Mariners Church

Mariners Church is a non-denominational, Christian Church located in Irvine, California, situated in central Orange County. It is the 2nd largest church building in California, and as of 2016 was the 17th largest church in the United States by number of attendees.

For other uses, see Mariner's Church (disambiguation).
Mariners Church
Worship center
CountryUnited States
DenominationNon-Denominational
Websitemarinerschurch.org
History
Founded1965
Clergy
Pastor(s)Eric Geiger
Kenton Beshore

History

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 (the location from which the church derives its name), Corona Del Mar High School, and the Community Room of the Bank of Newport building on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach.[1]

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.[1][2]

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 18 acres (73,000 m2) 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 (Student Center), a chapel, a parking garage (completed October 2007), and remodeling of the administrative building, at an expected cost of $33 million. The project was completed in October 2008.[2]

Attendance

In 2016, Mariners averaged 16,785 attendees per week among its five campuses, making it the 17th largest church in the United States.[3]

The Kids Building

Kenton Beshore

Raised as a pastor's son in La Cañada Flintridge, California, Kenton graduated with his bachelor's degree from Biola University and his master's degree from Biola's Talbot School of Theology. In 1978, Kenton came to Mariners as a college pastor. He has overseen Mariners growth from a church of less than 300 to one of nearly 17,000.[4][5]

References and notes
  1. History - Mariners Church Archived 2010-02-14 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Celebrates 30 Years - Orange County Register
  3. "Mariners Church". Outreach Magazine. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017.
  4. leadership - mariners church Archived 2007-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Mariners Pastor Celebrates 30th Year as Senior Pastor - Orange County Register; Fri, Apr 18, 2008

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