One hour northwest of Los Angeles, a relatively new ministry center of the Moorpark Community Church is headquartered on the second floor of a mini mall. This two-room storefront provides Pastor Tim Garrison with an office and a place for the choir and Bible study groups to meet.

Although a storefront church is atypical for Adventists in this area, this relaxed environment has proved to be beneficial in attracting visitors. Anyone can walk in off the street and feel welcome.

On a Wednesday night earlier this year, 10 people from various communities around Moorpark attended the Bible study group. Most of them did not grow up as Adventists, yet they have each found this a welcoming and supportive group in which to worship and study the Bible.

The ministry center provides a place where people who perhaps would not necessarily socialize together come to spiritualize together. Participants have a wonderful rapport, sharing wallpapering tips, parenting pointers, in addition to actively discussing the week’s lesson from John Ortberg’s If You Want To Walk on Water, You’ve Got To Get Out of The Boat.

The ladies in the group also attend a women’s prayer and study group on Tuesday nights. They enjoy it so much that they stay later and later each week. Their husbands joke about what goes on during these one-hour fellowship meetings because none of them, including Garrison, are allowed to attend. Since the group was founded, they have watched it grow to 20 attendees. Now, it is standing room only since the ministry center is not large enough to hold any more chairs.

The fact that this church plant is outgrowing its ministry center that was established in September 2002 is remarkable, considering that the Moorpark Community Fellowship’s first planning meeting was held on Aug. 30, 2001. Currently, there are between 80 and 100 church members who come from local areas. The church holds its weekly Sabbath “Worship Celebration” at 5 p.m. in the auditorium of a local middle school.

“Worship service alone is not strong enough to connect people," Garrison says. "They need to meet in small groups. The storefront provides the place for connecting. This is an open, relaxed place for fellowship where everyone from the community is welcome.”

Perhaps some would say a ministry in a mini mall is unusual; however, it provides an accessible location for God’s Word to be shared. So the next time you pull into a mall, take a break from your hectic day and look around you. You may be surprised to find a place for fellowship where you can take a breather and share your love of the Lord with others.