A Neighborhood Church on Magnolia Street
Lighthouse Community Church has stood at 301 Magnolia Street in Costa Mesa for decades, and the congregation traces its presence in the city back to 1948. Senior Pastor Jeff Lee, who grew up in Orange County and serves as a local Police Chaplain, leads a board of pastors and elders who shepherd a church that still feels rooted in the everyday rhythms of the neighborhood it has served for generations. The current Lighthouse was formed in 1997 through the merger of Pacific Heights Church and First Baptist Church, an event longtime elder Mark Strachan helped shepherd by serving on the committee that wrote the church's founding documents. That history shapes a community that values continuity, family, and steady commitment over flash.
Sundays at 10:00 a.m.
Each Sunday morning the church gathers at 10:00 a.m. for a single worship service that runs through about 11:30. The service combines congregational worship with a Bible-based message, and on the first Sunday of the month the gathering extends to noon for Communion Sunday, when the church observes the Lord's Supper together. Pastor Jeff Lee leads the weekly services, and the service is also livestreamed on YouTube for those who want to join from home. The church's heart for the gathered meeting is captured in a line from its own mission: "We are committed to making disciples who love God, love one another and love our neighbors."
Dress is casual and the people are friendly, so guests are encouraged to come as they are. "You'll see everything from shorts and sandals to slacks and dress shoes," the church notes. "What's important to us is that you are here." The Aloha Team serves coffee and doughnuts in the lobby before the service, and a Welcome Team greets arrivals at the door, hands out bulletins, and answers questions.
Children, Youth, and Lil' Lighthouse Preschool
Lighthouse takes the next generation seriously. Children from three months old through sixth grade are welcome in Lighthouse Kids during every Sunday service, where they meet in age-appropriate rooms for games, crafts, and Bible-based lessons led by Children's Ministry Director Janelle Hermes, who holds a Master's degree in Educational Counseling and is passionate about creating a nurturing, faith-filled environment.
For older students, Associate Pastor and Youth Pastor Daniel Hollenbeck leads the Wednesday night Youth Group from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for students in grades 7 through 12. The night is built around fun, worship, honest conversation, and growing together in faith. Hollenbeck, a Biola graduate who has been in vocational ministry since 2017, joined the Lighthouse team after serving churches from San Diego to Massachusetts. A youth bake sale and a summer youth camp round out the calendar each year.
Younger still are the children served by Lil' Lighthouse Preschool, the church's on-campus preschool and transitional kindergarten program for children ages two through five. Director Marge Menashe, who began her teaching career at a Christian school near Disneyland in 1977, leads a team focused on developing children academically, socially, and spiritually. The preschool hosts an annual Trike-A-Thon and a Pumpkin Patch fundraiser, both of which the wider church family joins.
What Lighthouse Believes
The church's stated beliefs center on the classic evangelical core. There is one God, eternally existing in three co-equal persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - who created and sustains all things. Jesus Christ is the eternal Word, fully God and fully human, born of a virgin, crucified for sin, raised on the third day, ascended to heaven, and destined to return as King. Salvation is a gift received by faith, never earned by self-improvement. The Bible is the inspired, error-free written message of God and the primary source of wisdom and guidance for Christ followers. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer, guiding and empowering daily life.
Lighthouse practices two ordinances. Baptism by immersion is a public declaration of a personal decision to follow Jesus, symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; it does not save but is a step of obedience. Communion, observed on the first Sunday of each month, is a remembrance of Christ's sacrifice and a symbol of the new covenant, with the bread and juice pointing to the body and blood He gave for sin.
Small Groups, Men's Ministry, and Women's Connection
One of the primary ways Lighthouse members grow spiritually is through Small Groups, which meet throughout the week in homes and at the church. Current groups include a Tuesday-evening gathering led by Jackie Cranston and Randy Straight, a Tuesday group led by Rich Roupoli, and another Tuesday group organized by a leader named Kunkel. A twice-monthly small group led by Dee Renfro meets on the first and third Wednesday evenings. Pastor Jeff Lee teaches through the study of God's Word each week, and "we're after transformation," the church says, not just information.
