Category: Stories

Kali Lukei | Family Ministries Story Three months ago, I never would have imagined being so thankful for spending time after school on my last “normal day” (March 13th) in the Corner Café at St. Andrew’s. But like everything else, […]

Gail O’Hea | Serve Story In the midst of complaints of pain, fear, and the broken place the motel dwellers have come to, there is of course mourning and grumbling. However, in these same people, I have witnessed great faith […]

As we launch our all church food drive, we wanted to paint a picture of where the food and supplies you donate will be used. Part of the St. Andrew’s COVID-19 response is partnering with Project Hope Alliance (PHA) to […]

Kidworks Prayer WalkAnna Dirkse Have you ever wanted to learn more about our mission partners and to explore where God might be inviting you to serve? Do you have a heart for prayer? If you answered yes to either of […]

Tecaté Serve Trip The Tecate Serve trip has impacted many members of the St. Andrew’s congregation over the years, so much so that many who go choose to keep going; one of these people is high schooler Brooklyn Lauricella. Brooklyn […]

I grew up in church, but never really saw it as important and never wholeheartedly pursued it. I saw church as more of an obligation, something my mom dragged me to every weekend. It wasn’t my choice, it was hers… […]

Blaine BushOne Man’s Example I’m a father, I’m a brother, I’m a son, I’m a husband, I’m an uncle. If I had a theme for my life it could be summed up as “finding my father through faith.”  My dad […]

Royal Family KidsSummer Camp At the end of each summer children in the foster care system gather for a week of Christ-centered fun at Royal Family Kids Camp. St. Andrew’s partners with Rock Harbor to show these kids love and […]

Joe + Tiana BardBanzai Bowls Tiana and I started Banzai Bowls about 9 years ago. It began by making the recipes that we currently sell, in our own home for ourselves and friends. The idea came to me right around […]

Cheryl Thompson’s Story I was at a point in my life where I felt called to Anti-Human Trafficking, and I had time to serve. I had worked with young ladies who had been rescued from sex-trafficking in India before, but […]

Deep impact is at the root of all St. Andrew’s missional partnerships. Within some ministries, we’re able to serve together at a school across town or board a plane to experience how God is moving in a different country. Other […]

Each of us is a vital part of the body of Christ. Whether you are already engaged with one our mission partners or in God’s Kingdom work other places here, near, or far – we are here to help you […]

Lauren Quinn grew up attending St. Andrew’s in middle school but left to go away to college in Virginia. After graduating and working abroad for years, she shares what it was like to come back “home” to her church family […]

When Gary Hernandez lost his wife suddenly in 2009, he was led into a profound time of questioning what God had in store for him. Becoming more involved at St. Andrew’s in his search for life’s meaning, a series of […]

As the hands and feet of Jesus, we are called to share in community while also creating a larger impact as evidence of our faith (Matthew 28:18). At St. Andrew’s, we are a neighborhood church with global impact. As we worship, pray, and serve […]

When Bruce Nelson was thinking of ways to create a space for the men of St. Andrew’s to belong, he thought outside the box for the annual Men’s Retreat. Instead of just focusing on attracting the masses, he went deeper to […]

Charlene Foell is a wife, mother, and active member within the St. Andrew’s community. In addition to serving as a ministry lead over our Project Hope Alliance partnership and regularly helping out with family ministries events, Charlene still makes time […]

This past summer, our Children’s Ministries team had the idea to put on a “Trunk or Treat”. The plan was to open up the parking lot of the church, invite people to decorate their cars, and hand out candy to […]

JoAnne Greinke joined in a missions trip alongside Finding Freedom International last year. As a ministry partner of St. Andrew’s, Finding Freedom International embodies the values set forth by our church – to live a life that reveals God’s goodness […]

Sandy Chao, a member here at St. Andrew’s, is inspired to show extreme hospitality to others because others have shown it to her. When we care for others, it spreads and multiplies. Extreme hospitality is simply making an effort to […]

Irish and Judy Kane found their God-given passion several years ago, when they visited a Costa Mesa nursing home with a friend. Both of them had personally experienced loved ones being in a nursing home in the past and felt […]

Imagine walking into a room filled with over a hundred high school students along with a handful of seventy-plus year old seniors, laughing and conversing with one another. This beautiful picture is not simply a thought or a hope, it […]

Peter and Bonnie Prietto have attended Royal Family Kids’ Camp every year for the past 16 years, serving in roles ranging from Camp Director, Counselor, Lifeguard, and more. In August, they returned to camp for another year of serving the […]

Making a good first impression is as simple as being friendly and welcoming someone new. When Anita Sherbanee met two first-time visitors to St. Andrew’s, she created a space for them to belong. “I was a bit late and so I […]

