Q: How old is Newsong Church?

A: Newsong is twelve years old. We had our first official service on October 23, 1994.

Q: What are the people like who come to Newsong?

A: We have people from many different ethnic groups and backgrounds. There are a lot of artists, technologists, business people, engineers, physicians and craftspeople. It is mostly a 20-something crowd, but the growing edges are with older singles, couples and families. Our average age is 28.

Q: What’s the “feel” of Newsong?

A: We like to say we’re reflective and contemplative, yet love to have a goooooood time. It pulsates with energy.
· We like to laugh a lot.
· It’s an environment that is casual but focused on the essentials of life.
· It’s a hip, artsy type of feel that is real yet transcendent.
· There’s a sense that we’re all a part of something exciting and bigger than ourselves.
· It’s a place filled with a new generation that is exploring and cultivating a deeper relationship with God.
· It’s a place that let’s you take steps toward God and others when you’re ready.
· It’s a colorful place. It’s a mosaic of many nations.
· It’s a place that kids will drag their parents to come to church on Sunday morning!
· It’s a place where we focus on the misfits, the last, the least, the lost and the under resourced.
· It’s a place that’s not perfect but desires to be a real, honest family.

Q: What healthy food do you offer on Sunday morning?

A: Of course, the very best! We have Krispy Kreme doughnuts to add inches to your figure! And Starbucks coffee to keep you perky and alert!

Q: How did Newsong start?

A: Newsong began with a “God moment” in a hotel room in Southern California in 1993. Dave Gibbons, our lead pastor, read Psalm 40 and the idea of Newsong was born. Before this, much preparation through praying, mentoring, taking classes and strategic planning were Dave’s focus.

In the summer of 1994, Dave and his family moved out to Irvine. Newsong started without any financial support from any major denomination. However, 100 people from across the country prayed daily for Newsong. Newsong humbly began in a small two-bedroom apartment in Irvine. Please also read the “Our Story” link.

Q: How many times have you moved?

A: If you count the times we moved from room to room as well as from different businesses, churches, parks, clubs and hotels, we’ve easily moved close to 40 times as a church. We’ve moved so much, we’ve lost count!

One of our most exciting days was when we arrived at the site for one of our services and were told that we couldn’t meet there that morning because of a double booking! We had to locate a place to worship, move all of our equipment and inform our membership about two hours before our first service! It was amazing! But that morning was one of our finest services!

Q: What do you believe?

A: We affirm the historic creeds of the Church, such as The Apostle’s Creed. We focus on the essentials, not the nonessentials. We allow for liberty in the gray areas.

Q: Who do you affiliate or partner with?

A: We affiliate with a variety of organizations, denominations and churches. Some of the churches we affiliate with are The Evangelical Covenant Church and the Willow Creek Association. We are also affiliated with Saddleback Church, Mosaic Church, Mariners Church and The Crossing in Southern California.

Q: Why did you choose to affiliate with other churches?

A: We chose to affiliate with the above organizations for greater accountability, resources and partnership. We feel like we’re better as we unite with the larger body of churches around the world.

Q: What is your bottom line?

A: We’re about learning to love God and our neighbors. We desire to see lives, communities and nations transformed. Our hope is that through Newsong, many people will find a place to belong, discover God’s dream for their lives and holistically grow to the point where they can give back to God and others what was first given to them.

Q: What are some good ways to connect?

A: Come to our worship services and ask someone out to lunch. Go to one of our many focused events. Join a small group that is interesting to you. We have so many options. Take the initiative. We’re not the types to bug you. We are more apt to respond to your initiative.

Q: What type of music do we normally play in your services?

A: All types but our primary style of music is contemporary rock and R&B.

Q: How do I become a member?

A: You sign over your firstborn to us. . . . Just kidding! You can find out details by attending our Newsong Connections (offered every third Sunday of every month). During this fun time, you’ll eat, learn about Newsong and find out the next step to becoming a member of our church.

Q: What’s a visual picture or metaphor of Newsong?

A: We’d like to say it’s most closely captured in Rembrandt’s painting The Return of the Prodigal Son

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