Why Is It Called Good Friday?

The name Good Friday (not to be confused with Black Friday) might seem a little confusing. It’s the day Jesus was crucified (a brutal form execution carried out by the Romans), so why do we call that day “good”? The goodness of Good Friday comes from what Christians believe Jesus accomplished through His death.

How Is Jesus’ Death on the Cross 2,000 Years Ago Relevant to Us Today?

It’s fair to ask: how can something that happened two thousand years ago matter for our lives today? Christians believe the cross addresses the deepest human problem—our separation from God. Every culture and generation wrestles with guilt, brokenness, injustice, and the awareness that things are not the way they should be. The Bible describes this condition as sin: our rejection of a relationship with God and our tendency to live for ourselves rather than for Him. (click to continue reading)

This past quarter, Flourish gathered to talk about what it really means to be fully known and fully loved by God. Together we spent time reading passages like Psalm 139:1–2 and 1 Samuel 16:7, reflecting on the powerful truth that God knows everything about us—the good and the bad—and still loves us completely.

Through these readings and discussions, we learned together that it’s one thing to say that God loves us, but it’s another thing to realize that He knows every part of who we are—our thoughts, our struggles, our questions—and His love for us doesn’t change. As we talked through these passages, we were reminded again and again that God doesn’t love a filtered or polished version of us. He loves the real us! (click to continue reading)

It’s surreal to me that I’m one of the older mentors at our church here in SB. I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2018, which means it’s been about 10 years since my freshman year. Now I’m married and a new mom, but being a mentor to college students really brings me back to what it was like when I was in their season of life. I remember when a simple thing like grabbing late night tater tots or going to open gym volleyball could be such a magical, memorable experience. What makes it so golden in my memories is that I was with people who’d shown me love that I’d never known. That’s ultimately what got me interested in the whole God thing.

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘church’? Maybe you picture rows of pews and people sitting straight-backed and stuff, and a droning voice from the pulpit that’s about as interesting as white noise. Maybe you think of a room full of people muttering strange things that you don’t understand. We know people have all kinds of opinions about church - and that's exactly why we want to pull back the curtain and tell you what a Sunday morning with us actually looks like. Let’s do a quick walkthrough of what to expect. 

ECM stands for Elderly Care Ministry. Every Sunday, a group of mentors and college students visit a local convalescent home to hold a church service and spend time with the residents. Life in these homes can be very lonely—over 60% of residents never receive a visitor, and about half don’t have any close relatives. Through ECM, we hope to bring encouragement, friendship, and the love of Christ to them.

ECM at a2fSB began after a Valentine’s Day of Compassion visit to Buena Vista in 2016. During that visit, students and mentors spent time talking with the residents and saw how much a simple visit meant to them. What felt small to us made a big difference in their otherwise quiet routines. Afterward, we asked the church if anyone would be willing to return weekly on Sundays—and that’s how ECM started.

Have you ever heard someone talk about the “gospel” and wondered what that word really means? The term comes from the Greek word euangelion, a combination of eu (“good”) and angelia (“message” or “news”). Simply put, it means “good news.” It’s the good news about who Jesus is, what He has done, and how that changes everything.

But the gospel isn’t just a story from the past, or a set of rules to follow. It’s the most important message anyone can hear. It tells us that God loves us, that He made a way to restore our relationship with Him through Jesus, and that through Him, we can experience forgiveness, hope, and a brand-new life. (click to continue reading)

At the SoCal 2026 Winter Retreat, we heard powerful messages and relatable testimonies, experienced awesome worship, and bonded both together as a church and also with friends in our other SoCal churches. Many of us came away impacted to grow in our commitment to Jesus, share the good news of the gospel with our friends, and have greater vision for our lives!

See more photos from the retreat here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/actscollective/albums/72177720331893197

⚽ Football (soccer)... also known as The Beautiful Game. An apt name for the sport, I think. It’s fun, brings people together, creates moments of awe and wonder (especially when you watch Lionel Messi highlights). Also, what we’ve found at a2f, it’s great for cardio and meeting people!

Different ones of our mentors and students have been playing soccer during the week to meet new people and just gather to do something fun and active.

One of my favorite things this year has been our 4Corners group, a community where international students at UCSB can build friendships, try new experiences, and have meaningful conversations about life and faith.

The name “4Corners” comes from the idea of people gathering from the four corners of the world. That’s exactly what the group felt like—students from different countries (Japan, Germany, and Botswana, to name a few), cultures, and backgrounds coming together to share life during their time in Santa Barbara. 

For many people studying abroad, it can be really exciting—but it can also be challenging. Being far from home, adjusting to a new culture, and making new friends takes time. Our hope with 4Corners was simple: to create a space where students can build genuine relationships, be part of a warm community, and explore the deeper questions of life and God.

This Sunday was extra special—we had the got to celebrate the baptisms of five students!