologized to Ali for his part in the conflict. Ali assured him that what had happened was in the past and prayed with him. He told him, “we love God and God loves us the same. You are absolutely my brother.” 

The experience stuck with Ali as he continued to serve even more refugee families with VOR in the following months. “It was such a powerful moment. I just felt blessed. It was such a heartwarming experience to know God is present and God is at work,” Ali said. 

We invite you to come serve with us and our partners at Voice of the Refugee (VOR) on World Refugee Awareness Day. Join us this Saturday, June 26 at a family picnic where we’ll play games, connect, share stories, build relationships with our refugee families and neighbors, and celebrate the launch of VOR’s summer programs. Learn more and sign up through the link below. 

We hope to see you there!

https://vimeo.com/561983224/1a65217393

“What does giving mean to me? It means faith. It means bold, crazy faith. I’m trusting in God, that He’s going to provide for me. I’m giving without limits and without sanctions. I am just handing over what God has given me because I know that it’s all His to begin with,” Laynie said. 

In March 2020, Laynie experienced a devastating 42% drop in income. As a single mom working in the financial industry, Laynie questioned whether she would have enough to care for her daughter. Feeling out of control and fearing what the future might hold, Laynie decided to pause her recurring giving. 

In the summer, Laynie went back to an in-person service at Mariners Irvine for the first time in months, and she heard an inspiring story of a woman’s journey of giving, even when it was difficult. Over the next few days, Laynie felt God leading her to make a big gift to Mariners Church—much bigger than what she felt comfortable with. At first she tried to barter with God, but after three days, she took a step of faith and gave the full amount. 

The next day she received two letters in the mail. One was a letter from the IRS saying she overpaid her 2019 taxes and was due a big refund. The other was the check, which arrived six weeks earlier than promised and was half the amount she had just given to Mariners. 

The experience blew her away. Even when she thought she was giving more than she was able, God remained faithful and provided for her.  She quickly signed up for recurring giving again, trusting God would continue to take care of her and her daughter’s needs. Through her journey of generosity, God brought her freedom in both her finances and her heart.  

“I think what I’m so humbled by is God’s goodness. Once I fully surrendered to Him and stopped trying to control money, the fear and anxiety I always struggled with dissipated. I know God will always provide for myself and my daughter,” Laynie said. At the end of the year, Laynie reflected on all God had done through Mariners in 2020 and celebrated knowing she was a part of it. 

The Bible says, “Though (the Macedonian Christians) have been going through much trouble and hard times, they have mixed their wonderful joy with their deep poverty, and the result has been an overflow of giving to others.  They gave not only what they could afford but far more; and I can testify that they did it because they wanted to…They begged us to take the money so they could share in the joy of helping the Christians in Jerusalem.” 2 Corinthians 8:2-4

Because of the giving of our generous church, we’ve been able to move quickly at all the opportunities the Lord is bringing our way. As we pray and plan for the 2021/2022 ministry season, we invite you to prayerfully consider giving to Mariners before June 30, the close of our fiscal year. 

You can give online here or at any of our weekend services to be a part of advancing God’s message, and His mission, on Earth. 

CLICK HERE TO GIVE NOW

https://vimeo.com/558791198/6b07cdef6a

Each year, the directional elders of our church come together to prayerfully choose a church verse that will guide us throughout the next year. Through this process, we believe the Lord has given us a verse to center us and lead us as a church during this next season of ministry. 

“Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching,” Hebrews 10:23-24. 

We pray that as we enter into this next ministry year, this verse will remind us of the unwavering hope in Jesus and encourage us to keep moving forward with faith to love and serve the people of Orange County and beyond. We hope this verse will inspire our church family as we continue considering one another in order to provoke love and good works! 

This weekend, we’re also beginning a new teaching series through the book of Esther, Are You There God?. Esther is an epic account of God caring for His people. Interestingly, the story of Esther never mentions God by name, but He is intimately present, working behind the scenes doing extraordinary things through ordinary people. Through this series, we’ll see how God is continually working, in every situation, for our good. 

This series is a great opportunity for you to invite a friend to join you as we go through this powerful book of the Bible that’s filled with encouragement for us in every season. Click the graphic below to learn more!

https://vimeo.com/556346908/298d18bcf7

We serve a God who loves us and has a great plan and purpose for our lives. When it was time for Him to pick His team to share this amazing news, and His love, with humanity, He chose you! 

When we reflect on this incredible reality, we can’t help but respond! This weekend, we invite you to join us at our Volunteer Expo happening after every service to explore the different serving opportunities and ways for you to get involved at Mariners. There is a place for you to use your unique gifts, experiences, and passions to serve others and fearlessly change the world. 

Whether you’re passionate about investing in the next generation, love making people feel welcomed during weekend worship services, or have musical or creative gifts you want to use to inspire others to follow Jesus, we believe there is a spot on one of our ministry teams that only you can fill. He has plucked you out of space and time and put you here, right now, for a specific purpose—and He wants to use you!

So what are you waiting for? Take the leap! Jump into serving and be a part of something bigger than yourself. We can’t wait to see what God does through you!

Stay after services this weekend to experience the Volunteer Expo and meet ministry leaders and other volunteers to learn more about our many ministry teams, and discover how you can jump in and serve others. Plus, there will be plenty of fun, music, and other great surprises for the whole family! We hope to see you there!

Click here to explore how you can serve at Mariners

Get hyped and get ready, because the best week of the summer is just around the corner! If you didn’t know, VBS at Mariners is a BIG deal. Every year, thousands of kids join us to experience a week packed with over-the-top activities, captivating Bible stories, crazy competitive games, and creative art projects. 

