St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

Church name: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

Address: 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach

Telephone: 949-631-2880

web site: www.standrewspres.org

E-mail: info@standrewspres.org

Denomination: Presbyterian Church (USA)

Service times: Saturday contemporary service at 5.30 p.m.,

concurrent with TOPS program for children in grades first through

sixth. Sunday worship services at 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. Programs for

children and adults of all ages also meet at 8:30 and 10:15 a.m.

Year established: St. Andrew’s celebrated its 50th anniversary in

1998. Its staff and members believe that its enduring presence in the

community and its continued growth are testimony to a church body

that takes to heart and practice what it preaches and believes.

Staff: Senior Minister Wlliam L. Flanagan, Rev. James T.

Birchfield, Rev. David F. Rockness.

Size of congregation: 4,100

Makeup of congregation: A cross-section of the harbor area with a

growing youth, young couples and career singles membership. The

community’s leadership and service-minded continue to be a strong

component of the church’s population.

Child care: Provided for all worship services and most other

church activities.

Type of worship: Combines the best of the traditional and

contemporary worship, aiming to involve both the head and the heart.

The Saturday evening service is more contemporary with music from a

praise band.

Type of sermon: The Rev. John Huffman’s messages are biblical and

life-situational. He sometimes preaches through a book of the Bible

over a period of several weeks.

Visitor information: All visitors are sent a welcome letter and

church brochure. Someone from the Congregational Care Ministry

contacts those who have questions and those who are interested in

becoming more involved. On Sunday morning after worship there is a

time for fellowship around coffee and doughnuts. On Saturday evening

after worship, fellowship is around a meal of pizza and salad.

Mission statement: “St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is

endeavoring to be the family of God together in joyful,

Christ-centered worship and is committed to: leading men, women, and

children to a personal saving faith in Jesus Christ; building

ourselves in the faith; and serving others here and throughout the

world.”

Ministries: The church’s ministries include programs for children,

youth, college students, young adults, singles, senior adults, men

and women; congregational care; music and worship; lay ministry;

covenant groups; mission outreach; a wedding guild and a Wednesday

night Bible study. Discovery classes are held throughout the year to

help church members discover their spiritual gifts, divine abilities

distributed by the Holy Spirit to every believer according to God’s

design and grace for the common good of the body of Christ.

Outreach: The commitment to missions at St. Andrew’s is one of

“time, talent, and treasure” as the Missions Department, under the

leadership of Bill Flanagan, seeks to inform and involve the

congregation in meeting human needs locally and around the world. The

church supports mission personnel through our relationship with

General Assembly, Presbytery, and other evangelical missionary groups

in over 125 projects in 26 different countries. Annually, the tithes,

gifts, and other offerings of the St. Andrew’s congregation exceed $2

million for mission project support. The profit from the sale of

Saturday night pizza and Sunday morning doughnuts, along with money

from recycling newspapers, helps to fund special projects supervised

by our missionaries around the globe. Each year the congregation’s

Easter offering is dedicated to international world relief through

World Vision International. Short-term mission teams, which involve

almost 300 youths and adults, each year minister to needs in the U.S.

and in foreign countries such as Croatia, Ethiopia, Mexico, Romania,

Africa, and Alaska. Huffman has served as Chairman of the Board of

World Vision U.S. and in the Founder’s Chair of World Vision

International. St. Andrew’s also supports the Shalimar Learning and

Teen Centers by tutoring assistance; the Royal Family Kids Camp,

which provides a camp experiences for abused children; Teen

Challenge; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; SOS; FISH-Harbor Area;

Get Set and other local ministries.

Interesting note: Huffman has been senior minister at St. Andrew’s

for 24 years. During this time the church completed and burned the

mortgage on a $16-million building with a 1,200 seat sanctuary.

Recently, St. Andrew’s embarked on a “Building the Future” capital

campaign. Approximately $14 million has been pledged to build a

family/youth center and to refurbish the sanctuary and other existing

building facilities. There has been a tremendous response to the

church’s $18-million goal.

-- Compiled by Michelle Marr