Compass Bible Church
Compass Bible Church is an Evangelical, non-denominational, multi-site church based in Aliso Viejo, California. The church was founded in 2005 by the current senior pastor Mike Fabarez. It has since then established 6 additional locations, going international with the addition of "CBC Guatemala" in 2015. A Christian teaching institution, Compass Bible Institution (CBI), was also founded by the church in 2019.
| Compass Bible Church | |
|---|---|
 Main building/sign of CBC | |
| Location | Aliso Viejo, California, Other locations across the world |
| Country | United States, Guatemala |
| Denomination | Non-denominational |
| Religious institute | Compass Bible Institute |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder(s) | Mike Fabarez |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Contemporary/Modern |
| Clergy | |
| Senior pastor(s) | Mike Fabarez |
History[edit]
After graduating from Moody Bible Institute and Talbot School of Theology, Pastor Mike Fabarez founded Compass Bible Church in 2005 with the goal for people to "understand the timeless information contained in the bible.".[1] The church then began to slowly grow from miscellaneous backyard settings up until acquiring the current building, and continues to grow in scope as the congregation size increases.[2] In 2015, the church had a congregation size of three thousand people[3] and has grown greatly since.
Compass Bible Institute[edit]
In 2019, a Christian teaching institution "Compass Bible Institute" (CBI) was launched as a subsidiary of the church. The school offers numerous degrees and undergraduates in biblical studies,[4] taught by some of the pastors of Compass Bible Church itself. The building of the institution is located across the street of the church itself.[5]
People[edit]
Pastor Mike Fabarez, the Senior Pastor of Compass Bible Church has written multiple publications on theology and expository preaching including 10 Mistakes People Make About Heaven, Preaching That Changes Lives, Lifelines for Tough Times, and Raising Men and Not Boys. These are published through Fabarez's broadcasting establishment "Focal Point Ministries," founded in 1998 (before Compass). Focal Point broadcasts Fabarez's weekly sermons to over 800 radio stations across the United States.[6]
A pastoral member of Compass passed away suddenly while on an outing with the church from unknown causes.[7]
Compass has had numerous guest preachers deliver sermons at its campus, including J. Warner Wallace,[8] Albert Mohler[9] (the 9th president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), and Frank Turek.[10]
Beliefs[edit]
The church holds to a non-denominational belief, with the bible alone as the foundation for its theology.[11] This accounts for its belief in direct expository preaching done weekly in many different age groups, emphasis on prayer, and constant proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The church is also based on a contemporary and modern style in its dress and worship.[12]
Compass believes highly in outreach for its local community to reach people with its evangelistic message. This includes events for Easter Sunday,[13] and its annual "Fall Fest" taking place on Halloween, which has had more than ten thousand attendees.[14]
In 2011 Compass created an advertisement to promote an upcoming Easter service to run in more than 45 movie theatres in Orange County. After paying more than five thousand dollars for three weeks of advertisement, the ad was disallowed by NCM Media News Network due to the mention of Jesus' resurrection.[15][16][17][18] KABC7 did a report on the matter and interviewed Fabarez, who implied that it was an unjust action by NCM, while the NCM backed up their actions referencing their guidelines.[19]
Locations[edit]
Church planting is a "key distinctive" of Compass Bible Church.[20] Since its establishment in Aliso Viejo, CBC has planted six other locations. Six of these total locations are based in the United States, and one location is international, based in Guatemala.[21]
| Name | Location | Date Established |
|---|---|---|
| CBC Aliso Viejo | Aliso Viejo, California | 2005 |
| CBC Huntington Beach | Huntington Beach, California | 2014 |
| CBC Guatemala
(Iglesia Evangelica La Verdad Biblica) |
Guatemala City, Guatemala | 2015 |
| CBC Tustin | Tustin, California | 2016 |
| CBC Treasure Valley | Meridian, Idaho | 2019 |
| CBC Hill Country | New Braunfels, Texas | 2021 |
| CBC North Texas | Frisco, Texas | 2023 |
*Future/ongoing plant (none currently)
References[edit]
- ^ "Pastor celebrates 10 years of Compass Bible Church". Orange County Register. 2015-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ 140 Building Construction Complete; 150 Building Renovation to Begin Soon | Compass 20/20, retrieved 2023-02-27
- ^ "Pastor celebrates 10 years of Compass Bible Church". Orange County Register. 2015-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ "Compass Bible Institute | Biblical Education for Christian Ministry | Academic Programs". Compass Bible Institute. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ "Compass Bible Institute · 145 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656". Compass Bible Institute · 145 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ "Focal Point Ministries". Focal Point Ministries. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ "Compass Bible Church pastor dies suddenly while attending staff retreat". Orange County Register. 2018-11-02. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ How God Used Roads to Pave the Way for Jesus | J. Warner Wallace, retrieved 2023-02-27
- ^ His Dominion Is an Everlasting Dominion (Daniel 4:28–37) | Dr. Albert Mohler, retrieved 2023-02-27
- ^ If God, Why Evil? | Dr. Frank Turek, retrieved 2023-02-27
- ^ "8 Distinctives". Compass Bible Church. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ "Compass Bible Church". USA Churches. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ "Local Event: Compass Church Bunny Run, Egg Hunt & Pancake Breakfast 2022: Huntington Beach". Orange County, CA Patch. 2022-03-21. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ "More than 10,000 flock to Compass Bible Church's Fall Fest". Orange County Register. 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ "Can Promoting Easter Church Services Land You On The 5 O'Clock News?". PRWeb. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ "OC Movie Theater Firm Rejects Church Ad Over Name Of Jesus". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ "Easter cinema ad banned for mentioning name of Jesus". The Iona Institute. 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ "Theater Rejects Easter Ad Over Use of 'Jesus'". Aliso Viejo, CA Patch. 2011-03-31. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
- ^ ABC7. "Church ad pulled from OC theater previews | ABC7 Los Angeles | abc7.com". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Compass Bible Church Hill Country Commissioning and Pastoral Installation of Evan Jacobsen, retrieved 2023-02-27
- ^ "Church Plants". Compass Bible Church. Retrieved 2023-02-27.