IN THE SPIRIT

* CHURCH NAME: Iglesia de Cristo

* ADDRESS: 287 W. Wilson St., Costa Mesa

* TELEPHONE: (714) 775-8042

* YEAR CHURCH ESTABLISHED: 1990.

* SERVICE TIMES: 2 p.m. Sundays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays

* SENIOR PASTOR: Jose Uribe.

* CONGREGATION SIZE: 50 families.

* CONGREGATION MAKEUP: Mostly Hispanic, 30% teenagers.

* CHILD CARE: Provided for all services and families activities.

* TYPE OF WORSHIP: Prayer, a cappella singing, Bible study and the

Lord’s Supper.

* TYPE OF SERMON: Teaching of the Scripture applied to daily living

and family life.

* RECENT SERMON: Uribe is presenting a series of seven messages about

the seven things that are an abomination to God. The messages are based

on Proverbs 6:16-19. The series focuses on the importance of not

upsetting God with the way we live and of pleasing him and glorifying him

as our creator.

* UPCOMING SERMON: Uribe’s next series of sermons will focus on family

living. It will focus on the role good moral values have in making a

family and society strong and healthy.

* WELCOME WAGON: Visitors will find a very warm and friendly group of

people. They are given a brochure about the church and its ministry. If

they leave their names, addresses and phone numbers, visitors are mailed

the church’s weekly newsletter.

* OUTREACH PROGRAMS: The church has an evangelistic campaign two or

three times each year, plus weekly summer programs, when members go

door-to-door with information about the church and invite neighbors to

visit. A guest speaker is invited to the church for the campaigns. The

church conducts regular classes for single parents, parents of teenagers

and newlyweds. It offers Bible studies at the church and a free

correspondence Bible course.

* DRESS: The church does not have a dress code.

* MISSION STATEMENT: The church strives to follow the command of Jesus

given in Matthew 28:19: “Go to all peoples everywhere and make them my

disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy

Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

* INTERESTING NOTES: Uribe emphasizes that religion is not to be

practiced only in church; religion is how one lives 24 hours a day. After

his sermon, Uribe sometimes tells the congregation that the sermon is not

finished--it has just started. He refers to Hebrews 11:6, which reads:

“No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have

faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.”

A gospel meeting will be held Sept. 28 through 30, with the theme “In

Exchange For a Thief: Odyssey of the Sacrifice of Jesus.” For more

information about the event, call (714) 775-8042.

--Compiled by Michele M. Marr