Christine Carrillo With a celebratory spirit in...

Christine Carrillo

With a celebratory spirit in the air, adults and children gathered

to unite in worship at The Crossing in Costa Mesa Sunday morning. The

grand opening services provided a joyous experience for many of the

church’s regular congregants.

Although the new campus has been opened for a few weeks, the

Sunday services acted as the opening event for the church’s new home.

“I thought it was going to be a little different because of the

new building, but nothing has really changed,” said Kathy McCausey, a

Costa Mesa resident and three-year member of the church. “It doesn’t

mean that because the building has changed the people have changed.”

As congregants filed out of the tent-like structure, following the

morning services, and chatted with one another as they stood amid the

new buildings, the overwhelming feeling among them didn’t have as

much to do with the new structure as it did with the many people

within its walls.

“It’s still like a family,” said Donna Harper, a Newport Beach

resident and six-year member of the church. “It still feels like a

home and it’s the same group of people ... it’s just nice to have it

bigger so more people can come.”

For those people that were regular congregants of the church,

formerly called Calvary Church Newport-Mesa, the larger size of the

facility that allows for more people to attend service is the most

significant benefit to the church’s new location.

“I think it’s for young people,” said Jeff Law, who attended the

service with his friend while visiting from San Diego. “I think

they’re trying real hard to be hip and I think it comes off a little

insecure, but the production itself is exceptional. It’s like a

Broadway show.”

While the style of the church’s service may not fulfill the

desires of all of its adult congregants, the new facilities created

for children of various ages exceeded the hopes of parents,

volunteers and the church’s own Senior Pastor, Tim Celek.

“The kids program is just way better than anything we could ever

do before,” Celek said. “It’s always been a dream of mine ... and

it’ll be a great service to the community over time.”

With interactive lessons in values and faith, children in

kindergarten through fifth grade have an opportunity to worship on

their level and at their pace, while their parents attend adult

service. Similarly, the nursery, established for infants and

toddlers, allows parents a chance to attend service without having to

attend to their child at the same time.

“It’s a breath of fresh air,” said Yonda Guevara, director of the

church nursery. “We are able to do everything but nurse ... and we

think we have the best job on the campus.”

The nursery, which is furnished with donations provided by church

members, is run by members of the church who volunteer their time

every week.

“It’s nice for the parents because they know they’re leaving their

children with people that love God and love children,” said Kim

Guevara, a volunteer at the nursery.

And for those parents that still worry, the nursery provides each

parent with a pager to appease any of their lingering concerns,

Guevara added.

While the new facilities and structures have required congregants

to make some adjustments, the attendance and participation at The

Crossing has remained strong.

“Any time you have change it’s hard,” Celek said. “Change is hard

for people but a church is people; it’s not a building.”

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO is the news assistant. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4298 or by e-mail at christine.carrillo@latimes.com.