Mariners Church began as a small group of Christians who met for Bible studies in homes in the Newport Beach area starting in 1963. In 1964, this group organized the first Newport Beach Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, an event that has occurred annually ever since. As the church grew, it moved from holding services in a family home, to a series of rented locations, including Monte Vista School, Mariners Elementary School, Corona Del Mar High School, and the Community Room of the Bank of Newport building on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. In 1967 the first full-time pastor was hired. The church purchased and built its first owned facilities at the corner of Bison and Jamboree in Newport Beach. In 1980 the church split, and a portion of the church formed a new church called South Coast Community Church on a portion of the property where the church is located today. In 1996, the church reunited. For several years, services were held in both locations. In 1998, the church swapped the Bison property with Liberty Baptist Church, which had a property adjoining the South Coast Community church property. Finally, the church purchased another adjoining property from the Irvine Company for $18 million, expanding the campus by to reach its current size. The church built and opened Port Mariners children’s building in June 2005 and the new Worship Center, bookstore and café in November 2005 at a cost of approximately $35 million. In November 2006, the church raised initial funds to build a new student ministries facility, a chapel, a parking garage, and remodeling of the administrative building, at an expected cost of $33 million. The project was completed in October 2008. In November 2009, Mariners became a multi-site church when it launched a second campus in Mission Viejo. Mariners currently also has campuses in Huntington Beach and Ocean Hills in San Juan Capistrano. The church's radio program "Live Boldly" aired from 3 October 2011 through 19 July 2013 on KBRT weekdays at noon Pacific Time. Mariners is the current host site for Catalyst West, a popular Christian leadership conference that draws thousands of church staff members from multiple states each year.
Attendance
Mariners currently averages nearly 17,000 in attendance per week among its 4 campuses, making it the 17th largest church in the United States and the 2nd largest church building in California behind only Saddleback Church according to Outreach Magazine.
Facilities
The Irvine campus sits on of land at the corner of Newport Coast Drive and Bonita Canyon Drive in Irvine, California. Church facilities include a 3,800 seat worship center, a kids building, youth building for middle and high school ministry, a wedding/funeral chapel, a three story ministry center which holds the church offices as well as Mariners Preschool facility, parking structure, and play fields, as well as a Community Center which houses the Mariners Thrift Store and Food Pantry. Proceeds from the "Mariners Cafe and Bookstore" go toward the church's international missions and outreach programs. The church also operates several Lighthouse Community Centers throughout Orange County. Mariners Huntington Beach Congregation meets in the former Regency Charter Center Theaters on the corner of Warner Avenue and Beach. The facility includes space for adults, kids, and youth as well as an on-site Community Center.
Statement of Faith
“We believe Jesus is the only Son of God, who came to earth as a man, died for our sins, and came back to life again. We believe all who in faith trust Him as their Lord and Savior to forgive their sins are part of the worldwide body of Christ”
Guiding Values
Teach God’s Word;
Be God’s Loving Family;
Every Believer is a Minister with a Ministry;
Be Innovative in our Ministry and Relevant in our Community;