This year, we’re taking things to the next level and bringing VBS Summer Games to seven locations, with one hosted at each of our Mariners congregations and an online option available. Kids entering kindergarten through 5th grade in fall 2021 will learn about the race they were born to run! Beyond all the fun and excitement, your kids will also participate in a Global Outreach project that will literally change the world!

All these kids will have an incredible week because of people like you, teenagers, college students, parents, and others, who invest a few days of their summer into the next generation. 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. 

So parents, register your kids and invite others to join you this summer at VBS. And for everyone else, consider serving the next generation this summer and giving your time to make this summer awesome for all our kids. We can’t wait to partner with you! 

Click Here to Learn more or Register

For the past couple years, Kyle Costello and his family have faithfully served the Mariners HB family, guiding others to Jesus and sharing His love.

Yesterday, Kyle shared how God was working in his life and in the life of his family by leading them into a new calling and the next chapter of their ministry. At the end of June the Costellos will move to Ojai, CA to plant a church, with the support and blessing of Mariners Church, to spread God’s Word in a new city. 

We’re so grateful for the Costello family and how they have blessed our church family throughout their ministry in Huntington Beach. We’re excited for them and for what God is doing through them to reach the city of Ojai with God’s love. 

We’re also thankful for how God is continuing to move at Mariners HB and how He’s equipped us to continue to serve Huntington Beach, Orange County, and beyond. We invite you to join us this weekend as we introduce the new HB Lead Pastor, Brandon Hiltibidal, his wife Scarlet, and their three children. Brandon will also be preaching LIVE on Sunday for the first time. 

We hope you’ll be a part of this exciting new season at Mariners HB and join us in praying for the Costellos and their work in Ojai. God is always moving, and we can’t wait to see what He’s going to do next. 

What an incredible Outreach Weekend! 

We continued our teaching series, Red Letter Invitations, by exploring Jesus’ invitation to “go” and change the world with His love. We also got to celebrate how God is using Mariners to share the good news of Jesus, by launching new congregations to serve the cities and 3.2 million people of Orange County.

Now, you have the opportunity to “go” and get involved in what the Lord is doing in our church, in our cities, and our world. God wants to use you! There are so many ways for you to serve and be a part of what the Lord is doing, right in your own community.

Join us in packing disaster relief kits, serving families through the Mariners Food Pantry, tutoring and mentoring students after school, donating duffle bags for foster youth, volunteering at the OC Rescue mission, or in one of our other outreach opportunities at all our Mariners locations. 

How will you “go” for Jesus?

Click here to explore serving opportunities at all our Mariners locations! 

https://vimeo.com/546257693/3c63eb84a6

We’re so excited to announce that our Mariners in the Neighborhood locations will be launching as four new Mariners Congregations! This fall, Mariners Santa Ana, Mariners Mission Viejo, Mariners North Irvine, and Mariners Tustin will join Mariners Irvine and Mariners Huntington Beach as full congregations strategically positioned to reach these cities with the good news of Jesus

Two years ago, God gave Mariners a big vision of launching one new congregation a year for five years. During the COVID pandemic, we continued praying and seeking God’s will for the future of Mariners Church, and in July 2020, we launched Mariners in the Neighborhood locations to provide spaces for people to gather and worship with us in smaller settings. 

Now, four of these Mariners in the Neighborhood locations are launching as congregations in the same year, each led by godly leaders passionate about serving their cities and sharing God’s love. 

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North Irvine: 

Lead Pastor | Steve Bang Lee
Stonegate Elementary 

Tustin: 

Lead Pastor | Jorge Molina
Encore Theater

Mission Viejo: 

Lead Pastor | Erin Kerr
The Hills Hotel

Santa Ana: 

Lead Pastor | Guillermo Gonzalez 
Ramona Building

If you’re curious about these congregations and wondering how God might want to use you to love and serve your city, you won’t want to miss this weekend! 

Join us at Mariners Irvine after the 5:30p Saturday service or during the 10a Sunday service to hear from our congregation leaders and find out more about what the Lord is doing through these new congregations. All informational meetings will take place in the Ministry Center at Mariners Irvine (exact room locations are below).

North Irvine: Room 200BC
Tustin: Room 206
Mission Viejo: Room 204
Santa Ana: Room 205

Click Here to Learn More

There’s so much happening this week, and we don’t want you to miss a thing! 

Join us this weekend as we celebrate Mother’s Day and take a moment to celebrate, thank, and honor the amazing women in our lives—and make some lasting memories together. We’ll have a special moment in service recognizing all the moms in our community and showing our appreciation for everything they do! Looking for a fun way to celebrate? Join us on Saturday night at Mariners Irvine to enjoy a Mother’s Day Garden Tea following the 5:30p service with live music and other fun events for your whole family to celebrate together. 

This Thursday, May 6, we will join millions of people participating in the National Day of Prayer. Together, we’ll pray for specific sectors of our society including our families, children, education, health, church, government, business and more.

This year’s theme is love, life, and liberty.  We invite you to pray with us as we seek God’s will for our lives and for our nation. Follow along on our Instagram page for prayer prompts, worship song clips, and live, guided prayer with our pastors at 9a, 12 & 3p!

Join Us On Instagram for the National Day of Prayer

The next Men’s Breakfast is this Saturday May 1 at 8:30a on the Upper Lawn at Mariners Irvine. Join us as we enjoy a fantastic breakfast, worship God together, and hear an encouraging message. Click here to register!

Want more than breakfast? Then Man Camp is for you! Join us on May 22 to experience a full day connecting with God and the other men of Mariners in God’s amazing creation. 

We’ll spend time at Forest Home Camp and Conference Center in the San Bernardino mountains worshiping together, sharing delicious meals, and having crazy amounts of fun and laughter. It’s been more than a year since we were last able to gather in the mountains, and we can’t wait to have another incredible Man Camp with you! Click here to learn more.