From a garage surf camp to a steady presence in Oak View.
Common Ground began with a simple desire: to show students in Oak View the love of Jesus through real relationships, safe places, and shared experiences.
Over the years, that has looked like surfboards, meals, Bible studies, soccer games, camps, homework help, movie nights, and a lot of ordinary time spent together.
We call it Community, Restoration, and Adventure.
It is how we build trust.
It is how we walk with students through good days and hard ones.
It is how we point them toward Jesus.
2013
It started with eight students and a surf camp.
In 2013, we first entered the Oak View neighborhood in Huntington Beach with the idea to take students surfing.
We walked through the community, knocked on doors, and hoped for the chance to build relationships. That year, we met eight students and launched our first Surf Camp out of a small garage owned by a local resident.
The goal was simple: teach students how to surf and introduce them to Jesus.
2014
A surf camp became something more.
Each Tuesday, we met at Oak View Elementary School for an after-school Bible study.
During that year, we began to understand the community more deeply and build real friendships with students and families in the neighborhood.
By the end of the year, our second Surf Camp grew to 30 students. That growth led us to officially form the nonprofit Common Ground.
2015
We received the keys to a warehouse.
In the winter of 2015, Common Ground received the keys to our first warehouse.
There was a lot of work to do, including permits, zoning, and preparing the space. During that same season, more students kept coming, and our relationships in Oak View continued to grow.
That year, we hosted our third Surf Camp and launched our second program, Meat-Up Monday. It became a key next step for discipling students from Surf Camp and connecting with their friends and families.
2016
The warehouse became a place students could count on.
In 2016, Common Ground grew quickly.
We built a skate park and soccer field and welcomed a growing team of volunteers who were committed to bringing the love of Christ to middle and high school students.
That year, we launched four more programs: Grounded, High School Hangs, Skate Nite, and Middle School Bible Study.
With multiple programs running each week, we began to see what steady presence could do in the life of a community.
2017
Soccer Night opened another door.
In 2017, we launched Soccer Night, a program created through the passion of our volunteer leaders and built to reach local students who loved the game.
That year, we also began partnering with more churches in the surrounding area. Together, we were able to serve Oak View in deeper ways.
Our middle school boys also took their first winter trip to Big Bear. During that trip, several students accepted Christ for the first time.
2018
More students walked through the doors.
In 2018, hundreds of students continued coming through Common Ground to experience community, mentorship, and the love of Christ.
We hosted our sixth summer Surf Camp with 45 students attending each week to hear the Gospel and build relationships with leaders.
Our high school program also took its first camp trip to Zion National Park.
At the end of the year, we held our first fundraiser in four years and were overwhelmed by the support. The event raised double what we expected, helping support our work in Oak View for the year ahead.
2019
Losing the warehouse did not end the work.
In 2019, Common Ground lost the warehouse.
Oak View Elementary School generously opened a classroom for our daily after-school programs, giving students a place to keep gathering.
Every day, dozens of middle and high school students joined us for Bible studies, games, movies, sports, and more.
That year, we also launched Noche de Cine, a monthly movie night for Oak View families. Attendance grew, relationships deepened, and Common Ground continued becoming part of the life of the neighborhood.
2020
The pandemic became an opportunity to serve our neighbors in Oak View.
In 2020, we launched our first winter camp at Thousand Pines. This started a yearly tradition of taking students up the mountain for a fun, impactful weekend.
Although the pandemic put a pause on programs, it didn’t stop ministry. We began a video series called “scoops” and continued engagement with the youth via social media. During the pandemic we also partnered with local churches to provide covid relief for the families in Oak View.
We also held a virtual benefit for donors, raising the funds necessary to continue ministry post-pandemic.
2021
Mobile ministry began.
In 2021, we purchased a van, which allowed us to continue ministry mobile. After pausing programs due to the pandemic, we were able to relaunch our Surf Camp and bible study nights, bringing more students than ever.
The new van also allowed us to launch our first ever "Spring Break,” a week full of adventure and new experiences.
With the ministry growing, there came a need to raise more funds. We hosted our first annual Common Ground Market as a way to support local vendors in the neighborhood. Shortly after, we held a Surf Contest for donors, sponsored by local businesses. Through these fundraisers, we were able to raise funds to continue running summer and winter camps for the youth.
2022
With the launch of new clubs, daily programming returned.
In 2022, we expanded our staff and returned to full programming. Monday to Friday, we were driving students to and from various locations to host our after-school clubs.
The launching of our homework club gave students a supportive environment to excel academically. Cooking club allowed students to learn useful life skills. Adventure club provided new experiences and gave the youth something to look forward to. Through swim club, we partnered with the local high school to provide free swimming lessons for teens in Oak View.
Although we were operating mobile, our numbers continued to grow. Over 40 students joined us for our second annual winter camp up at Thousand Pines. Our consistent after-school presence allowed us to build stronger relationships with the youth.
2023
We celebrated 10 years of ministry.
2023 was a year of spiritual growth. Bible study attendance doubled, and three students made the decision to get baptized. Seeing the faith and devotion of our students, we decided to launch our first annual middle school boys retreat. After 10 years of ministry, the fruits of our labor became evident. However, this was just the beginning of God’s work in Oak View.
We celebrated our 10-year anniversary by hosting a benefit for our donors. Community partnerships began to evolve, as well as recognition from the city. The Huntington Beach Firefighters Association selected us to be a beneficiary of a charity golf tournament. Catholic Charities worked with us to provide Christmas presents to the families of each one of our students. Through the challenges of mobile ministry, God’s faithfulness remained on display.
2024
We purchased a home in the heart of Oak View!
Since we had lost the warehouse in 2018, we’d been looking for a permanent space to host after-school programs. Preferably, we were looking for a space in their very own neighborhood that students could walk to after school.
In early 2024, a home in the middle of Oak View went on the market. This was an old home sitting on a massive lot, making it the perfect size and location for us. By March, we were able to raise enough funds to purchase the home. This began a long journey of renovations and working with the city to secure permits.
One of our high school seniors took it upon himself to start a Common Ground Club at the local high school, Ocean View. Over 40 students began showing up during lunch to hear the gospel. Since then, this has been one of our most flourishing clubs.
2025
Permits / finished construction
We promise!
2026
Opened full time to the community.
We promise!
The story is still being written.
What began with eight students and a surf camp has become years of meals, programs, Bible studies, camps, and relationships.
Through every season, the heart has stayed the same:
Show up. Build trust. Love students well. Point them to Jesus.