Saddleback Lake Forest

The 500 families who visit Saddleback’s food pantry each month receive more than just food. Since its May 2009 opening, volunteers have shared prayer, encouragement, and hope with over 20,000 clients. The ministry developed to provide hope and “strengthen relationships with God,” according to Pantry Coordinator Rana Muncy.

Initially overseen by the Membership Team at Saddleback, the ministry is now led by Pastor of Stewardship Chris Goulard. He and Rana shared remarkable stories of “love in action,” as a large sign proclaims in the pantry’s office.

Seeking comfort and care

A woman who had received food at the pantry returned two weeks later, well before she was eligible for another monthly box of food, seeking refuge after falling victim to domestic violence. “Of all the places she could have turned for help,” Rana said, “she came here. Not to neighbors, family, the police—she came here. She told us, ‘I just need to talk to someone.’” Rana added that other clients return frequently for prayer.

Volunteers at the pantry sort the donated food, stock shelves that are arranged like a grocery store’s aisles, and pack the food into boxes according to a list. Other volunteers host the clients when they arrive, guiding them through the process of enrolling and rolling their food out to the parking lot on a cart. They pray together. “We never rush people,” Pastor Chris said. “Our volunteers talk with them for as long as the conversation continues. No one is a number here.”

Giving food and feeding the soul

A family of four receives a box of canned, boxed, frozen and fresh foods weighing over 75 pounds, “a really full grocery cart’s worth,” Pastor Chris explained. The food is intended to meet their needs for a week. The box also holds scripture verses, booklets, or other inspirational material and a list of local assistance resources. Fifty clients have received Christ at the food pantry and another 48 have recommitted their lives to Him.

Rana shared the story of a young man who came with his neighbor. The neighbor told the pantry host that her friend had not yet accepted Christ, so the host asked him if he would like to. The young man professed his faith on the spot. The next day, he returned with a friend. Rana explained, “’This guy really needs Christ in his life,’ he said.” She laughed. “A one-day believer and he’s bringing us other people!” The next week, the young man returned with yet another friend so he could also hear the gospel.

Pastor Chris and Rana agreed that “our number one strength is our ministry” and they focus on raising up volunteers by ministering to them. “We fill them up so they can flow into our clients,” he explained. They’ve also seen their volunteers grow through serving God. Debbie, a volunteer who initially wanted to remain in the sorting area in the warehouse, was gently led to come into the offices, then to join with hosts as they prayed with client families. “Debbie was the first volunteer to lead a client to Christ,” Rana announced proudly. “And since that time, she’s probably led another 15 of the 50,” Pastor Chris added.

Using space carved out of an existing church warehouse, Saddleback’s pantry distributes food donated by church members or by corporate partners. Starbucks Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels contribute day-old goods. Post Cereals and Kraft Foods have donated food by the pallet. Just4Tires sent a team to Costco to buy food—using money that had been earmarked for their holiday party—then some the tire store staff used a vacation day to come in and stock the shelves. Cash donations are used to purchase food to “fill in” items needed to pack the boxes with a balanced variety of nutritious foods. Currently, the pantry is distributing 37,500 pounds of food a month. About a quarter of its clients are Saddleback members; the rest come from the local community. Ten to 25 percent of clients are visiting a food pantry for the first time. They range from unemployed professionals to homeless families. “We had some here yesterday who asked for water, because they’d walked,” Rana said.

For more information on the food pantry, contact them at (949) 609-8757.

You can make a difference with as little as ONE bag of food per month. Fill a grocery bag and drop it off at Ministry Office 1 during the week or in the big blue barrels on the weekend.

Jeff’s Story

My name is Jeff, and I’m a believer who struggles with anger and chemical addiction.

Adversities and struggles I went through as a child and young adult were significant enough to affect my entire life. However, I am here to tell you that our God is amazing and wonderful. I share my story as an example of God’s unconditional love shown through the powerful and merciful restoration of my life and relationships over the past five years through the teachings of life change at Celebrate Recovery.

I grew up in a home filled with violent child abuse. My father’s rage was often taken out on me. My understanding of my own identity became more confusing and troublesome throughout my teenage years. I was left to figure out my own techniques for dealing with my circumstances and the stress and anxiety that went along with them. Drinking became that technique.

