Rock Harbor celebrates four years

Lolita Harper

NEWPORT-MESA -- After one of the most painful weeks in the church’s

short history, members of Rock Harbor Church gathered Sunday to celebrate

a joyous occasion -- its four-year anniversary.

Church officials told members at the Sept. 29 church services that

pastor and founder Keith Page resigned as a result of an extramarital

affair. The announcement came just a week shy of the church’s four-year

mark. Plans for a blowout birthday celebration had been in the makings

for months, long before church officials knew about Page’s affair, said

Spencer Burke, chairman of the board of elders.

“Wasn’t God checking his calendar?” Burke joked.

Despite the sad loss of the man credited with starting and nurturing

the young church, members of Rock Harbor came together to celebrate what

is broken and what God heals, Burke said. Rock Harbor combined the usual

four services Sunday into one big party at Mariners Church, which Rock

Harbor began as an offshoot of to aim at bringing faith to young adults.

According to statements made by church officials and members, the

church of more than 2,000 will most likely remain vibrant, despite Page’s

departure.

Allan Foster of Irvine said he has attended the church since the

beginning and has never been more proud to be a part of the congregation

than now. Foster said he was comforted and encouraged by the honesty

church officials demonstrated in light of the difficult circumstance.

“God has been glorified already through this situation and He will

continue to be glorified through Rock Harbor in the weeks, months and

years to come,” Foster said.

Tim Timmons, the former pastor of South Coast Community Church, knows

all too well what it is like to rebuild after a devastating time of

brokenness.

After building a church that had more than 5,000 members, Timmons

willingly resigned and, at the same time, admitted to an “inappropriate

affair” with a woman friend that threatened to develop into an affair.

He applauded Rock Harbor for working with Page to get him back on his

feet. Most church leaderships don’t do that and instead “choose to shoot

their wounded and bury them as thoroughly as possible,” Timmons said.

The Bible sad that Jesus came into the world not to condemn but to

bring salvation, Timmons said.

“So, if Jesus’ role is not to condemn, then all those who pile on

condemnation of a fallen leader -- or any believer -- aren’t hanging out

with Jesus,” Timmons said.

Condemnation seemed to be the last thing church members were concerned

with. Most spoke honestly about their own downfalls and their willingness

to forgive Page.

Although she is twice the age of the average member, Sandi Layton said

she found a home at Rock Harbor because it was where she knew she would

hear the truth about the Christian walk.

After the mistakes she has made in her own life, Layton said she is

the last one to throw stones. It was Page who taught her forgiveness.

“I have run amok also, but because of what Keith preached, I

understand exactly what God wants from me as His child,” she said. “I

can’t fault the man for being honest.”

Rock Harbor is an incredible church and its members and leaders will

continue to be honest, forthcoming and merciful to anyone who seeks

acceptance, said church member Kim Jamieson, 25, of Anaheim.

“God has amazing things in store for us and many wonderful works will

be done from this experience -- not only as a church body but in our own

individual hearts,” Jamieson said.

Depending on Page’s personal healing progress, there may still be a

position for him at Rock Harbor, Burke said.

“We’re not ruling it out,” he said.

After leaving South Coast Community Church, Timmons attended Pacific

Community Church. After two years, he was asked to join the staff and the

church’s name was changed to New Community. He is now the pastor. Timmons

said that pastors like himself and Page may have even more to give after

experiencing such downfall.

“Maybe there is something to this thing of being one of the ‘wounded

healers,’ who understand pain, rejection, betrayal and loss in a special

way, so that they can truly make a difference in the world,” Timmons

said.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .