150 Years on Prospect Avenue
Trinity United Presbyterian Church marks 150 years of ministry in Orange County, having grown from a living-room prayer meeting of nine couples in 1876 into a multi-generational congregation on a nine-acre campus at 13922 Prospect Avenue, at the corner of 17th Street in Santa Ana. The church belongs to ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, a body in the Reformed and Presbyterian family that gives local congregations room to pursue mission in their own setting.
Trinity's motto is "living proof of a loving God," and the congregation's stated purpose is helping families and individuals know Christ, find purpose, and love all people. That purpose shows up in two Sunday services, a full week of classes and small groups, a multi-generational music ministry, Celebrate Recovery, an adult English-language center, an indoor sports facility known as The Center, and partnerships with more than twenty local agencies and twenty-five missionaries around the world.
Two Sunday Services: Blended and Contemporary
Trinity offers two Sunday morning services with very different feels. The 9:00 AM Blended Worship service takes place in the Sanctuary and weaves classic and modern elements together, with the Chancel Choir and chancel band, congregational singing, and communion observed on a regular schedule. The 10:40 AM Contemporary Worship service meets in Fellowship Hall and is led by a fuller band with a more contemporary repertoire. Both services are open to every age.
Families with children tend to gather at 9:00 AM, when infants through fifth grade have their own programs and middle schoolers meet in the WELL Room. At 10:40 AM, high school students meet in the WELL Room while younger children still have programming running. Visitors are invited to stop by the welcome cart on the patio, where volunteers answer questions and help newcomers find their way.
The 9:00 AM service is livestreamed on YouTube (search "Trinity United Presbyterian Church" or "trinitychurchsa") and through the Trinity Connection app. Audio, video, and music are covered by CCLI and OneLicense worship licenses.
A 150-Year Story in Santa Ana
Trinity's story begins on June 22, 1876, when nine couples began meeting in the McFadden living room. By 1878 the congregation had built its first sanctuary at the northwest corner of 4th and Mortimer Streets, and the next year called Rev. T. J. C. Webster as its first minister. At that time Santa Ana's population was about 700.
In 1883 the session of Trinity helped organize the First United Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, with a charter membership of fourteen. From 1906 to 1912, Rev. W. L. C. Sampson led the congregation through the building of a new sanctuary at 6th and Bush Streets, where the last service was held on Easter Sunday, April 7, 1912. From 1923 to 1932, Dr. W. H. McPeak pastored the church and oversaw the sending of Fred and Daisy Russell as agricultural missionaries to Ethiopia.
After World War II, Dr. Harold E. Scott's pastorate (1953 to 1959) coincided with Trinity outgrowing its downtown location. In 1956 the church sponsored and helped finance the new Berrydale United Presbyterian Church in Garden Grove. In 1958, after a long search, the congregation bought more than nine acres on Prospect Avenue for about $6,400 per acre, and Rev. George A. Munzing arrived the next year. The last service at 6th and Bush was November 4, 1962, and a week later the congregation met in its new chapel on Prospect Avenue. In 1967 the current Sanctuary was completed. By then Trinity had grown to about 1,500 members, with a comparable number of children and youth in Sunday school.
Rev. Dr. Douglas J. Rumford was called in November 2006 and retired on June 6, 2022 after sixteen years as Lead Pastor, receiving the honorary title of Pastor Emeritus. On October 23, 2022 the congregation voted unanimously to welcome Rev. Dr. Bryan Eckelmann as the next Lead Pastor. The pastoral team today is led by two Co-Lead Pastors, Rev. Mike, who focuses on Discipleship and Community Outreach, and Rev. Glyn, who focuses on Strategic Ministry and Mission.
Worship and Music Across Generations
The Music Ministry is one of the most visible parts of life at Trinity. The Chancel Choir helps lead the Sanctuary services most Sundays from September through June, presents two major concerts a year, and sings in a broad range of musical styles. Chapel Choir, for high school and college students, rehearses Sunday afternoons. Crusader Choir, for middle schoolers, rehearses Wednesday evenings and performs a fully staged spring musical each year. Graded choirs for kindergarten through fifth grade rehearse Wednesdays and introduce children to singing, rhythm, and instruments.
Three handbell choirs round out the program. Chancel Bells is the advanced group for college and adults; Chapel Bells is the intermediate group for high school and college; and Crusader Bells is the beginner group for middle school. Instrumentalists, dancers, and actors also have opportunities to serve in worship services, concerts, and seasonal programs. There is no fee or audition for any of the choirs or handbell groups.
The music department is led by Director of Worship and Music Dr. Steve, who also serves as Pastor of Care Ministries, with Sandy as Associate Director of Music and a team of pianists, organists, vocal and instrumental associates, and a livestream analyst.
Trinity Kids, Middle School, and High School
Trinity Kids meets during both Sunday services. Infants through age five gather in the Early Childhood Building. First through fifth graders move to The Center at 9:00 AM and to the Activity Room at 10:40 AM. Children's ministry is led by Director of Children's Ministry Diane, with coordinators for early childhood and children's programs.
Middle School Ministry, for grades 6 through 8, gathers on Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 10:00 AM in the WELL Room for worship, Bible study, and time with friends. Tuesdays bring EPIC from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the WELL Room, with games, worship, a lesson, and small group time. Chris directs middle school ministry alongside a team of associates.
High School Ministry, for grades 9 through 12, meets Sundays from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM in the WELL Room and Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the WELL Room, with interactive games, skits, worship, and biblical teaching. Chase directs student ministries with Ellie as associate. Both MSM and HSM offer summer camps, overnighters, and service projects throughout the year.
For older students, the College and Young Adult ministry, led by Connor as coordinator, gathers for community, Bible study, and mentoring on the campus and in homes.
Adults: Discipleship Pathway, Classes, and Small Groups
Trinity's Discipleship Pathway walks an adult from understanding faith, to engaging faith, to living faith. The journey typically begins with Activate, a six-week membership class that leads to becoming a Covenant Partner. Bible studies meet during both Sunday services. Kings Class meets Sundays at 9:00 AM in Munzing Hall and offers fellowship, music, and presentations for adults 55 and older. Encouragers, a smaller discussion-based class, meets at 10:40 AM in Room 501.
Small groups are the backbone of adult discipleship at Trinity, gathering in homes, online, and on campus throughout the week for Bible study, prayer, and friendship. Pastor Mike oversees the ministry and welcomes anyone interested in joining a group or starting a new one. Support groups for people walking through common challenges also meet regularly.
Men's, Women's, Marriage, and Seniors
Men's ministry follows a "belong, believe, become" path. The Watchmen meet Mondays from 5:00 to 5:45 PM in the Samaritan Care Center for prayer and encouragement. Ascent is a Tuesday morning Bible study from 7:00 to 8:00 AM in Fellowship Hall, taught by Rick Duncan. DadCo, for dads with children ten and under, meets the first Thursday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 PM and gathers at Irvine Park on the third Saturday at 9:00 AM.
Women's ministry offers Women in the Word on Mondays (9:15 to 11:30 AM or 6:30 to 8:30 PM in Fellowship Hall Room 505) and Soul Work Wednesdays (9:00 to 11:15 AM or 6:30 to 8:00 PM in Fellowship Hall). MOMCo (formerly MOPS) meets every other Thursday from 9:00 to 11:30 AM, with a second-Thursday evening option called MOMCo at Night from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Women's ministry also hosts special events and Bible studies throughout the year.
Marriage Ministry connects couples to resources like Focus on the Family, the Five Love Languages, FamilyLife Weekend to Remember, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and the Center for Individual and Family Therapy. Couples preparing for marriage are invited to meet with a pastor for pre-marital counseling.
Seniors' Ministry centers on PrimeTimers, which meets Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM in Fellowship Hall for a home-cooked meal, fellowship, and programs. Kings Class at 9:00 AM on Sundays adds a Bible-study and missions component. The Samaritan Care Center provides medical equipment loans, rides to worship, and check-in calls for older adults.
Care, Prayer, and the Samaritan Care Center
A web of caring relationships runs through Trinity. The Samaritan Care Center, located on campus, is staffed by ministry partners who pray for the congregation, lend medical equipment, drive members to worship, and call those in need of encouragement. The Prayer Room, next to the Business and Operations building, is open to anyone, with a prayer list emailed by request each week.
Weekly prayer gatherings include Sundays at 8:15 to 8:45 AM in the Prayer Room, focused on that day's services, and Tuesdays at 8:00 to 8:30 AM in Meeting Room 2. After each Sunday service, a prayer team prays with anyone who has a personal need. Inner Healing Prayer is available by questionnaire.
Stephen Ministry provides one-to-one, confidential, Christ-centered care for people in crisis, and Disability Ministries supports those with physical, mental, or developmental challenges. The Deacons lead ministries of compassion, witness, and service, with teams focused on communications, communion, the Community Pantry, congregational life, new members, PrimeTimers, and the Samaritan Care Center. A parish nurse and a visitation coordinator round out the team.
Celebrate Recovery
Trinity hosts Celebrate Recovery on Monday evenings for anyone working through hurts, habits, and hang-ups. The evening begins at 6:30 PM with dinner, followed by a 7:00 PM large-group meeting with worship and a teaching or testimony, and closes at 8:00 PM with gender-specific open-share small groups. Step studies run on another night of the week and typically take twelve to eighteen months to complete. Karen and Richard Munroe lead the ministry. Attendance does not require membership at Trinity, and childcare is not currently available.
Trinity English Center and Local Outreach
Trinity partners with more than twenty local agencies in the areas of education, homelessness, and compassion. Ministries include adult ESL classes, after-school tutoring, support for refugees, services for the homeless, a community pregnancy resource center, a residential home for developmentally disabled adults, jail and prison ministry, and foster care and family support. A liaison system connects interested volunteers with the agency that fits their gifts and passions.
The Trinity English Center offers free adult English classes for immigrants from around the world. Classes meet Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, September through May, in small-group settings where students share their cultures while practicing English.
Global Missions
For nearly a century Trinity has been sending missionaries, planting churches, and partnering with global organizations. The church now supports more than twenty-five missionaries and partners working in Bible translation, leadership development, church planting, mercy and justice ministries, North American evangelism, and church mobilization and research. A Global Mission Stewardship team oversees financial partnerships, the MCARE (Missionary Care) team encourages and hosts missionaries, and the CORE team helps shape Trinity's overall direction.
Sports Ministry and The Center
Trinity recently opened The Center, an on-campus gymnasium used by the church and by community groups. The Sports Ministry focuses on transformation, integrity, teamwork, and excellence, with the idea that body, mind, and soul belong together for the glory of God. Open-court pickleball runs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and Sundays from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Adult basketball open court runs Saturdays from 6:00 to 8:00 AM. The Center can be reserved by 501(c)(3) organizations for basketball, volleyball, or futsal.
What Trinity Believes
Trinity describes itself as gospel-based, Christ-centered, Bible-believing, disciple-making, and world-reaching. The church teaches that the Bible is the trustworthy revelation of God and the standard for Christian faith and daily living. Members confess the historic creeds, the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, and follow the Westminster Shorter Catechism as a summary of Christian doctrine.
The church is governed by elders and pastors in the Presbyterian pattern. Ruling elders are elected from the congregation and serve on the Session, which oversees the spiritual health and mission of the church. Pastors are teaching elders called primarily to preaching, teaching, and equipping. Deacons lead ministries of compassion and service. Trinity's covenant partners are members of a regional presbytery of fellow ECO churches.
Joining the Trinity Family
Membership at Trinity is open to anyone who has made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. The Activate class prepares new members to become Covenant Partners. Baptism is available for adults and for the children of believing parents. The Discipleship Pathway guides new members from a first visit through membership, classes, small groups, service, and giving.
Trinity United Presbyterian Church is located at 13922 Prospect Avenue, Santa Ana, California 92705, on the corner of Prospect and 17th Street. The main phone number is 714-544-7850 and the general email is info@tupcsa.org. Worship is on Sundays at 9:00 and 10:40 AM, with the 9:00 AM service livestreamed on YouTube and the Trinity Connection app.