Mystery Worshipper: Brandi Anderson
Church:
Cabo Beach Church, Cabo San Lucas
Location: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Date of visit: Sunday, 16 November 2025, 10:00am
The building
There was no building, just sand, rocks, and the Pacific Ocean. Blue umbrellas, surfboards, and an all-sand parking lot. A yellow sign floats in the wind on the first right turn of sand off the exit – ‘Beach Church’ is all it says, in English.
The church
Everything is special about the church as a community. It is led by a pastor who says he was called by the Holy Spirit to leave his American life of achieving, extreme sports, and degrees behind, and start a ministry. He created a church that serves the poor, educates the masses, and creates career opportunities to build people up and escape the holds of poverty, oppression, and despair. The congregation appeared to be Americans who live or vacation in the area. The pastor said there was a growing presence of local people, new believers, questioning believers, and others.
The neighborhood
Horses eating beach grass, beach people living in vans and cars, surfers trying to find the best waves, celebrity-owned million-dollar homes, and an overfilled, never emptied transfer station, with bottles, trash, and the like. The sand is somewhat packed, so driving on this beach to get up to the parking lot is not horrible, but I would be careful doing this again in a rental car, after a few spins of the tires in sand and a full packed lot of cars.
The cast
A middle-aged man with a big straw hat, long-sleeved white t-shirt, faded jeans, and hiking boots led the service. He held a cane the entire time and a microphone in the other hand. He was the only speaker in the actual service. Two young boys who were interested in the ministry passed out white envelopes at the end of the service – the kind you get when you order a flower bouquet in a tiny envelope. Packed with something, and typed in Times New Roman font the words, Cabo Beach Church, made me feel like I received a special gift from them. When I opened the envelope later in my hotel, it was a bunch of business cards for the church.
What was the name of the service?
Sunday Service at 10am.How full was the building?
Packed. The beach was full, all blue umbrellas taken, people even brought their own. Chairs, blankets, beach towels, and all.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
Yes, a group sitting at table with donuts, coffee, and smiles. ‘Welcome,’ they said. They did not get up, we visited for a while, I asked where they were from, they replied, and I shared my home. I felt loved and welcomed in that moment. Just a few smiles is all it takes, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Was your pew comfortable?
I sat on a borrowed hotel towel under an umbrella they provided. It was actually pretty comfortable, although we did not stand the entire time. I found myself lying down, sitting up, crossing legs, doing some yoga, and having a grand time, thinking this is my kind of church service. It was as comfortable as can be. It was hot. Every once in a while a breeze would come up off the ocean, providing some relief.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
The pre-service vibe was a combination of a Stevie Nicks concert, a wedding, a funeral, and a beach party wrapped up into one big experience. Parents setting up kids with beach shovels and toys. Drinks, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Donuts, coffee, and black cloth napkins and a bit of sand.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
‘Welcome everyone. New people, Spanish speaking people. There are no rules. Grab a coffee and donut. Lie down, close your eyes. We invite you to go further in your faith and explore your faith. This is God's sanctuary.’
What books did the congregation use during the service?
None. There was nothing used during the service, although the pastor had a Bible and a makeshift pulpit he read from.
What musical instruments were played?
No instruments, just a recording of some contemporary Christian music in English and Spanish. The Blessing with Andrea Bocelli, Cody Carnes, and Kari Jobe was a spontaneous hit. The pastor led everything, and said, ‘I wasn't going to play this, but I have to.’ He invited everyone to close their eyes and listen to the Holy Spirit. This was important because not everyone spoke Spanish, and he felt that when we don't understand the words, we have a stronger connection to hearing the Word of God.
Did anything distract you?
I was fully distracted the entire time. It was not bad, it was just the result of being on the beach, on vacation, and in a place where kids were playing and surfers were catching waves. To the right of me a brother and sister dug holes in the sand, about two feet deep and wide. They threw sand over their backs into the wind and then sat in their makeshift holes/chairs for a bit. After the first recorded song, they asked, ‘Mom, is it over now? Can we go?’ People around chuckled... and I did too.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
It was super chill. In some ways it felt like people just wanted to hang out at the beach for a bit and decided to show up and listen to a guy telling them they are chosen, sacred, and loved by the Creator of the universe.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
39 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
9 — He was wild, but in the best way. It felt like he was a rebel, a retired surfer. He told us he was recovering from major back surgery, and had such conviction for sharing the Good News with Mexico that he came back too soon after surgery and ended up in the ICU for a month. He told us this as he stood, wobbly with a cane. He had several unplanned activities during the sermon, saying, ‘I did not plan this, but we must do it.’ He was in pain, but had a ton of energy and in some ways it felt like he was just listening to the voice of God, telling him to do certain things throughout the service. It made everything feel very authentic, vulnerable, raw, and accepting. I loved his style.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
He drew from the passage of Luke 1:14 – ‘He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth.’ And in Luke 1:26-38, when the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her that she will conceive a son and his name will be Jesus. He reminded us that God’s spirit resides in us. We must walk in victory and not defeat. God sees us as forgiven, beautiful, favored, lovable children, part of a royal family, a masterpiece, a miracle. He reminded us to walk in that blessing. Miracles are the byproduct of faith. We must cultivate soil in our hearts for miracles to occur. When we are going through trials, we must keep our hearts set above. I had raised my head to the heavens before the service, looking above, feeling that God was listening to me, caring for me, watching over me, loving me. It was almost as if this sermon was made just for me.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
At one point, the pastor talked about the Holy Spirit being with us, in this place, on this beach. As he said it, a wind came over the beach, and it almost felt like the voice of God. It reminded me that the Holy Spirit was in this place, and in me. Also like being in heaven were the words from the blessing: ‘He is for you.’ The welcoming, party-like vibe. The spontaneity of the pastor to just do, feel, act, and be the way he felt called to be, without rules or conformity.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The static on the speakers was a bit like nails on a chalkboard. I would recommend some new sound equipment if possible. The garbage dump on the way out almost felt like a representation of sin, darkness, and the waste of the world. It was the remants of a life lived, consuming, purging, and purchasing again. The garbage situation in Mexico is the result of not having adequate resources to provide garbage services for people. Maybe the church could do some beach cleanup days in the future.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
I did not hang around because I was hot and sandy, and I was somewhat worried about my rental car getting stuck in the sand, or blocked in. But I am sure if I did hang around, I would have been invited to lunch or someone's house. That was just how this place felt... the hospitality of God all around.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
There were donuts and coffee at the pre-service. The coffee was excellent, and served in a cup that I returned at the end of the service. I thought to myself, at least our cups and napkins are reusable.
How would you feel about making another visit (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
10 —Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes, without hesitation.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time ?
The message that God loves me, and to accept all the miracles coming to me. To keep my head and heart on things above, and not to worry about what other people think.