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Orange County Church Brings Aid and Hope to Los Angeles’ Skid Row
A surprising partnership is unfolding in the heart of los Angeles,as an Orange County mega-church,Mariners Church,extends a lifeline to the cityS most vulnerable population. For several Sundays, congregants have been traveling to the Union Rescue Mission, offering not just material assistance, but also a message of hope and human connection to those experiencing homelessness.
The Union Rescue Mission, a cornerstone of support for those in need, has a long history in Los Angeles. Founded 135 years ago, the mission initially provided basic necessities – a bowl of soup and prayer – to “wayward souls” transported by horse-drawn wagons. Today, located on San Pedro Street in downtown Los Angeles, the mission confronts the immense challenge of serving individuals amidst what is believed to be the largest homeless encampment in North America, offering comprehensive programs aimed at lifting people out of hardship.
In recent months, the mission received an unexpected offer of support.Leaders reached out to Mariners Church, one of the largest congregations in California with multiple campuses throughout Orange County, to explore the possibility of conducting Sunday services. This collaboration reflects a growing recognition that addressing the crisis of homelessness requires a collective effort,transcending county lines.
“In a large church like ours, we’re reminded that we are all created in god’s image,” explained Jorge Molina, the Mariners Church pastor instrumental in initiating the partnership. “We can’t forget we are here for the whole city, for the whole country, for everyone.”
Pastor Molina,who grew up in El Salvador and witnessed poverty firsthand,was profoundly impacted by his frist visit to skid row. “I did not even realize there were places like this in the U.S.,” he stated. “I felt safer in a Third World country than I did here.” despite the stark realities, Molina and Mariners’ senior pastor Eric Geiger were resolute: “This is where Jesus would come to church.”
For over a month, Mariners Church members have been actively engaging with the community surrounding skid row, visiting residential hotels and social service centers to invite individuals to Sunday services at the Union Rescue Mission. On a recent Sunday,approximately 110 people gathered in the chapel,connected via video link to the Orange County church where Pastor Geiger delivered a sermon. He used the classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas” video, referencing Linus’s discovery of true protection in Jesus Christ, a message that resonated deeply with the congregation, eliciting a chorus of “Amens.”
The impact extends beyond the chapel walls. Steve and Olivia Button, members from Aliso Viejo, encountered Ernest Fenner, a 64-year-old Chicago native, while distributing balloons outside the mission. fenner, who expressed feeling unwelcome in his hometown and distrustful of his residential hotel neighbors, appreciated the simple act of being seen and acknowledged. “That’s why I say here in California, they got the name right, the City of Angels,” Fenner remarked, promising to attend the following Sunday “with my teeth in next time.”
The Buttons’ involvement is part of a broader commitment to serving those experiencing homelessness. Steve Button, a restaurant owner in San Diego, described his work as divinely guided. “I like to say, God sent me to the minor leagues in San Diego, with their homeless problem, only to promote me two years later to come up here to the big leagues,” he said. “There’s no job too big, no miracle too big.”
This collaboration between Mariners Church and the Union Rescue mission represents a powerful example of faith-based organizations stepping up to address one of the most pressing social issues of our time. It’s a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming need, compassion and connection can offer a beacon of hope.
