We are a Spirit-empowered, Bible-based, and life-giving training hub, equipping believers to carry the move of God beyond the church walls, build the Kingdom of God, and establish a lasting legacy that impacts generations to come.

-Derek and Susan Dunn

The Start of a Journey

Our church history begins in the mission fields of Asia, where Pastor Derek served for more than 18 years as Executive Pastor at City Harvest Church Singapore, a church of over 30,000 members. While ministering in the United States, Pastors Derek and Susan received a prophetic word that they would return to the U.S. to plant a church.

After prayerfully bringing this word under the covering of their Senior Pastors, Pastors Derek and Susan discerned that it was not yet the right time to launch out. Seven years later, the prophecy was revisited, and with the blessing of their Senior Pastors, they knew the time had come to step out in faith.

Pastors Derek and Susan began preparing to plant City Harvest Church Orange County, now known as Alive Church Orange County. During this season of preparation, they encountered significant resistance in securing a physical location for services.

After numerous attempts, it appeared there would be no place to gather. In response, Pastor Derek, Pastor Susan, and the launch team committed themselves to prayer, declaring and believing that God would make a way where there seemed to be no way. At the close of one such prayer meeting, immediately after the final “amen,” they received a phone call. God had answered their prayers.

Formerly known as City Harvest Church Orange County, the church held its very first service on Easter Sunday in 2013 at Edwards Cinemas near UC Irvine.

Although the original agreement allowed the church to use the cinema for only two weeks, God opened the door for services to continue there for over two years. During this time, Connect Groups were launched, along with UCI Emerge, Men’s and Women’s Ministries, and more.

In November 2015, God opened the door for the church to relocate to Aliso Viejo, California, where it initially shared a facility with Kingsfield Church. In less than a year, God supernaturally provided the finances for the church to assume the lease and establish its own permanent home. Renovations soon followed, with church members of all ages joyfully serving through cleaning, building, packing, and preparing the space.

Throughout this season, God’s faithfulness has continued to be evident through the launch and growth of key ministries and initiatives, including the City Harvest Training Center (launched in 2017, now known as Dunamis Bible College), H-Gen Youth Ministry (launched in 2017, now known as Youth Alive), media expansion in 2020 during COVID, CityCare Outreach (launched in 2022 to meet physical, mental, and emotional needs within the community), and Alive Recovery launched in July 2024, a Christ-centered, Holy Spirit–empowered 12-step recovery program, along with the ongoing growth of multiple Connect Groups. At this location, Alive Church Orange County has continued to build the Kingdom of God, experiencing growth not only in numbers, but in the tangible manifestation of God’s presence and power in every service.

In 2023, at its 10-year anniversary, City Harvest Church Orange County officially became Alive Church Orange County, marking a new season while honoring the foundation God had established.

In 2025, Alive Church Orange County celebrated 12 years of God’s continued faithfulness.

Watch A Transformation - Yajaira’s Story below