Every year, countless families gather at Forest Home Family Camp for a sweet time of fellowship, worship, and bonding together. Jenn Baltazar and her husband, Philip, along with their two children, visited this year for their first family vacation as […]

This last Sunday, we gathered after church to celebrate the Jensen Family after 6 years of ministry service. Over 100 people attended, including some of Cody’s favorite people – his high school students. Bobby McCracken remembers being part of Refuge […]

A team from St. Andrew’s journeyed to rural El Salvador this past week to work alongside our mission partner, ENLACE (meaning ‘link’ in Spanish). This time, the team served in the Southwest portion of El Salvador in the small border […]

Casey Crane first came to Family Camp as a newly-widowed dad, when his children were just 2 and 4 years old. The first night, his kids were crying in the cabin and he thought, “This was a mistake. God, if […]

The St. Andrew’s plaza was abuzz on the afternoon of July 22, as musicians from the KidWorks/Avanti ministry displayed their talents with nearly 100 music lovers. In addition to original compositions and favorite worship songs, students and volunteers shared stories and […]

Newport Harbor High School student, Paxton Bryant, is part of our Refuge group on Monday nights. She shares how her involvement there has helped widen her vision of God and maintain a godly perspective… “Refuge has completely changed my life […]

Each summer, St. Andrew’s families have an opportunity to go to Forest Home Family Camp in Forest Falls, CA as a group to bond with one another, hear teachings about God’s word, experience worship, recharge emotionally and spiritually, and have […]

In case you weren’t in services this past weekend; here is an affirming testimony about God’s provision during the recent Supai trip by student, Trevor Brown on July 8/9. Click Here to learn more about our annual Supai trip and other Student Ministry events.

God calls us to serve others and we do so with grateful hearts. Our ministry partners at St. Andrew’s serve our community in Newport Beach and beyond, with events for all generations and skill levels. David Harper tells his story of how a […]

Creating space for people to belong can often come in the form of helping the ministries at St. Andrew’s. Often, people find that the more they serve, the more they grow in compassion for others and a love for God. […]

Bright and early on Sunday mornings, Jack and May Kline opt out of sleeping in and choose instead to serve. Both ushers, Jack and May are at the forefront of embodying our “R.E.A.L” value of Extreme Hospitality. They have been members […]

Never underestimate the power of saying hello…

Inviting someone to church is more than an invitation to a building on a Sunday morning; it is an invitation to belong, to discover God and His great love. Dottie Edwards invited her Saturday morning walking buddy to St. Andrew’s […]

“Where is heaven? How do I find the right hallway? How do I know if I’m going to the right place? I’m scared about getting lost.” These are questions that Brock McCann asked his mom, Bernardette a week before the […]

Life Groups at St. Andrew’s are a great place to get connected with others, grow in faith, and belong through a small group that meets each week, usually in individual homes. When Steven Good invited Phil and Jen to be […]

St. Andrew’s believes that real faith moves at the speed of friendship. As a church, we contribute annually to 21 ministry partnerships, with focused events throughout the year in support of their needs. One such event gathers families and a community […]

Creating a space to belong can start as a simple invitation to church, Bible study, event, coffee, or workshop. Who knows where it may lead! For Dede Gile, it meant becoming a follower of Christ and a deacon at St. […]

God places us in spaces and places to meet people who can help us grow and know Him more. All we need to do is have an open, willing heart to receive. When Ben Wilson met Jim from St. Andrew’s, […]

Bill and Marie Hover’s family is integrally tied to St. Andrew’s; some would say they even grew up together. From the start of St. Andrew’s through today, generations of his family have been coming here and growing with God within […]

The Finamore family first came to St. Andrew’s because of the Preschool. They were looking for a church that was good for children while offering programs for families. Within five years, it would become their second home. “Volunteering in my […]

St. Andrew’s has many ministries that help people connect and grow. One of these is our support of City Impact through service-based missions trips. City Impact exists to share Jesus Christ with the people of San Francisco’s Tenderloin District. It […]

When Joe Cristina decided to dedicate his talents to God, he had no idea where it would take him. It ended up leading him to KidWorks, a non-profit organization located here in Orange County. Through academic enrichment, tutoring, fitness, and […]

At St. Andrew’s, we encourage expanding our table by inviting others to a meal. This is precious time to get to know others in a more personal way than we are able to at church or larger events. It deepens […]

Tyra Fisher is the Youth and Family Center Coordinator at St. Andrew’s, and she sees how creating a space to belong positively impacts the lives of youth on a daily basis. Therein, she intentionally sets aside time to be an […]

On Friday, March 2; over 50 volunteers celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday with our neighbors at Whittier Elementary School! Friends from St. Andrew’s engaged the students in fun and laughter while igniting a passion for reading. Member, Arnoldo Hinojosa, came to […]

