the Low Down

Mariners Church Beachside Campus

            We have an address.  It is with great joy that I share with you all that we have our new home for Mariners church Beachside.  Our new address is 18110 Magnolia blvd Fountain Valley CA 92708.  It is a traditional Community Church with a cross facing the street.  It has a sanctuary, classrooms, a playground, offices, parking and even a gazebo.  Our wait was so worth while.  Now that we have a location we are moving forward with our Easter 09 start date. 

When we started out on this journey back in April of this year we felt confident about a Fall launch.  As our location challenges became a reality fall became unrealistic so New Years became our next logical date to start.  Then came October, and the reality set in that none of our 6 location finalist had any guarantee of being secured any time soon.  It was discouraging.  So we prayer fully humbled ourselves and once again postponed our forecasted launch to Easter 09. 

            In hindsight I can see the brilliance in God’s plan for this Easter.  It has allowed Mariners to focus on all the excitement of our Central Campus buildings that are being completed.  It has allowed our staff to give their attention to new ministry that is happening with those new buildings.  It has removed one more strain that could have distracted us all from the significance of this Christmas Season.  And most importantly it has allowed us to spend quality time with our Mariners families that live in our new Community.

            Mariners Church Beachside will be serving people in the cities of Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Long Beach, Westminster and beyond.  The more time we have to spend with these future friends the healthier our church community will be and the better prepared we will be to minister to our neighbors.  Exciting times for sure.

 

Pastor Low

Out Of Control

I have an ability, a flaw, a defect, a gift to be somewhere doing something but at the very same time be somewhere totally different.  Come on you know what I’m talking about.  For instance sitting in the living room talking on the phone with your friend or family member.  But at the very same time you are watching the game or your favorite makeover show on TV.  I know I’m not the only one…for the record I’m getting much better.  Or how about standing and talking to someone and you feel your phone vibrate in your pocket and you are trying to figure out when it wouldn’t be rude to grab your phone to check your messages.  Boy I’m not painting myself in the best light here am I?   

This week I have been going through the motions here at work but my mind has not always been fully present with what I was doing.  The dominant thought in my head is An Elder Board meeting happening this Sunday night.  Its not our Church’s board but another church who has a big decision to make. 

Will they let us lease a church site that they own that is available for weekend services? 

I have been mentally grinding for 4 months trying to locate and negotiate a place for our campus to meet at. At this moment in time I feel powerless, I feel helpless and I feel Out of control.  I’m trying not to get too emotionally invested or excited about this potential location because there is no guarantee we will get it.  On the other hand I want this site so bad I can visualize all the people coming through its doors to find community and most importantly Jesus. 

So I sit here feeling out of control but knowing even in the midst of the uncertainty that God is doing exactly what He has planned.  With that little pearl of truth I can be excited about whatever the outcome of this Sunday’s meeting. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 ⁵Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ⁶Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

Pastor Low

 

Makes It All Worth While

I sat in the City Planning offices for an hour the other day.  Everyone is there with the same goal in mind. ” To get their plans approved.”  Plans for building, homes, backyards, decks, you name it people are trying to get it approved.   The room is filled with a wide range of characters.  There are guys with work boots, guys with top siders.  Guys with dirty clothes, guys in suits.  Guys with hard hats and guys with comb overs. 

Now if you have ever been in the City Planning Department at Huntington Beach one of the first things you will notice is that they know their clientele and how to keep them calm. On the wall in plain site is a nice plasma TV with Sportcenter beaming in all its glory.  I didn’t watch it even for one second.  I was on the clock and working if anyone asks.

When it my my turn I walked up to ask some questions about parking and traffic restrictions for 3 sites that were are pursuing.  My questions were answered with percision and clarity that impressed me.  At first I was discouraged because I did not get the answers I wanted.  Again everyone is trying to get their plans approved, but sometimes I really would rather just get my way.  Is that too much to ask?

So I had to regroup.  With the occasional set backs its difficult to keep in mind why we are doing this.  Luckily God is a master at giving us just what we need just at the right time.  when I got back to my desk I had a voicemail from a lady by the name of Trisha.  Trisha’s message simply said that she had heard that I was starting a church in Huntington Beach.  She was so excited because her kids and grand kids all live in Huntington Beach.  She went on to say that she “really hopes that this new church is like Mariners Church because that is where she attends now” and she “just loves it.”

Hearing that voicemail from Trisha makes it all worth while.  It is an encouragement to navigate all the obstacles so that her family will have a chance to become a key part of our new community.  A community where kids can come with their parents and people can find God in a real way.  How fun is that?

So bring it on Planning department…we have more tricks up our sleeves.  Before I get too brave and macho I could use your prayers in this area.  Prayer that our minds would be sharp, our preparation would be thorough and that God would go before us and soften the hearts of people who have an influence in this process.  Till next time.

Pastor Low