Eden Church, David Correa
Following God’s Call: Eden Church’s Bold Move to Keep Families Together in the Heart of Santa Ana
Pastors David and Nanie Correa recently made a bold and faith-filled decision to relocate Eden Church from its original location in a Santa Ana bar to KidWorks, a respected community nonprofit at the heart of the city. This move was more than a logistical shift—it was a prayerful response to God’s leading and a renewed commitment to serve families of all ages in a more holistic and lasting way.
For three years, Eden Church gathered in a bar, an unconventional venue that drew curiosity and allowed them to connect with people who might never consider attending a traditional church. But over time, as their vision deepened and their own family grew, David and Nanie began to feel a stirring that the space no longer aligned with their call. While the bar was a place of outreach, it was not a place where children and families could thrive together in worship. Their desire to minister to bilingual households and create a space where grandparents, parents, and children could all grow in faith side by side became increasingly central to their mission.
For three years, Eden Church gathered in a bar, an unconventional venue that drew curiosity and allowed them to connect with people who might never consider attending a traditional church. But over time, as their vision deepened and their own family grew, David and Nanie began to feel a stirring that the space no longer aligned with their call. While the bar was a place of outreach, it was not a place where children and families could thrive together in worship. Their desire to minister to bilingual households and create a space where grandparents, parents, and children could all grow in faith side by side became increasingly central to their mission.
Their move to KidWorks represents a strategic and Spirit-led pivot into one of the most underserved neighborhoods in Santa Ana. The area faces high levels of gang activity, low graduation rates, and widespread economic hardship. Rather than retreat, the Correas saw a divine opportunity. Partnering with KidWorks—a Christian nonprofit that serves hundreds of children and families—they stepped into a space already rooted in the community and filled with potential for transformation.
The impact was immediate. On their first Sunday at KidWorks, which happened to be Easter, over 100 people attended. The children’s ministry alone grew from just five kids to twenty in a single week. Families who had never been part of a church before began attending. One family showed up simply because their young child had a deep desire to learn about Jesus and urged his parents to find a church. These are the moments that affirm Eden’s mission: to be a church that brings people together across generations, languages, and backgrounds.
The impact was immediate. On their first Sunday at KidWorks, which happened to be Easter, over 100 people attended. The children’s ministry alone grew from just five kids to twenty in a single week. Families who had never been part of a church before began attending. One family showed up simply because their young child had a deep desire to learn about Jesus and urged his parents to find a church. These are the moments that affirm Eden’s mission: to be a church that brings people together across generations, languages, and backgrounds.
The transition has not been without challenges. Adapting to a multipurpose space, ensuring safety in a new environment, and balancing ministry with raising their own young children have stretched the Correas and their team. But they remain committed. As Pastor David shared, “We can choose to be comfortable, or we can choose to grow. We’re choosing growth—for the sake of the families God is calling us to reach.”
Through community events, strong partnerships with KidWorks, and a faithful presence in a neighborhood often overlooked, Eden Church is pursuing its vision of being a church where families worship together, grow together, and encounter the love of Jesus together. In the heart of Santa Ana, they are planting deep roots—believing that the gospel is for every generation, and every home.
Through community events, strong partnerships with KidWorks, and a faithful presence in a neighborhood often overlooked, Eden Church is pursuing its vision of being a church where families worship together, grow together, and encounter the love of Jesus together. In the heart of Santa Ana, they are planting deep roots—believing that the gospel is for every generation, and every home.
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