Our partnership with Kidwork’s Avanti program continues to be transformative in the lives of Santa Ana’s youth. We are so blessed to partner with KidWorks, a Santa Ana-based non-profit that provides underserved children and teens growth in the areas of […]

Each Friday, a small group gathers together to stuff bulletins for the weekend services. The task itself may be monotonous but the conversation rarely is. A community has been formed here over time, with women of all age groups and […]

Creating spaces for people to belong begins in the heart. When we open our hearts to others through authentic, consistent outreaches of friendship, true community can take root. Saying hello to someone, remembering their name, asking about their life, asking […]

After mourning the loss of his wife, Dwight Moore felt led to help others. He chose to serve as part of the St. Andrew’s Literacy Team (SALT), benefitting the children of Whittier Elementary School. Dwight, 83, joined St. Andrew’s in […]

Much is happening through our City-to-City church plant in Cape Town, South Africa. Take a moment to watch the video update below and continue to pray for Louis and Yolandi as they invest in the church and create space to belong for […]

The Monday after Thanksgiving, four players from the Los Angeles Chargers (Travis Benjamin, Chris Landrum, James Onwuala and Michael Davis), gathered in the Family Center at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church to meet with the Project Hope Alliance families! This was […]

Our own Julie Wood, Minister of Missions, is in China visiting Jennifer Melton, a St. Andrew’s member who was commissioned to serve in-country with Starfish Project. Jennifer has worked with the organization for 6 years and was thrilled to share […]

Newport Harbor High School senior, Kobe Richardson loves sushi and fun spontaneous adventures with her friends. She has been a part of the St. Andrew’s high school ministry group since her freshman year. Throughout her time in Refuge, Kobe has […]

Our team is back from serving in El Salvador! Here is Ali Woodward’s personal impression of the trip.“El Salvador has shown me a certain type of love like nothing else – a love that is not burdened by a different […]

For over 25 years, St. Andrew’s has partnered with Royal Family Kids’ Camp. For the last 10 years, St. Andrew’s has also partnered with RockHarbor and Irvine Presbyterian Church to host between 80-90 kids in Orange County’s foster care. Most […]

Jeremy Searcy has a passion to end the cycle of homelessness in Orange County, which he shares in common with Project Hope Alliance CEO, Jennifer Friend. Teaming up with Hurley, Searcy and other local artists will be showcasing their work […]

Roger Riley shares another side of extreme hospitality, in the joy, struggle, and blessing of caring for those who care for others. “I have had the privilege of knowing God’s partnership – His promise of guidance as I have gone […]

Hannah is a senior at Newport Harbor High School. This is her story about her journey at St. Andrew’s. “My faith has been pretty strong throughout high school, and it has only gotten stronger. Because of my faith, I have […]

Dominic Loftus, NHHS Senior Class To quote Dr. Amanda Drury, “Our stories are not our own, they belong to the community.” Here is Dominic’s story… “I’ve been a Christian practically all my life but I didn’t really know what it was […]

School is back! St. Andrew’s believes that schools play a significant role in the development of healthy communities and individuals. For this reason, we have partnered with Whittier Elementary School, which serves the largely Hispanic community of west-side Costa Mesa. […]

It was a joy to have our friends from NorthEast of the Well with us in services this last weekend! NorthEast of the Well exists to bring God’s word into places of desperate need, with a focus on those in […]

These young women have served at our church for a number of years helping shape the lives of younger children. In the process, they too, have been shaped and molded in profound ways. St. Andrew’s is home for them and they have […]

Jillian and Paige are both seventh graders who regularly spend time in our church after school. They are both extremely active in our Jr. High Ministry “Asylum.” Paige and her family have been attendees of our church for years and […]

Our very own Dan and Susie Hamlin and Shawn Reilly were honored at the Spirit of Volunteerism Award Banquet last week. 1,100 attended a lunch for their service in support of Project Hope Alliance to address homelessness of children and families right […]

Last night at Refuge, the high school students led worship and shared their testimonies with one another about what God continues to do in their lives.In addition; Associate Pastor of Family Ministries, Steven Good and Minister of Student Ministries, Cody […]

Now in its fourth day, the St. Andrew’s pilgrimage trip to the Holy Land has enjoyed sunny skies and thrilling sights. For the first three days, we explored around the Sea of Galilee where Jesus grew up, taught, healed, called […]

When we are invited into another person’s story, it opens us up to their journey, heart, and experiences. In the process, we walk with them and become a part of their narrative, which deepens our connections. In essence, we see […]

Vicki Wadman and her daughter, Claire with Pastor Marcos, who leads the community development work in San Jose El Naranjo. In February 2017, St. Andrew’s sent a team to serve alongside our ministry partner ENLACE in El Salvador. Such trips […]

Every week, students gather on Monday night to spend time together and learn about God while having fun with their peers. Juliana Martinez, a current sophomore at Newport Harbor High School, is one of those students. Though Juliana’s parents were […]

This past month, a St. Andrew’s all-generation team traveled to El Salvador to serve alongside our mission partner ENLACE. We joined forces with Pastor Marcos, a 16-year partner of ENLACE for a week of hard work, sweet ministry, and uncommon […]

We had a super successful food drive and packing party for Project Hope Alliance (PHA) last week! Thank you to everyone who participated. The Project Hope Alliance (PHA) Food Packing Party started with lunch in the Youth Center where families […]

Take a look at what God has done in this second year of our Welcome Home 2020 Vision! For information on our current ministry partners and serve opportunities, please visit www.sapres.org/extendingthefamily.

