Today, Jesus is everything…There is power behind His name and there is hope for anybody that wants hope and wants change.

Growing up, Alex followed his family into a cycle of gang life and addiction, eventually becoming incarcerated. Though he attended church while incarcerated and had a relationship with God, he struggled without the support of a strong community. After being released, he fell back into old patterns of living.

Everything changed when Alex got involved with Mariners at OC Rescue Mission. For the first time, he was surrounded by a community of people who cared for him and encouraged him in his faith. Alex went through Rooted and started serving consistently at a senior living center, using his gift of encouragement to remind others that they are not alone and that there is always hope in Jesus.

Watch and see how God transformed Alex’s life and gave him a new purpose!

“I don’t know where [God is] leading me, but I’ve come to the decision that He has something for me to do, even though I’m 83…so wherever He seems to lead me, I’m glad to follow.”

While visiting her son and daughter-in-law, Lillian attended a Mariners service and immediately discovered the community she had been longing for. After heading home to Washington, she began consistently attending Mariners Online. Through the Mariners Online “I Believe” course, Lillian decided to put her faith in Jesus and get baptized!

At 83 years old, Lillian has become an active member of the Mariners Online community, serving as a Rooted facilitator and getting involved in the ESL program. Despite the physical distance—living in Washington while connecting with people from around the world—she has found a community to serve with and grow in her faith alongside.

Watch and see how Lillian is following God’s call and serving His Kingdom through Mariners Online!

“…If I can do it, you can do it too. I want to make everyone welcome up at my table because Jesus makes everyone welcome up at His table.”

Lucy had always loved cooking. But when she visited the Christmas gift tag lot and learned about refugee children in need of Christmas gifts, she felt God calling her to use her love for cooking in a whole new way. Watch and see how Lucy used her God-given gifts to generously serve others!

“…When I stand in the Food Pantry, I know He’s there. I know that I’m doing the work that He asks of us.”

Kaleena and her family got connected with Mariners Huntington Beach coming out of the pandemic, and they were so excited to be a part of a thriving church community in their city. During one Outreach Weekend, Kaleena took a step of faith and started serving in the Food Pantry location at her congregation. 

Shortly after, her husband took a pay cut that left them in a place of food insecurity. The Food Pantry became more than a place Kaleena served, it became a source of God’s provision and care for her personally. 

Watch Kaleena’s story of blessing her community and trusting Jesus in all circumstances!

“Without God, none of this is possible in the first place…We pray over each other every day. It’s a complete turnaround.”

After having their first son, Peter and Cathy’s marriage faced unexpected challenges, and over the next 15 years, they slowly stopped nurturing their relationship. Eventually, both Peter and Cathy reached a point where they knew something needed to change.

Through Mariners, Peter and Cathy got involved with a program called Relationship Lifeline. They realized that transformation was only possible through God, and together they began to take their first steps toward healing their marriage.

Watch and see how God transformed Peter & Cathy’s marriage and drew each of them closer to Him!

“Now, Jesus is the person and the only reason that I am where I am right now, and the reason that I got through all the trials that I’ve been faced with.”

At first, Matt was hesitant to join a Life Group, unsure if it was the right fit for him. But three weeks into his freshman year of high school, he decided to give it a try and discovered a genuine sense of community. That year in a service, he made the decision to stand and say “I Believe,” putting his faith in Jesus.

After his best friend passed away in his sophomore year, Matt struggled with doubt. He distanced himself from God and the church and stopped attending Life Group. His mom, Kevyn, turned to his Life Group leaders for support, and through their care and his community, Matt grew deeper in his faith, learning to rely on Jesus’ perfect comfort and peace.

Watch and see how God used this Life Group community to help draw Matt closer to Him, even through life’s trials.

“Prayer pulled me through. God saved me, physically saved me…and He saved me spiritually as well.”

Prayer was never a priority in Mark’s life, and in his adult years, he turned his back on God and the church. Five years ago, Mark was diagnosed with prostate cancer. While he was in the hospital, he was visited by his friends who attended Mariners, and they prayed over him. Mark began praying on his own, wresting with guilt at first after living without God for so long. But the more he prayed, the more God opened his heart.

Wanting to go deeper in his walk with God, Mark visited Mariners for the first time and experienced a complete sense of welcome and belonging. He decided to put his trust in Jesus and declare his faith through baptism. At the same time, God was working a miraculous healing in Mark’s medical journey.

Watch and see how God used prayer to transform Mark’s life spiritually and physically!

“I think people worry about this next generation and about our youth, but I look at these girls every week and I have faith that God is on the move…“

When Jenn signed up to go on a Faith Adventure to Israel, she was excited to deepen her relationship with God and hear from Him personally. On the trip, her faith grew and she also bonded with a group of high school girls from Mariners. When she got home, she felt called by God to begin serving with the Mariners High School Ministry (HSM).

Jenn stepped in as a Life Group leader and got the opportunity to lead the same girls she met on her Faith Adventure! She thanked God for the chance to pour into their lives and see Jesus work through them in incredible ways.

Click the video to see how Jenn is making a lasting impact on the next generation and living her purpose!

“If you’re going to surrender, surrender fully…I’ve chosen to dedicate my life, my finances, my energy, all to Jesus.”

For much of Justin’s life, he felt like his relationship with Jesus was transactional. He would pray and pursue Jesus when life was difficult, but wouldn’t surrender to God in the same way when life was good. Especially with his finances, Justin struggled to give up control and put God first.

When Justin joined Rooted, he didn’t know what to expect. But as he began to study God’s Word each week, he felt God convicting him about his relationship with money. Rather than holding tightly on to what he had been given, Justin reoriented his heart and surrendered every part of his life to God.

Watch and see how God used generous giving to transform Justin’s view of his finances and his relationship with God!

“Decades and decades of pain, of trauma, of resentment—they were replaced by absolute love for God, for people, for seeing every single individual as an image-bearer of God.”

Growing up, Michael had a difficult childhood. After years of escalating abuse from his mother, Michael fled with his dad and brother to Egypt, where his father was born. At only eight years old, he experienced a total culture shock, unable to speak the language and not fully understanding what was happening. He was alone and afraid, feeling like God had abandoned him.

When Michael’s family moved to the United States two years later, he put his faith in Jesus but still struggled with trauma and negative feelings toward Egypt. While attending Mariners, he heard God calling him to return to Egypt on a Faith Adventure. Despite his pain, he listened to God’s voice and signed up to go.

Watch and see how Michael experienced God’s healing through his experience with his global Church family!