Mission gathering is an open, progressive, community of faith, which was started by several young adults from the San Diego area who were disenchanted with the institutional church.

This community of faith, which referred to itself as a “gathering of restless spiritual wanderers from all over San Diego County” found a safe haven for Christian spirituality as opposed to religious institutionalism. After several years of ministry in Rancho Bernardo and La Jolla what came to be called Missiongathering began to seek the next phase in this evolving community. The congregation has been meeting in North Park since 2006.

According to church leaders, from its initial beginnings this group of friends and spiritual seekers wanted to live out what the story of God’s grace meant to them.

“We are a church that welcomes all,” said Matt Reece, pastor of community at Missiongathering.

“Missiongathering has many gay and lesbian people who are active parts of our faith community,” he explained.

The group seeks to show God’s love, and contribute something of value to our surrounding community through community art experiences at the monthly Ray at Night event and through the Street Angels Homeless Teen Ministry. The group is part of the Advent Conspiracy Campaign, as well as the Advent Conspiracy Campaign that helps people find the true meaning of Christmas by spending less, giving more relationally and loving all. Missiongathering was represented with a booth at last year’s San Diego Pride festival

“This faith community continues to strive to be open, organic, emergent, fluid, and evolving and looks forward to the chance to continue to embody the reality of a loving God in the heart of San Diego... continuing the story of God’s grace,” Reece added.

The congregation meets in The Sunset Ballroom at Claire de Lune Coffee Lounge, located at 3911 Kansas St., every Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.