A history of

Compass Bible Church

2005

A group of seven people, including children, praying or laying hands on a man who appears distressed, on a stage with plants and a guitar in the background.

A large outdoor gathering with many people seated and standing, watching a speaker at a microphone in an amphitheater-like setting, with a tree overhead and buildings in the background.

In April 2005, a large group of committed Christians in South Orange County, California joined Pastor Mike Fabarez to meet weekly for Bible teaching and worship under a sycamore tree in San Juan Capistrano. A few weeks later, the leaders of New Song Church in Oceanside commissioned Pastor Mike to plant Compass Bible Church.

Large indoor church gathering with people seated in rows facing a stage, where a band is performing and lyrics are displayed on a screen.

Promotional graphic featuring a middle-aged man with glasses, wearing a dark blazer and light-colored shirt, against a dark background. Text on the image reads "Exploring and Proclaiming the Depths of Scripture Focal Point Ministries" with a magnifying glass icon.

On Sunday, June 5, 2005, Compass Bible Church hosted its first worship services at a local synagogue in Aliso Viejo. Pastor Mike’s weekly Bible preaching reaches hundreds of thousands of people through his Focal Point Ministries that broadcasts his sermons on hundreds of radio stations nationwide and internationally.

People gathered in a church, participating in a worship service with a band on stage, singing with lyrics displayed on a large screen.

2006

With a rapidly growing congregation and limited options for meeting space, Compass Bible Church acquired the lease for the 150 Columbia building from Calvary Chapel Pacific Hills and began hosting its weekend services in the same place where they continue to meet today.

2014

A group of people praying or mourning, with some kneeling and some standing, in a church or auditorium setting.

A large auditorium filled with an audience listening to a speaker on stage in front of a blue background. The stage is equipped with musical instruments, and some camera crew members are present on the right side. The ceiling has exposed ductwork and lighting.

An indoor concert or church service with a stage, a speaker, musicians, and a large audience seated in chairs, with a bright screen displaying text in the background.

After years of prayer, planning, and preparation, Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo commissioned Pastor Bobby Blakey to plant Compass Bible Church Huntington Beach at Marina Hill School. Over one hundred highly committed participants moved up the 405 freeway and committed themselves to a new work of gospel ministry under Pastor Bobby Blakey’s leadership.

Within a year, the new church moved into their building off Argosy Avenue and Revival Circle, where they continue to meet today with an ever-expanding impact for the gospel.

2016

A group of people praying with their eyes closed and hands on a person sitting in front of them inside a church auditorium.

A man in a blue suit speaking on stage at an Easter Sunday event with audience seated in a modern auditorium.

Pastor Mike Elliott served for a number of years as one of the pastors on staff at Compass Bible Church Aliso Viejo before being recognized and commissioned to plant Compass Bible Church in Tustin. They met at Columbus Tustin Middle School before moving into their building in Santa Ana off Dyer and the 55 freeway. Their thriving ministry ministers to Christians in Irvine, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Fullerton, and Orange.

2018

Graphic design featuring the number 20 in large dotted font, the word 'COMPASS' above it, and the phrase 'SHARPENING OUR FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST' below, over an open Bible with a pair of reading glasses in the background.

With a clear vision for the future needs of Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo, Pastor Mike announced an ambitious expansion project called Compass 2020. The goals were to purchase the 145 Columbia building across the street from the church property, start a training institute for future pastors and leaders to promote CBC’s growing church planting efforts, and to plant three new churches in the next five years from within our own congregation. God was faithful to provide what was necessary to accomplish all of these goals.

2019

A group of people, including children, participating in a prayer circle on stage with hands on each other's shoulders or heads.

A large indoor gathering with a stage where musicians are performing, and a congregation standing and singing, in a church or concert hall setting.

A large indoor gathering with numerous people seated in rows, watching a speaker on stage at a conference or church event.

Pastor Ben Blakey spent over 10 years on staff at Compass Bible Church Aliso Viejo as the worship, college, and family pastor before being commissioned to take a large team to CBC’s first out-of-state church plant: Boise, Idaho. Hundreds of CBC’ers packed up and moved to the Treasure Valley to start a new church at Pathways Middle School in Meridian, Idaho. God blessed this effort with thousands of new people and a gifted building at 6151 N Discovery Way in Northeast Meridian, where they continue to worship together today.

2020

Modern building with a sign for Compass Bible Institute and surrounding landscaping including bushes and trees.

A man in a light blue, striped shirt is holding large red scissors, about to cut a red ribbon at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Several men stand beside him, clapping and smiling. There is a decorative balloon arch made of green and white balloons behind them, and an audience is visible in the foreground.