I turned to alcohol as a teenager to try and numb my feelings of isolation and abandonment. When I turned 18, I moved out and it was a turning point in my life. I moved to California and a mentor introduced me to Lynne, who would later become my wife. However, the darkness and anger buried in my heart was causing inner turmoil that almost destroyed our marriage. I struggled with feelings of inadequacy and rejection. I saw no remedy but to leave. After leaving my wife and two kids behind, my slow spiral downward into the abyss of utter selfishness began.

My drinking and sickened heart opened a Pandora’s Box of sin and dysfunction, which led to destructive behavior. This carried on for about 18 months, during which time my wife filed for divorce. I still loved her and my family deeply, yet I was still in denial of who I had become. Then I heard God’s voice.

Total surrender

Late one night, despondent and alone with only the clothes on my back, I had a dream. God’s message was simple, yet direct: “What are you doing here? You don’t belong here!” With a new resolve to heal our marriage and life together, I returned home.

It was rough. Lynne and I separated twice during my continued desperation and struggle with addiction that literally left me in the gutter outside of my workplace. My boss took a picture to prove it! I was still living in denial that I alone could control my anger and alcohol addiction. Most significant though, was my denial of how the hurts in my past had affected me and enabled my addictions.

Finally, one night as I lay wide-awake again in the middle of the night, I thought about the times Lynne had taken me to Saddleback Church and the sermons I had heard there. I remembered what Pastor Rick said about surrendering everything to God – that if we ever decided to sincerely give our will and life completely over to Jesus we would be changed forever. My spirit was broken and dying. Deep down I knew my only chance was with God.

As I lay there sleepless, sober, and feeling more alone and isolated than I had ever felt in my life, I began praying and crying. I gave up, surrendered all of it, all of me, all that I was and wasn’t and would never be. All of my problems, my pain, my garbage, my sins, my failings, my weaknesses, my heart and soul; I had nothing more to give except my love and devotion, and these too I gave. I waited for something earth shattering to happen. Instead God gave me peace and quiet sleep that had been so elusive.

A changed life

Within days I was in a detox center. Lynne, even though we were separated, gave her time to help and visit me. Our kids I had so neglected were right there by my side. When I got out, the only safe place I had, away from the ways of my now past, was at Lynne's house and she, in an amazing act of selflessness, opened her home to her estranged husband for the sake of keeping me safe. And then God had a divine appointment waiting for me at Celebrate Recovery.

When I arrived at Tent 3 inquiring about the men’s step study, a man lingering there said, “That’s where I’m going too. I was waiting for you.” That blew me away. It was my first meeting and I’ve been with Celebrate Recovery ever since. I have been blessed and privileged to lead three step studies over the past four years. On Wednesday, August 4, 2010, we celebrated my fifth year of sobriety and a changed life that God has used to help change many other lives in the process.

Celebrate Recovery is truly God’s plan of healing and freedom where we see miracles daily through the work of His Holy Spirit in the lives of our groups. Celebrate Recovery is much more than a program for addicts. It is a place that begins and ends with God, where you learn so many life changing truths. I hope that one day when I stand before the Lord someone will come up and say they were there because they knew me.

Celebrate Recovery takes place every Friday night on our Lake Forest campus. Click here to learn more or contact Tina at Tinad@saddleback.com.

Has your life been transformed by God through Celebrate Recovery or one of Saddleback’s other support groups? Share your story with us by contacting Jay at jayk@saddleback.com.

Last week, Celebrate Recovery had their annual Summit here at the Lake Forest Campus. Over 3,000 CR leaders attended to learn, grow, and get prepared to implement the program back at their own churches. Often, we get caught up in the numbers of a successful event, but miss the stories of life change that God orchestrates. Here is one such story...

Lynne’s Testimony

It was late in the afternoon, almost exactly five years ago, when I got a phone call while I was working.

“Mrs. Leite?” the man asked.

“That’s odd,” I thought, “who would be calling and why would they be calling me Mrs. Leite?” People who knew me knew that I was separated, for the second time, and that it wouldn’t really be appropriate to call me “Mrs.” Leite.