Men meet in several ways. A weekly Men's Group gathers on Wednesday evenings, and a Men's Breakfast meets in the Family Room on the third Saturday of every other month at 7:00 a.m., breaking bread and sharpening one another in conversation and prayer. Randy Straight, an elder, often helps lead the men's ministry, and the broader men's work is shaped by the proverb that "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
Women's Connection offers regular Coffee and Conversation mornings, craft gatherings, and seasonal events like a summer pool party and a December cookie exchange. The group is led in part by Jackie Cranston, who also helps organize women's connection points. A monthly Tee Time Golf outing at Costa Mesa Country Club and a Christ-centered interdenominational fishing club called FIB'ers, which meets several times a year, round out the fellowship options for those who like the outdoors.
Serving the Church, the Community, and the World
The church is volunteer driven, and opportunities range from the Welcome Team led by Charlie Massingill to the Worship Team and Audio-Visual Team, the Children's Ministry Team, the tech team that runs sound, lighting, and streaming under Mark Strachan, and a Small Group leader network.
Beyond the walls, Lighthouse partners with local ministries. The Beacon of Light program, led by Amber Auger and celebrating 25 years of prevention education for Orange County youth, offers a state-compliant alternative to the sex-education curriculum supplied by Planned Parenthood in California public schools. The church also supports the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, which has served a hot meal for 35 years; volunteers ages 15 and older are welcome in shifts Monday through Sunday, and a free farmers market is held on the fourth Saturday of each month.
Lighthouse also carries a global heartbeat. The church supports Don and Jill Shannon, who serve in Costa Rica through their non-profit Amor Costa Rica, running free English classes and helping families with food, school supplies, and job training. Craig and Sarah Marshall serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Southeast Asia, helping complete translations and training new teams. Becca Hooper leads International Evangelism Ministry, which supports widows and orphans in Uganda and India and persecuted believers in Myanmar and Pakistan. And Operation Light, led by Pastor Refugio and Laura Cuco, partners with more than 14,000 volunteers in Baja California to share the gospel on Halloween night, while also providing spiritual support to those fighting cancer and distributing a rehabilitation workbook called New Life to prisons and juvenile centers.
Leadership and Staff
Senior Pastor Jeff Lee holds an MA in Christian Education and a BA in Leadership, lives in Orange County with his wife Jennifer, and counts four grandsons and a granddaughter among his family joys. A Police Chaplain and a passionate evangelist, his life passage is 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, where Paul writes of becoming "all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." Associate Pastor and Youth Pastor Daniel Hollenbeck supports students and their families. Rachel Horne, who also co-leads women's Bible study, coordinates church events, and the church office is supported by Cheyenne Wagner in administration and Robyn Strachan in finance and facilities.
The board of elders includes John Jurczak, a retired Marine and Vietnam veteran; Glenn Owen, a 20-year member and worship team leader; Mark Strachan, who has served on the Tech Team since the 1997 merger; Randy Straight, a Southern California native passionate about sharing the gospel; and Robert Maxwell, who has served in men's ministry, children's ministry, and Bible study leadership. Children's Ministry Director Janelle Hermes and Preschool Director Marge Menashe round out the team that walks alongside families each week.
Visiting Lighthouse
The church sits on Magnolia Street in Costa Mesa, with the main sanctuary accessible through a ramp in front or a side entrance from the parking lot for those who have trouble with stairs. Lighthouse Kids runs during every service for children three months old through sixth grade, and youth meet Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The service is livestreamed on YouTube, message notes are posted online, a podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, and an audio archive of past messages is kept at the church's sermon hub. Giving is available online through Pushpay. Anyone interested in a small group can sign up through the church's life group form, and a periodic New Member Class helps newcomers learn more about the church's story, beliefs, and community.