A man giving a lecture in front of a large screen displaying a chart with categories 'Historical,' 'Literary,' and 'Theological,' with descriptions under each. Several students are seated facing him, some with laptops.

With a clear vision for the future needs of As Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo purchased and moved into the 145 building, the Compass Bible Institute launched its first classes in the tumultuous year of 2020. Current and future church leaders are being trained through a variety of college and graduate-level classes about the Bible, theology, apologetics, biblical counseling, preaching, and pastoral ministry. CBI’s pastoral ministry track trains men with the philosophy and practice of ministry work in a local church. CBI’s One Year Bible Program trains recent high school graduates for the Christian life before they enter their careers.

CBI students are able to transfer credits to institutions such as: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Boyce College, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Spurgeon College, Dallas Theological Seminary, Southern California Seminary, Biola University, Cedarville University, Moody Bible Institute, and the Master’s University.

2021

Group of people in a church or conference setting, some kneeling and some standing, with hands placed on shoulders or heads of others, in front of a blue background with illuminated geometric symbol.

A man in a blue blazer speaks at a podium on a stage in a large auditorium filled with seated audience members listening attentively.

Pastor Hayden Thomas was commissioned to plant a new church in the rapidly growing suburb of New Braunfels, Texas. Taking a team of highly committed participants, including Pastor Evan Jacobsen, from Orange County, they moved to Texas to plant Compass Bible Church Hill Country.

A few short months after their arrival, God blessed them with a meeting space at 2415 Lifehaus Industrial Drive, New Braunfels, to call their church home. Hundreds of people join them each week to worship, hear the Word preached, and to grow together.

2022

Close-up of a pressed wild mushroom on a flat surface, viewed from above.

The first annual National Equipped Conference was held in Boise, Idaho, as a gathering place for all the Compass Bible Church Plants. This conference continues to serve as an ongoing encouragement to all the Compass Churches every two years.

The Compass Church Planting Association (CCPA) was officially formed and continues to provide leadership to all Compass Bible Churches.

2023

Group of people praying on stage in front of a blue background with a large circle and compass symbol.

A man speaking at a podium in front of a large audience, with musical instruments and a speaker on stage, and a large balloon arrangement on the right side.

Pastor PJ Berner served for 6 years as a pastor on staff at Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo and was commissioned to plant the next Compass Bible Church in Texas in the Northern Dallas Metro area. Pastor Rod Gomez from Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo joined him in this ambitious effort to reach the expanding suburbs of Frisco, Prosper, Celina, and McKinney, Texas. They held their first services at Founders Classical Academy in Frisco and have since moved to FCA’s newer campus in Prosper, Texas.

2025

Group of people on stage during a presentation, with a large screen showing a city skyline in the background and an audience watching.

A large congregation seated in an auditorium with a stage at the front. The stage has musicians and a singer, with a large screen displaying the words 'COMPASS BIBLE CHURCH LONG BEACH.' The audience is engaged, some reading programs or pamphlets, and colorful artwork lines the wall on the left side.

In 2021, Compass Bible Church Huntington Beach brought Pastor Josh Petras on their staff with the intention of planting their first church in Long Beach, CA. After four years of prayer, planning, and preparation, Compass HB sent Pastor Josh Petras and Pastor Bruce Blakey to plant Compass Bible Church Long Beach in January 2025. They continue to grow and reach the people of Long Beach from Bancroft Middle School.

Book cover titled 'Keeping the Church Small' with subtitle 'Small Group Strategies for Growing Churches,' featuring a stylized illustration of two people sitting at a table with a church steeple in the background.

Book cover titled 'Preaching That Changes Lives' by Mike Fabarez, with foreword by John Macarthur, set against a light textured background.

As the efforts of Compass Bible Church Aliso Viejo expanded, its leaders decided to move forward with an effort to produce biblically solid printed content through a publishing arm called Compass Press. CP is committed to providing resources for theological training and discipleship to the church at large.

2026

Compass Bible Church Treasure Valley spent years preparing for their first church plant endeavor. Its leaders selected Pastor Josiah Smith to plant a new church in the Southern part of the Treasure Valley in the city of Kuna. Compass Bible Church South Valley launched its Sunday services at Kuna High School in March 2026.

A family of seven, including a man, a woman, and five children, standing outdoors in front of a large cactus and other trees, holding hands, smiling, and looking at the camera.

Pastor John Fabarez grew up at Compass Bible Church Aliso Viejo and spent 10 years on staff before identifying North Phoenix, Arizona as an ideal place to plant the next Compass Bible Church. He is prayerfully assembling a team of servant minded and zealously evangelistic people to join him in the effort of bringing a biblical sound, gospel preaching church to the people of the North Phoenix Valley.