“Yes, this is Mrs. Leite.”

“Mrs. Leite, this is Dr. Stefan and I have your husband, Jeff, here.”

“Yes?”

“He has been drinking - a lot - and I think he needs to go to detox.”

His words hit my ears but, sadly, didn’t evoke an emotional response. I could tell by the sound of the doctor’s voice that he was very concerned. While it wasn’t that I wasn’t concerned, it’s just that I had been on this journey for quite a while and the doctor’s words didn’t come as a surprise. In fact I had been talking to Jeff in person before he left for the doctor’s office, so I knew the state of his sobriety.

“I see. Uh, Doctor, did Jeff tell you that we are separated? That he left? I am not sure what I can do in this situation.”

“Well, your husband did tell me that I can’t heal his hurt because he has a broken heart.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Jeff and I had been married for 19 years before we separated. We married young, very much in love, but very much unprepared to deal with the baggage each of us brought to our marriage. Jeff and I had both accepted Jesus as our Savior as children, however neither of us had surrendered our lives to Him.

During our difficult marriage, we each had our own way of dealing with the hurts of our childhoods and unmet expectations. Jeff turned more and more to alcohol to cope, and I turned to control. Jeff worked more away from home and I became angrier as I felt my control slipping away. Until one Sunday morning when Jeff said he didn’t think he loved me anymore and he wasn’t sure he wanted to be married to me. That’s when my world fell apart.

Even though our marriage was a painful, miserable mess, I still loved Jeff and the thought of our relationship really being over was devastating to me. I had hit a low in my life I didn’t know existed. Jeff left our home and I was left to deal with the woman I had become and to keep life going for our two children. I could not do this on my own – I knew I had no control anymore and no hope without the help of the Lord.

I looked for a new Bible teaching church and the children and I began attending Saddleback Church. It was a painful time for us as a family but, as is often the case, it was also a time of great spiritual growth. God began to reveal to me the woman I had become through the choices I had made in how I dealt with my husband and our marriage. It was a time of being down on my face before God, asking for repentance and a second chance. I had no choice, thankfully, but to give up control to God.

During the 40 Days of Love campaign at Saddleback, I joined a small group. During that next year, I did my best to surrender to the Lord, to understand who He truly is and to walk according to His ways. There were many bumps along the way, but in the end I had a developed a relationship with my Lord and Savior that I never knew I could have. I learned what it means to be truly forgiven and to forgive, to be loved unconditionally and to love - as best I can - unconditionally. I know it doesn’t have to be a bumpy road for everyone, but thankfully God will let us hit bottom if that’s what it takes to get our attention.

During that same year, it seemed that Jeff was pulling away from the Lord. He was making painful choices that hurt not only his family, but himself as well. I saw no alternative but to file for legal separation. And then the day came when Jeff said he wanted to come home and try to make it work. Here was the second chance I had asked God for – but was I capable of not falling into old patterns of behavior? Was I capable of the forgiveness it would take to move on in a healthy way? Was I capable of staying close to the Lord if the marriage got bumpy again?

Without the Lord I knew I was not capable of any of those things. There were times when the old self would want to rear its head, but I would ask the Lord to speak for me instead. We don’t forget hurts, we just choose to not remember, and there were many times when I had to make that choice. And the marriage continued to be bumpy. Jeff continued to drink. He still seemed to be battling with the Lord and I began to wonder if I really did want that second chance after all. It was still hard, but for me it was different. In the end I had given it all to the Lord – my marriage, my life, my future – and when it got bumpy I did my best to focus on Him.

Then Jeff left again. It was so sad to see how quickly Jeff spiraled downward. I had let my anger go long before and now I only felt sadness for this man, whom I still loved. I wasn’t sure what the bottom looked like for Jeff and I did worry that it might mean the end of his life. Once more, I handed it over to the Lord.

And then I got the call from the doctor recommending detox for Jeff. The kids and I began to wonder what would happen and where would Jeff go when he got out of detox a few days later? We agreed that he would come back to our house. We would be there for him but he would need to get continual help with his drinking problem. Celebrate Recovery at Saddleback Church would be that help.

