The following comes from a June 6 Orange County Register article by Erika I. Ritchie:
Saddleback Church has launched what leaders are calling its largest and most ambitious plan ever to expand the mega-church’s ministry.
Pastor Rick Warren describes The Daring Faith Campaign as the church’s most faith-stretching, world-impacting and God-honoring plan in 35 years.
A week ago, Warren’s congregation responded during his Victory Sermon at the church’s main campus in Lake Forest, pledging to raise $71 million over the next three years to take Saddleback’s reach beyond its already global impact. About $7 million has already come in as cash donations. The Children’s ministry – students from Kindergarten to 6th grade – raised $20,156 by donating more than 600,000 coins. The campaign is Saddleback’s eighth and largest.
“Seventy-one million dollars!” Warren said during the service, counting up lighted boxes that each represent $1 million. “That will reach thousands and thousands in Christ. Do you know anything bigger in your life? What’s more important than that? … We want to see people in heaven from every nation.”
Over the decades, Saddleback has grown to include 10 Southern California campuses averaging 27,000 weekly worshipers and 7,500 small groups meeting in homes, according to church statistics. Church leaders have trained more than 400,000 churches worldwide in the purpose-driven strategy. International campuses have sprung up in Berlin; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hong Kong; and South Manila, Philippines.
But the church has a new goal – 40,000 weekend worshipers by 2020, it’s 40th anniversary. They will open 10 more Saddleback campuses in Southern California. PEACE centers – such as the one on the Lake Forest campus providing assistance locally with food, medical help and counseling, are being planned at existing campuses such as Anaheim and Capistrano. In those areas the centers will work with nearby Children’s Hospital of Orange County and Mission Regional Hospital to provide care for local families in need.
Technology and member-know-how will be used to keep worldwide members and outreach connected. A three-story Global Training Center will be built at the Lake Forest campus. It will be sort of a mini-college where members will be schooled in the arts, music, seminary and leadership.
The church will reach out to an estimated 3,000 small tribes, mainly in places like Africa, South America, China and Russia to spread their message and bring them to God. Members will be mobilized and work with other churches to get the message of Christ out to those who have never heard it.
Warren’s wife, Kay, said they were both amazed by the amount pledged, but not surprised. Historically, the church has grown through a culture of giving that started with its inaugral members who believed in Rick Warren and his message. In 1983, they raised an initial $1.2 million to buy land for the church.
Kay Warren said the culture of giving has been passed down through generations but also comes from a flock of young families who have watched Rick Warren and his message and believe in the church’s goals.
“This is the type of people who call Saddleback their home,” she said. “These are just average people making those amazing sacrifices. That’s how Saddleback has grown.”
Our Bishops need to learn from Rick Warren.
He does not allow scandalous and heretical Ministers against his Christian Faith, etc, to be prominent within his Church.
He does teach as best as he personally knows how – the Bible.
Where are our Bishops and Priests regarding encouraging all literate Catholics to read the Bible and CCC ?
Where are our Bishops and Priests regarding Canons 915 & 1399 ?
Sadly, people like Rick Warren will probably get to Heaven much quicker than many Cardinals, Bishops and Priests of the Catholic Faith.
People do not want wishy washy. People want truth. People want action based in truth.
Saddleback is growing and the Catholic Church (of Catholics who attend Mass each Sunday) is getting smaller. Why?
1) Because the vast majority of Cardinals, Bishops, and Priests have IGNORED our Popes and refused to encourage all literate Catholics to read the two most important books in our Faith –
“Catholic Bible” and the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition” of 1997. https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
Thus helping the devil keep people ignorant.
2) Most Cardinals and Bishops do not handle public SCANDALS using Canon 915, and 1399 – to teach, to correct – and to discipline if absolutely required.
Therefore by their sin of omission they teach – relativism and hedonism.
Do you know one Catholic Pastor who has this kind of vision? We are closing church buildings all over the country and all over Europe. Yet, the churches like Saddleback are expanding all over the country and in South America and Africa. They are very Bible oriented, have specific creeds that mirror the Nicene, believe in bringing people to God and then convert them, etc. They seem to know how to “do” church. I know lots of people who attend similar churches. They give 10% of their after tax income to the church, then they make their mortgage payment, pay for the car, buy food and educated the kids. Catholics say they can’t do that. I confess that I am one of them. My very close friend at one time lived on about $800 per month…
Bob One, we all need to make an assessment of our idols. Moral relativism might be a good place to start.
Well, THIS puts Catholicism to shame!
And Rick Warren’s Church does not take any money (Grants) from the Federal Government either.
Catholics should look at themselves and our leadership and ask “What’s wrong with this picture?” Catholics congratulate themselves about things like the “vocation boom” (non-existent–I believe there’s even an EWTN show about it) while the actual numbers point in the exact opposite direction.
Many Catholics of today, have little religious and moral training, and know very little about their Church! This situation has been on-going, since the close of the Second Vatican Council, in 1965! It is not enough, for Catholics to sit at home, alone, and try to read their Bibles and Catechisms! What is actually needed, is for priests and teaching nuns to do their jobs correctly, and teach the Catholic Faithful, and their children, right in their parishes! And all Catholic schools and universities, must do likewise! Catholics need a proper preparation for reception of the Sacraments, and on-going help and support, in the daily practice of their Faith and Morals!
Rev. Rick Warren, who is Baptist-trained and ordained (I think), is very motivated, in his work for Christ! Our Church needs to do likewise!
Well, Rev. Warren is a believer, and is willing to act — publicly — on his beliefs. Catholic bishops have little to say about anyone “going to heaven” as Warren does (and all Evangelicals do).
Yes, Catholic Readers, that is the key point here: publicly proclaiming a belief in heaven, and in how to get there, and in acting on same. The Catholic Church will prevail in some form, but not like it is now. In fact, the Church is pretty much in schism on several fronts, most notably with the German bishops. (Although, incredibly, Francis goes about saying that the Church is in great shape.)
A prediction: bishops will move like moths to the flame towards Protestantism, because it seems to be working. Unfortunately, they will want to…
I used to attend a non-denominational church like Rick Warren’s with my friend. We’d both go to mass too in the morning. I do have to say that the people in these churches have much more zeal for Jesus than we do. They have a lot to teach us. So many of us never read the Bible or Catechism. Or rarely even talk about Jesus. At the same time they need the Eucharist. etc.