In the spirit

-- Compiled by Michele M. Marr

* Address: 301 Magnolia St., Costa Mesa

* Phone: (949) 631-3010

* Denomination: Independent

* Year established: October 1998. Lighthouse Coastal Community Church is

a merger of two growing, local congregations -- First Baptist Church of

Costa Mesa, established in 1949; and Pacific Heights Community Church,

established in 1993.

* Service times: Worship is held at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Worship,

Word and Prayer -- a program for children ages 3 through fifth grade,

plus a junior high school-age youth group -- meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The senior high school group meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursday,

* Pastoral staff: Tom Bazacas, W. Leon Sikes, Adam Brown, Chris Danell,

Frank Custer

* Size of congregation: 400-plus

* Makeup of congregation: All age groups are well-represented. The church

is very family oriented and feels that God’s church is for everyone, at

each stage of life. No one particular age or social group is targeted.

Both the natural family and the church members as family are regarded as

very important.

* Child care: Provided for all services

* Type of worship: A very balanced mixture of traditional and

contemporary worship that includes praise music and traditional hymns

with prayer and a sermon.

* Type of sermon: Sermons are “topically expository,” focused on “here’s

what scripture says, here’s what God wants you to do and here’s how to do

it.” These sermons address issues people are confronted with in their

daily lives. Everyone gets a study guide for the sermon, along with the

Sunday bulletin.

* Recent and upcoming sermons: A series, “Teaching Through the Book of

Isaiah.”

* Mission statement: The church’s purpose is to know Jesus Christ, to

grow in Jesus Christ, to serve Jesus Christ and to share Jesus Christ.

The desire is to help members demonstrate the love of God by involving as

many as possible in areas of ministry.

* Interesting note: The pastoral staff says, “Since its inception,

Lighthouse has bathed every facet of its ministry in prayer. Our

foundation rests on prayer, worship and teaching from the word of God.”

Recently, the church instituted several new prayer ministries, including

the Harvest Ministry to welcome guests to the church, and Family Prayer

Night.