Neil and Britt Kopping were looking for a renewed sense of community when they decided to host a “40 Days in the Word” LifeGroup in their Pacifica home – community with their church in Half Moon Bay, with their neighbors in Pacifica and with God.
The Koppings lived in San Francisco for years and were deeply involved with Cornerstone San Francisco, an active community of believers in the heart of the city.
When they moved to Pacifica in search of better schools for their growing children, they maintained their relationship with Cornerstone for a time before answering a call to build the faith community in their new home town.
For two years they helped shepherd a small community of Pacifica believers in a start-up effort that showed promise at times but ultimately faded away. Eighteen months ago, they began attending Mariners.
It was a season of rest and recuperation for the Koppings. They felt good about the worship experience and the message each weekend at Mariners, but after the challenges of their church-planting experience they needed a pause before fully engaging.
“We needed a rest between serving. It’s a commitment to get up to drive to Half Moon Bay. We wanted to commit to the church there, but we wanted to bring elements of the church to Pacifica,” said Britt.
So, in partnership with Marisa and Anthony George, whose faith journey had closely tracked the Koppings’ move from Cornerstone to startup to Mariners, Neil and Britt jumped at the opportunity to co-lead a “40 Days in the Word” Life Group in Pacifica with their friends.
“What I love about Mariners is that call to action: ‘If you’re going to be here. We want you to contribute. We want you to see how God is working through your life by serving others.’ I think that’s what God calls us to do and to be,” Britt said.
Neil agrees now was the perfect time the family to be “all in” at Mariners.
“We’ve been committed followers of Christ for a long time,” he said. “This is now about committing to contribute and then committing to building our community at Mariners. Hopefully we’ll make some great community.”
And, most importantly, the structure of the 40 Days study will bring them closer to God.
“We’re excited about the study, the intentionality of being in the Word for 40 days,” Britt said.