Celebrate Recovery is a wonderful ministry that helps the hurting; but it isn’t the ministry of Celebrate Recovery that does the miracles, it is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Celebrate Recovery is just the vessel God uses to bring hope and healing to people there, like Jeff.

The kids and I could see the changes in Jeff – in his perspective, attitude, and choices. He had hit his bottom and finally surrendered all to the Lord. Celebrate Recovery gave him a safe place with safe people to share and go through the healing process. It works because it is ALL centered on the Lord. I was also a beneficiary of the teachings as I learned, through Jeff, the need for continual surrender. His example of trusting in the Lord instead of in the bottle, or control, or the world was an inspiration to all of us. As his family, we could trust in Celebrate Recovery because we knew that with God, all things are possible – even third chances and restored relationships.

We now have the marriage we both dreamed of because we both put God first in our lives and in our marriage. About two years after Jeff joined Celebrate Recovery, we celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary with a party to renew our vows and honor God for all He had done in our lives. Jeff went on to become a volunteer leader for the ministry and now leads men’s step study. I love it when he is leading a group because you can just see the Lord working in his life. It never fails that God will reveal something new to him in each session.

It has been five years since that fateful call from the doctor – and five years of sobriety for Jeff. Life continues to be a journey, with peaks and valleys. But what we have learned from God, through Celebrate Recovery, is that He is there for the entire journey. He is trustworthy and loving and He is worth celebrating!

Celebrate Recovery takes place every Friday night on our Lake Forest campus. Click here to learn more.

Saddleback reached Jim and Karin Myers in the very spot where God placed them years ago—Rancho Capistrano! As permanent residents of the area, the Myers have long invested their spiritual lives at the “Ranch,” worshipping for more than two decades as members of the church that met on the location.

One day in the mid 1990s, Karin stood just outside the doors of Rancho Capistrano’s sprawling Hacienda and she felt God’s presence there. “God impressed my heart that He wanted this property to be a place for people to pray, to stay and be restored in Him. I knew it would one day be a place for pastors to be better equipped for ministry.” Karin remained in awe of the experience. “It was a strong enough whisper of the Lord that I needed to sit down. The Ranch has been a part of my heart since that time, but I didn’t tell anyone.”

Five years later, Jim and Karin became a part of Saddleback’s Empty Arms Ministry, following the loss of their youngest son, Michael. Over the next several years, they felt their connection to Saddleback grow as they attended occasional conferences, and in 2008 they began to visit the Lake Forest campus regularly. In January of 2010, the Myers took Class 101 and officially became Saddleback members. “A few weeks later when Pastor Rick announced the circumstances around the gifting of Rancho Capistrano and described how it would be used, I cried,” Karin said.

“We never knew that we would be needed as volunteers here at Rancho Capistrano,” Karin said after a walk through the property. “We volunteered that first Saturday and planted alongside the other volunteers. They needed help watering the more than 2,000 donated plants, and since we live in San Juan Capistrano, we thought it was something we could do.” Jim and Karin work at the Ranch six days a week, watering a few hours each weekday. On Saturdays, they serve as volunteer team leaders guiding the many workers who come to beautify the property and make repairs.

“We’ve met the nicest people. What we love about Saddleback members is their hearts to serve. Everyone wants the time they spend to be effective, so they come ready to work. When there is a need, say for hoses, we just let the need be known, and volunteers bring them!” 

“It feels like Rancho Capistrano is a local mission trip,” Jim and Karin agree. “It’s awesome to work with people who have servant’s hearts,” they said. “This isn’t about us, it’s about ALL of us doing what God has called us to do—to Him be the glory!”

“We plan to trust God and serve here as long as He desires. We are committed to keeping our hand to the plow. God has kept us here all these years, and this is where we belong,” Karin concluded. 

To be a part of what God is doing at Rancho Capistrano to learn ways you can serve, contact Janna at Jannar@saddleback.com.

The Communication Arts Ministry at Saddleback Church is made up of Writing/Editing teams, Social Media, Marketing/Advertising, Graphic Design, Web Design, PICS (photography), and Video Production.  This thriving ministry is as diverse in opportunities as it is in volunteers – especially one in particular, high school senior Marissa Cruz.

