In the Spirit

Address: 2599 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, 92627

Phone: (714) 966-0454

Web site: o7 https://www.nmcc.orgf7

Denomination: Assemblies of God

Year established: 1938

Service times: Sunday, 8:30, 9:30 and 11 a.m.; Sunday morning services

are concurrent with children’s church and youth church, along with many

adult education classes.

Tuesdays at 7 p.m. there is worship and teaching for junior and senior

high school youth. Wednesdays at 7 p.m. there is a prayer gathering and

Bible study for adults and activities for elementary school

children.Senior pastor: Jim Bradford

Pastoral staff: Chip Johnson, executive pastor. The church also has

various associate, youth and children’s pastors.

Size of congregation: 1,500

Makeup of congregation: Multigenerational with a mix of families and

single people.

Child care: Child care for infants to 5-year-olds provided at all

services.

Type of worship: The 9:30 and 11 a.m. services are a blend of traditional

and contemporary music with a 30-minute message. The 8 a.m. service is

more traditional. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each

month at all morning services.

Type of sermon: On Sunday mornings the message is usually part of a

series developed on a biblical theme or book of the Bible. All messages

are designed to be practical and to touch people personally.

Recent sermons: A series based on the life of Jesus, “What Makes Him So

Attractive to So Many People?”

Upcoming sermons: This summer there will be a series on “The Beatitudes:

Jesus’ Keys to Happiness in Life.”

Welcome center: Volunteers are on hand to welcome guests and invite them

to newcomer classes that meet monthly. There is also a tape of the

previous Sunday’s message available to first-time guests.

Outreach programs: Every summer, the church sponsors more than 100 abused

and neglected children, selected through Orange County social services,

to attend one week at Royal Family Kids’ Camp. The church raises more

than $30,000 through various fund-raisers and trains 50 counselors and 20

support staff to accomplish this. The church also runs 10-week day camps

for elementary and junior high school children during the summer. Fees

are paid by the children’s parents.

Mission statement: We are a Christ-centered, loving, multigenerational

church family, committed to equipping people to minister in their world.

The mission is based on five core values: 1) We all need God; 2) Every

person needs to love and be loved; 3) We share our resources to reach all

ages; 4) Every person is called to minister; 5) We can each bring someone

to Christ.

Dress: Come as you are. People wear everything from shorts to suits.

Church design: The sanctuary is warm, simple and attractive. It doesn’t

call attention to itself.

Interesting note: According to Bradford, people frequently remark that

the church is a “life-giving place” where they sense God’s presence and

see that people care for each other.

-- Compiled Michele M. Marr