First City to City church plant launched! Our first church plant with City to City, through our Welcome Home campaign launched this last Sunday in Cape Town, South Africa. Check out this on-site video from our very own Stan and Karin […]

Last week; twelve staff, elders, and deacons from St. Andrew’s joined over 1,200 other church leaders for our denomination’s (ECO) 3rd National Gathering at the First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, South Carolina. Amid joyful worship and dynamic addresses, the conference […]

Here is a note from our church planters in South Africa, Louis and Yolandi Scheepers! “Hi Everyone, I want to thank all of you who prayed for our urgent need for a venue! God has miraculously provided an awesome new venue […]

Read below for a special message from Dr. John A. Huffman on our iconic St. Andrew’s Cross … “Are you rejoicing with me to see the St. Andrew’s cross once again hovering over our campus during the daylight hours and […]

Thanks to all who brought a gift or served at the KidWorks Christmas store! All together, St. Andrew’s and other friends of KidWorks donated more than 1,000 gifts. This year, 276 families came through the store and shopped for their families.623 children […]

17 people from St. Andrew’s flew to our mission partner, City Impact in San Fransisco this last weekend. They spent three full day’s in the Tenderloin district where they loved on, prayed with, ministered to some of San Francisco’s most […]

Take a look at this video update where Louis shares about Pro Deo’s two vision evenings as their worshipping community forms in Cape Town, South Africa! Also, don’t miss the prayer requests at the end of the video so we […]

India Discernment Team Member, Becky Carter shares a 2nd update with us from Hyperabad, India… “We spent the last 2 days with Yorba Linda Friends Church and Good Shepherd Ministries. They have an amazing partnership and it was incredible to […]

On Thursday, November 3, a discernment team from St. Andrew’s left for India to explore partnership opportunities that would help us to address human trafficking. We’ll post numerous journal entries over the next few days so you can follow their […]

“Dear St. Andrew’s Family, Thank you for the great privilege of being your pastor for the last seven years. I hold all of you in my heart for the gospel journey we have shared together. Many of you have sent such wonderful notes, […]

This past weekend, members of the St. Andrew’s community and their families gathered to visit with Pastor Rich during a reception after Sunday services. Thank you, Rev. Dr. Richard Kannwischer, for your service to St. Andrew’s. It was wonderful celebrating […]

While visiting Cape Town, St. Andrew’s members, Jim and Pat Richmond connected with our church planters, Louis and Yolandi Scheepers! Please lift the Scheepers up in prayer as they continue the search for an appropriate venue for the church plant […]

Take a look at the amazing ways God moved during this year’s Serve Day on September 17, 2016!

Once a year, St. Andrew’s ministers to the Native American Havasupai tribe in the heart of the Grand Canyon. We serve in partnership with the Veterinarian Christian Foundation (VCF), which has established trust with the local tribe by providing veterinary […]

Last month, Refuge made their annual trip to Supai. Supai has been referred to as the most remote community in the contiguous states, accessible only by helicopter, on foot or by mule. Director of High School Ministries, Cody Jensen, headed […]

Sunday, July 24 | 12:45 – 2:00 p.m. | Youth Center Mark your calendars for this Sunday as we come together to celebrate the Ludwig Family! David Ludwig will be ordained this weekend, and they will be around after services […]

St. Andrew’s was excited to contribute to our ministry partner, Project Hope Alliance’s “Promotor Pathway Pilot Program” that launched in January of this year. Since then, student needs have been identified and the efforts were initiated. One of those needs […]

Take a look at this video update where Louis shares about his three-step approach to launching the Pro Deo worshipping community in Cape Town, South Africa! Also, don’t miss the prayer requests at the end of the video so we […]

On Saturday, June 18, 15 incarcerated youth attended St Andrew’s. The field trip was sponsored by Pacific Youth Correctional Ministries (PYCM) to give the youth a taste of connecting with a local church and help them see that there is indeed […]

St. Andrew’s is excited to welcome the following guest speakers throughout our Summer series! July 9/10 | Ron Brown Executive Director, Teen Challenge As Executive Director, Ron oversees the ministry of Teen Challenge in Southern California, which includes eight centers […]

On the third Saturday of every month, Teen Challenge comes to worship with the St. Andrew’s community and take part in our Super Saturday event. During these services, someone who is currently in Teen Challenge’s recovery program shares their testimony […]

Here is a list of recommended reading mentioned by our guest speaker in services this past weekend! A Wind in the House of Islam by David Garrison Dreams and Visions by Tom Doyle Miraculous Movements by Jerry Trousdale Too Many […]

In case you missed it this weekend, here’s our Father’s Day video sharing “What Makes Your Dad Cool?”. Check out what people have to say about their dad’s!

