First Christian Church of Huntington Beach (FCC) describes its mission as follows: "FCC is about leading people to recklessly follow Jesus." That statement reflects a strong reliance on God that traces back to the church's earliest history.

FCC was born in 1895 when a group of 13 Christians saw a need for a church in the fledgling community of Pacific City (present-day Huntington Beach). The church was incorporated in 1905 (at the same time as the City of Huntington Beach), and its first dedicated building was completed in 1909. As it continued to grow, the church opted to buy a property that some said was too far outside of town. That act of faith paid off, as FCC is thriving on that location to this very day. 

Throughout its history, FCC has been dedicated to serving both the local community and the world. Locally, church teams work closely with community organizations including Colette's Children's Home, Project Self-Sufficiency, and the Huntington Beach Youth Shelter. Global teams work with international students, support foreign missionaries, and take service trips around the world. 

FCC has long been a friend and partner of HIU. FCC has given more than $300,000 to HIU over the years, in addition to frequent sponsorships of events such as the annual Golf Marathon, making it one of the University's chief supporting churches. Former senior pastor Bruce Templeton is a member of Hope's Board of Trustees and has been a commencement speaker and a leader at the Lead Better conference hosted by HIU in 2014. His successor as Senior Pastor, Scott Martin (BA '01), is an HIU alum.