Our Story

In the summer of 2005, theeffect was what we were lovingly calling a guerrilla faith community–one that popped up all over South Orange County, CA: meeting Sunday mornings in the living room of one family, bible studying in the living room of another, directing a weekly recovery service at one local church, while our worship band played at various “hard copy” churches and other venues across South County.

efcnewstageWe were led by a pastor and ministerial leaders from several churches in the area with the common thread among us a driving desire to know truth through a Hebrew Jesus, and through that truth, the freedom of spiritual recovery and transformation. In our growing conviction that we are all recovering from something that is holding us back from full spiritual transformation, we began laying plans for a full-service, spiritually-centered facility that would give us a seven day a week footprint and real community center.

The concept was to build a vibrant recovery ministry that would build its own faith community almost as a by-product of its work.

  • In May, 2007, we began regular Sunday morning and Tuesday night gatherings in space on the docks of Dana Point Harbor
  • in October, 2008, we moved into our own facility in San Juan Capistrano as the need and desire for more weekly events and gatherings had grown with us
  • in June, 2011, some members of our leadership started an outpatient addiction treatment center physically placed on our campus to be able to offer fuller recovery services in our community
  • in April, 2015 the same leadership group launched a fully licensed detox and residential rehab facility

theeffect now has a full daily and weekly schedule of activities that have defined a real faith and recovery community for those who want to build the balanced foundation in their day to day lives and relationships so they can really engage the spiritual Way of life Jesus called Kingdom.DSC_0093

New gatherings, studies, and events most often begin as people with the specific passion and skills show up to lead them. As far as we’ve come, we’d like to say we meant all this, but in reality, much of it has been driven by people driven by Spirit, showing up in our midst and making our decisions almost foregone conclusions.

What’s next? We’d like to say we know…and we do have plans, but we’ll be waiting to see who shows up before finalizing anything.

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Personal Stories

Stories from people who’ve experienced the effect of theeffect in their lives.

Everyone is recovering from something… Admitting this is the first step in spiritual life, because any unfinished business in our lives–trauma, unforgiveness, fear-based perceptions–fosters compulsive behavior and keeps us from connecting spiritually and emotionally.

Since we’re all recovering, we accept everyone right as they are—no expiration dates or deadlines. We don’t tell anyone what to believe or do. We present points of view that we hope will engage seekers in their own journey; help them unlearn limiting perceptions, beliefs, and compulsions; give opportunities to get involved in community, building the trust we all need to find real identity, meaning, and purpose. In other words, to engage the transforming Way of living life that Jesus called Kingdom…non-religiously understood from a first century Hebrew point of view.

 

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Embedded in the fun and laughter of each of our gatherings and events is the connection and accountability as well as the structure, discipline, and opportunity for service that authentic community is all about. We help create programs for physical support, emotional recovery, and spiritual formation that can meet any person’s needs. Such programs work at two levels: first to address a person’s physical and emotional stability—clinical, financial, relational,professional—anything that distracts from working on the second level: true spiritual formation centered around the contemplative way of life defined by an original Hebrew understanding of the message of Jesus.

Rather than telling people what to believe or think, we model and encourage engagement in a personal and communal spiritual journey that allows people to experience their own worthiness of connection and acceptance, to find the freedom from underlying fears that brings real meaning and purpose into focus.

 

Effect in Action

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Seeing ourselves as a learning and recovery community that worships together, the focus isn’t on Sunday morning alone, but on every day of the week as we gather for worship, healing and support workshops, studies, 12 step meetings, counseling and mentoring sessions, referral services, and social events. We maintain a food pantry for those needing more support, a recovery worship gathering, and child care for those with little ones.

Our Sunday gathering starts at 10AM and our Recovery gathering on Tuesdays at 6:30PM. Both gatherings include worship with one of the best worship bands in the area. See our monthly calendar and our Facebook page to stay in touch with what is happening each week. You can also sign up on our elist for email enews updates.

 

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