This Father’s Day, 18 dads from St. Andrew’s took a group of recently homeless fathers to a baseball game at Anaheim Stadium. These men were now in stable housing thanks to the work of our ministry partner, Project Hope Alliance. […]

The new issues of Connections Magazine have arrived! Make sure to check your mailbox this week or stop by to pick one up. Click Here to read online.

Last week, seven 6th-graders graduated from the St. Andrew’s W.A.T.C.H. (Weekdays At The Church) after-school program!Three of the students had been with WATCH since Kindergarten!The ceremony concluding with the students putting on the full armor of God, as they studied […]

Recently, our Facilities and Operations team did some “spring cleaning” of our basement area and extra items were sent to benefit our mission partners. A few wooden crosses were donated to NorthEast of the Well for use in their times […]

St. Andrew’s Tecate ministry partners, pastors Francisco and Graciela Rodriguez, are looking forward to our team’s visit at the end of the month! Our team will build a home, co-lead a science camp for 30 children from the community, and […]

DID YOU HAVE YOUR PHOTO TAKEN THIS PAST WEEKEND? If so, Click Here to visit our church Facebook page and download!

As a part of preparation for our weekly Wednesday Night Together, the team prays together over the night. Last week, in particular, we prayed earnestly for Jesus to make Himself “real” through the ministry and to our guests. Sure enough, […]

Here is a note from our church planters in South Africa, Louis and Yolandi Scheepers! “Hello Everyone! Some exciting Kingdom movements are getting off the ground in Cape Town (and Africa) and Yolandi and I have been busy with interesting […]

Last week, Pastor Joel and his wife, Pammela visited us from Agongo, Kenya. Pastor Joel is the Executive Director and Founder of Side-By-Side Seed International Schools in Western Kenya. This organization promotes community development within Agongo, particularly in the fields of education, […]

Wednesday, April 27 | 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. | Dierenfield Hall Calling the men of St. Andrew’s! Please join us for our next Men’s Fellowship Breakfast on Wednesday, April 27. This meeting will include a special tribute to our veterans […]

St. Andrew’s was honored to partner with KidWorks by making them the recipient of our monthly food collection. With this donation, KidWorks was able to fill over 24 baskets with food and necessary items for families in need living in Central […]

Founded in 2012 by Joe Cristina, the Avanti program at KidWorks teaches students musical theory through college preparatory music classes and offers ensemble performance opportunities throughout Orange County. The group has played at Steamers Jazz Club, Village of Hope, Santa […]

Campus Renovation began this month! A Groundbreaking Ceremony was held between morning services and included staff, members, key lay leaders, and construction managers. There was a special time of prayer and fellowship before ground was broken with Lead Pastor, Rich […]

On March 18, 60 St. Andrew’s volunteers visited Whittier Elementary to participate in Read Across America™, a literacy promotion event featuring Dr. Suess. “Thing 1” (Principal Wilcox) and “Thing 2” (Asst. Principal Topete) showed up to serve the students a […]

The Impact of Prayer video series is coming to a close. Take a look at how a simple prayer request from Kyle Team changed her life three years ago!

Jonathan Sandys and Wallace Henley will be joining us in worship this Sunday, March 20 for a time of Q&A with Pastor Rich Kannwischer! Jonathan is the great-grandson of Sir Winston Churchill and author of God & Churchill. More than a […]

For the next couple weeks, we will post a video with stories from our congregation on how prayer has impacted their lives. This week, Sue Faassen shares her story.

Click Here to read a wonderful update from Project Hope Alliance after last month’s food packing event! The donations provided will fully stock their Community Pantry and supply food, hygiene and school items to more than 14 families each week. […]

For the next couple weeks, we will post a video with stories from our congregation on how prayer has impacted their lives. This week, Michael Alibi shares his story.  

All generations joined to help build the 15 homes in El Cocalito and gathered together during the dedication ceremony. Food and treats are also part of the celebration. On the right is Julie, Pastor Israel’s wife. She is a joyful, strong […]

El Salvador Mission Experience | February 13-21 When we were preparing our first team for El Salvador in 2014, we had no idea what we were getting into. Building latrines in 95-degree heat was tough, but clearing a space in […]

For the next few weeks, we will post a video every Monday with stories from our congregation on how prayer has impacted their lives. This week, Dick Todd shares his story.

