Page 37 - Mariners Church Jubilee Book

In 1998, Mariners’ next door neighbor in Irvine, Liberty Baptist Church, had also run out of room. They were experiencing similar growth and building issues that Mariners had experienced years earlier.
At the same time, the Elder Board realized they needed to simplify and combine both Mariners South Coast campuses into one. Something crazy was suggested: what if we traded the land on Bison in Newport Beach with Liberty
Baptist’s land next door to the Irvine location?
After much prayer and analysis, the Elder board decided to make the trade. Even though it didn’t financially benefit Mariners, it gave both Liberty Baptist and Mariners more space to do what God had called them to do.
Change is difficult for people and this decision caused disagreement in the congregation. 400 people left the church. Also at this time, Mariners planted two other churches in Orange County. Rock Harbor and
Rock Hills were launched, taking 1,000 people with them.
Now to him who is able to do We were wondering what God was up to and how He would provide as we held fast to our
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power
commitment to reach our ever-growing community.
By the end of the year, God brought as many new people as had left, and the church continued that is at work within us, to him be to grow. Mariners was the same size it was prior to all
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever
of the transition!
and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
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Church Verse