Take a look at how our past sermon series “Prayer” impacted the lives of four St. Andrew’s Jr. High students!

Last night at our monthly Lead Team meeting, we honored outgoing elders and deacons, as well as volunteers in our Gather, Build, Send and Core departments. Take a look at what these volunteers had to say about their time in […]

For the next few weeks, we will post a video every Monday with stories from our congregation on the impact of prayer in their lives. This week, Cash Owen shares his story.  

For the next few weeks, we will post a video every Monday with stories from our congregation on the impact of prayer in their lives. This week, Brice Baumgartner shares her story.

St. Andrew’s was thrilled to welcome Dr. Vinh Chung to this month’s author spot on January 31! Dr. Chung, a graduate of both Harvard Medical School and The University of Edinburgh’s School of Theology, spoke about his critically-acclaimed novel, Where The Wind […]

From January 12-23, a team from St. Andrew’s traveled to Agongo, Kenya to serve with our ministry partner, Side-by-Side Ministry. Living into real St. Andrew’s values, team members shared at a leadership seminar, participated in the ordination of 32 local […]

For the next nine weeks, we will post a video every Monday with stories from our congregation on the impact of prayer in their lives. This week, John Zeiser shares his story.

On January 16/17, we welcomed Rev. Louis Scheepers and his wife, Yolandi from South Africa to come speak about their church-planting work with Tim Keller’s City-to-City Network. Together, the couple represents the first of three church plants that St. Andrew’s has committed […]

Take a look at the latest news from our mission partnership with Whittier Elementary in Costa Mesa! Children can now exercise their reading skills and share stories with Zelda, Principal Scott Wilcox’s therapy dog, as part of the new recess alternative […]

We are very excited to welcome special guest speaker, Louis Scheepers from Cape Town, South Africa! Louis and his wife, Yolandi will be joining us in this weekend’s services to discuss their work in Johannesburg. Louis is an ordained minister of […]

Saturday, January 30, 5:00 p.m. Sunday, January 31, 8:00, 9:00, and 11:11 a.m. Please help us welcome our special guest speaker, Dr. Vinh Chung, author of Where the Wind Leads. He will be joining us in all 4 weekend services to discuss […]

Check out another one of our “Prayer” sermon series videos, featuring Pastor Joel Amonde in Kenya. Hear about how his ministry started, and how we at St. Andrew’s can pray for his work!

What are YOU thankful for? We asked a few people after service and got some amazing responses. Check out our video to see them all! Which resonates with you the most?

Tuesday was a powerful day of ministry on several fronts. Our team split up to support the vets, prepare a Thanksgiving meal for 200 in the school kitchen and put on a children’s program for the parents. Maura staffed a […]

Monday got off to a great start as the veterinary team opened the church at 9:00 a.m. for any number of surgical operations and vaccinations for animals of various shapes and sizes. The St. Andrews team ministered in the Supai […]

The team arrived safely in Supai Sunday after a morning team briefing, a short drive and a long (and beautiful) hike into the canyon. The combined St Andrews/Veterinary Christian Foundation team enjoyed getting to know each other on the hike […]

The Grand Canyon team left Saturday to begin their five-day mission experience with the Havasupai in Arizona. After praying together, team member Gail O’hea outfitted the van with the full armor of God and they were off. Please pray for […]

Last Sunday we gathered near the bay in Newport Beach for a very special afternoon of baptisms. Bryan Eckelmann and Megan Hutchinson baptized 16 people of all ages – some siblings at the same time. Here are some photos from the […]

This morning was the start of our new Thursday Women’s Bible Study. Over 170 women came to hear our very own Megan Hutchinson share her powerful testimony. As Megan gave her testimony, we learned about the four lies that women often […]

“At first I was self-conscious of how gross I looked, but than realized I can’t be so self-absorbed. It was easier to love people and be present when I didn’t care about appearances.” “Mission trips aren’t my thing, but I know that God has put a deep love in my heart for people and I’m called to help,” said Kala. Kala Kumar, 16, recently joined her family […]

“Seeing the smiles on the faces of those we build homes for in Tecate is what keeps our family going back.” “Surf camp was my big jump into missions and it was fun, because I was just doing what I love.” John is a familiar face around St. Andrew’s.  Born and raised on the peninsula, John and his wife Michelle have […]

“We can give our money to support others, but it’s really in the giving of ourselves that is most valuable.” “I come simply to bring them the message of Christ and to remind them that He knows them personally and cares for them.” “I wasn’t sure if I could make a difference,” thought Sandra after she was invited to help minister to […]

“I have been called to pursue a Christian life and so I try to be alert to opportunities of service where I can show kindness and compassion.” After mourning the loss of his wife last year, Dwight felt led to […]

Here are some recent photos sent from our Kenya Team:   Team members Tom Brock and Larry Beaty on a site walk of the current school grounds at the right is the building of the new primary school building.   […]

We spent the morning with Teen Challenge Kenya.  Great time of fellowship and sharing together.  Teen Challenge is alive in Orange County as well as here in Nairobi dealing with the same issues.  It was also so good to see […]

  Here are some photos from our team in El Salvador!      

Today in El Salvador, our team continued work on the trenches and rebar, and also went on a few home visits with Pastor Israel around the community. The team is praying for people and their deep struggles and have found the […]

Watch our testimony video from last week’s service

Meet our new Minister of Adult Ministries, Megan Hutchinson!

Check out these photos from our Camp Create Day 4

Here are some photos from our Camp Create Day 3

Check out these pictures from our Camp Create Day 2

Join us for our Experience Art Festival this Friday, June 26, from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. Our Camp Create students will be showcasing some of what they have learned at camp! There will also food trucks in the parking lot starting […]

Check out some photos from our Camp Create Day One!    

On June 7, we gathered for a luncheon to honor and thank our St. Andrew’s Literacy Team “SALT” and Serve Day Leaders with our community partnership with Whittier Elementary School. Attending to show their appreciation were Dr Fred Navarro, Superintendent […]

Celebrating our Pastor of the Flock, Leah Stout, the deacons hosted a celebration of Leah’s pastoral leadership of the Deacon Ministry for the past  8 years.  The event was held at the Ayers Hotel, on Sunday, June 14 – along with […]

Join us this weekend for our Mortgage Burning Ceremony. Ceremony will be held at all services. Come celebrate what God is doing in the life of our church! See you there!

Wonderful Weekdays Christian Summer Camps still has openings for the 2015 Summer Program. Our Camp is 7 weeks and you can choose any or all of the weeks. First week of camp starts June 29 and ends August 14. Our […]

Here are some photos from our recent trip to Tecate!

Last Monday night we had the honor of celebrating our high school senior class of 2015. The night began with dinner down in the student center and followed with a slideshow video that captured the various trips and events they […]

Watch the Go, Go Jonah video here!

2015 Rummage Sale Results! Years of experience and months of planning meetings paid off this past week as the 2015 St. Andrew’s Rummage Sale grossed more than $67,000 to support missions efforts here, near and far.  Just as impressive is […]

June 13 | 8:30a.m.-12:00p.m. | Mariners Church – Small Chapel | 5001 Newport Coast Dr, Irvine Join other men and women from St. Andrew’s for an off-site, half-day spiritual retreat at Mariners Church. We’ll get away from our normal routine […]

On May 24, Penn Post and Jeff Herdman took their life group on a Los Angeles adventure. This growing St. Andrew’s life group visited Union Church in the Little Tokyo area in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Little Tokyo […]

The Stirring Worship As One A Night to Unite Orange County Rev. Dr. Rich Kannwischer will be speaking at this amazing event on Thursday, May 28, 7:00 p.m. at Mariner’s Church along with other pastors from churches in our community. […]

Watch this week’s video from the “Runaways” sermon series!

Watch this week’s video from the “Runaways” sermon series!

On Sunday, May 3rd, the parents of the St. Andrew’s Preschool hosted a good old fashioned hoedown in spirit of the annual Spring Fundraiser.  Families, friends and members of our community were able to enjoy bouncy houses, train rides, carnival […]

Ahoy Matey’s! Calling all deck hand’s to help with Camp Create ShipShape! Come join us on this exciting adventure, June 22 – 26. There are several volunteer opportunities. Contact Nicole Warren for more info at nicolew@opulent-decision.flywheelsites.com or 949.574.2200. Camp Create Sign up’s will be […]

On April 25, 185 of the St. Andrew’s “Fourscore and More” family gathered in Dierenfield Hall for lunch, entertainment and fun with friends! The theme of the event was the “Magic of Love” featuring Patrick Bell, an opera singing magician.  A […]

“Thanks and well done” seem inadequate words to express the joy we felt yesterday as over 125 men, women and children gathered for this year’s Family-to-Family Food Drive Packing Party!  The House (Youth Center) was bustling with activity during  this Family-Friendly, […]

Watch this week’s video from the “Runaways” sermon series!

St. Andrews’ Men’s Fellowship recently lived out our mission to follow Jesus Christ to lead lives that reveal God’s goodness in a big way. After hosting MIKA Executive Director Christine Nolf for a speaking event, numerous men decided to roll up […]

Starting in February, St. Andrew’s after school program, known as “Watch” began collecting books to bless our neighbors at Whittier Elementary in Costa Mesa.  Over 125 books and $150 dollars were raised to expand Whittier’s current collection.   Titles included […]

Prayer Resource for the Nepalese People God of Creation, We live in a world marked by both beauty and danger. In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Nepal, we pray: For those who have been overcome by the disastrous earthquake […]

Watch this week’s video from the “Runaways” sermon series!

Watch this week’s video from the “Runaways” sermon series!

With great joy in my heart and gratitude for our amazing congregation, I can report good news about our “Welcome Home” campaign. As we announced at our celebration on March 29, 929 participants have committed themselves and their resources to seeing our […]

Watch this week’s video from the Welcome Home sermon series!

Watch this week’s video from the Welcome Home sermon series!

From March 13 – 15, an all-generational team of 10 from St. Andrew’s embarked on a journey to City Impact, which ministers to the people of San Francisco’s Tenderloin District. The Tenderloin is the poorest district in San Francisco, home […]

Watch this week’s video from the Welcome Home sermon series!

Watch this week’s video from the Do What You Are sermon series!

  Watch this week’s video from the Do What You Are sermon series!

This week the OC Register recognized Kelly Kannwishcer for her promotion at Vanguard University. Let join together in congratulating her.  

Watch this week’s video from the Do What You Are sermon series!

Thank you! Thank you so much for serving at the Mika Christmas Store! Over 400 families benefited from the store as thousands of gifts were sold at pennies on the dollar. Thank you for being a part of this Christmas […]

Five high school students (Kira Ellis, Shanny Nelson, Max Lohr, Jack Mooers, and Peter Harano), a high school parent (Jane Gibbs), myself, and Dan Wendell, recently partnered with City Impact in San Francisco. City impact is an organization that works […]

Last Sunday, on a beautifully warm Newport Beach day 16 people pledged their lives to the Lord. With over 50 people in attendance there were loud cheers and lots of celebration for those being baptized.  

From August 16-23, a team from St. Andrew’s traveled to El Salvador, Central America to encourage our church partner and contribute to Christian Community Development efforts. In addition to improving community health by working on six latrines, the team’s presence […]

Dear Whittier Elementary Volunteers, Thank you so much for your service on August 23. In just a few short hours, we beautified the campus by planting bushes and flowers, painting murals, touching up poles and doors and generally putting the […]

God is doing amazing things through the people and ministry partners of St. Andrew’s and this is just the beginning! We invite you to join us in ministry: Here, Near and Far.   Here – Whittier Elementary Serve Day On […]

After an early morning departure, the team made it to El Salvador on Saturday afternoon without incident. They drove from the capital to Metalio, a beach community in western El Salvador where they were briefed by our ministry partner, ENLACE. […]

Our high school ministry recently got back from an amazing week-long trip to Supai, which is in the Grand Canyon! It is the most challenging and rewarding trip we do. Students are required to hike all of their food, tents […]

Watch as Jim Collier shares how God transformed the way he lives life while on a medical mission trip in Kenya.

Here are some highlights from Camp Create 2014!!

Members of the St. Andrew’s family honor mothers this Mothers Day.

Join us, August 15 – 23. Informational Meeting, May 18, 10:40 – 11:11 a.m. or 12:45 – 1:15 p.m. in Dierenfield Hall C. Stop by the El Salvador table in the plaza during weekend services or click here for more […]

Watch as Michelle shares a story of an encounter she and her children experienced while on the City Impact trip to San Francisco, where she was able to show grace to a man that had been stalking them.

Watch as Nick shares how, since God has shown him grace, he is now able to show others grace in his practice.

Watch as Sally shares how she witnessed God’s grace in the lives of families in Kenya.

Remember, there will be a Kenya Open House this Sunday, March 30 in the Chapel in between the 9:30a.m. and 11:11a.m. services. Everybody is invited to come and hear from the team members of the most recent trip, watch a […]

Watch as Dorian explains how God showed him grace by using his daughter’s accident as a wake up call.

Watch as Lazarus Chakwera shares how God’s grace has brought him from having trouble speaking to people, to running for president of Malawi.

Watch as Soraya shares how God showed her grace by revealing Himself to her during a time of crisis.

Watch as The Executive Director’s of Teen Challenge, Kenya, share how they have witnessed stories of immeasurable grace among the men they have worked with.

Watch as Vinnie shares how he experienced grace from various people during a time of medical instability.

Watch as Kenya explains how God used him to extend grace to someone in his life.

Listen as Garrett and Aja share their stories of grace.

Listen as Abigail shares her personal story and how, through her experience, she calls others to run toward grace.

Watch Tyra as she shares about an unexpected act of grace offered to her by friends and people she didn’t even know.

Listen as Chris shares his story of grace. In the midst of his past, God sent a caring community to extend grace to Chris and his family. Click Here for more info on our sermon series.

Our very own Melissa Marr, the Administrative Assistant and Resource Coordinator for NorthEast of the Well, was just featured in an article and video in the LA Times.  Melissa, we are so proud of you and love the wonderful testimony that […]