“I was first involved in the Photo Ministry, and then my small group leader, Haley, asked if I could help out in video production for HSM’s (High School Ministry) weekend services,” said Marissa. “Working the camera was pretty easy to pick up on.”

As she captures the Worship Team and various speakers throughout the service, she gets to choose what she focuses on.  And speaking of focus, she’s careful to not only keep the image sharp, but to watch the “head room” – making sure there isn’t too much space above individuals on stage. It’s not always an easy job.

Yet Marissa is quick to express how much she loves the creativity and freedom of working with a camera.  “Some of the lighting shots are fun because as I capture the lights around the stage, for example, I can then make the camera ‘blur,’ creating a very cool effect.” 

Attending Saddleback Church since she was very young, Marissa has always been involved in small groups, attending church activities and camps regularly.  She has also volunteered in Kids’ Small Groups as a youth leader.

As Marissa thinks about her future, she’s excited to see what God has in store for her.  Will she dive further into volunteer work with the Communications Arts ministry?  Or will she explore other opportunities, such as serving the elderly in her community?  At any rate, she trusts that God will continue to guide her in her ministry endeavors, just as he did before.

Looking for an opportunity to serve? Click here to dig into your S.H.A.P.E. (spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences for ministry) and find a new passion for service!

Do you know a junior high or high school student who is using their gifts for ministry? Share their story here!

Ruth Cisneros came to Saddleback from Ecuador, and here, has found a relationship with Jesus Christ, a fulfilling ministry, and her purpose in life.

Ruth was a dentist in her native country. She had settled into her own practice, and was in pursuit of her career. However, with conditions as they were in Ecuador, she found life there impossible. “I need to do something with my life,” she told herself. “I need to go to a country with a stable economy, where I can earn enough money to live.” Speaking little English, but with much determination, she applied for and received a hard-to-get U.S. visa. Within a month of her arrival she had a job as an orthodontist’s assistant, and during the next several years her employer helped her obtain her visa. Ruth became a U.S. citizen, paid off her student loans from Ecuador, and began to save some money.

“I went to Saddleback for the first time in 2005, referred by a friend. I went with the attitude that I would go, but I would make no commitment,” Ruth said. “I still remember the sermon from that first visit. Pastor Tom Holliday was preaching, and he told a story about a man whose life had been changed by God’s word.” Ruth paused before finishing, “I loved that message!” Ruth continued to visit Saddleback and listened intently to weekly sermons. In 2007 she attended Class 101, which soon led to her getting baptized. She sent a note to her friend, “I met Jesus Christ at Saddleback. Thank you!” 

Within the next few weeks, Ruth saw in the bulletin a need for volunteers to help with the babies during weekend worship services. God gave her an opportunity that would fulfill a yearning in her heart for children of her own, while serving Him in a very special way. “I was very nervous when I began, but the other workers were so nice. They taught me how to change diapers, how to hold the babies, and now I have the privilege for caring for them every Sunday. “I experience so much of God’s love through those precious little babies. I praise God for the chance to be there.” 

God had more planned for Ruth’s life than she ever imagined when she left Ecuador. During her years at Saddleback, God has shown her a purpose, a project of her heart, and a dream that could be a page right out of the PEACE Plan — so she has taken action. Ruth has begun a foundation in Ecuador to provide a free dental and medical clinic for poor children in her former community. Financing the project herself, she is more than halfway through the construction of a three story office building which – besides the free clinic – will include a small auditorium for teaching Bible studies, holding small group meetings, and teaching community health.

Ruth says, “At Saddleback, I have met Jesus Christ. I have learned to pray for people, and to forgive. I have learned to be grateful for everything. I have found purpose, and God has transformed my life!”

If you want to find out your SHAPE for ministry, our next Class 301 is coming up this Sunday, August 8. Click here to register. If you're looking to start serving at Saddleback, click here to learn more.

Summit Offers Life-Changing Solutions for Those Looking for Recovery

Thousands of people have found freedom from their hurts, hang-ups, and habits, through the Celebrate Recovery program, which is active in over 13,000 churches worldwide. Through this life-changing ministry, hurting individuals are finding recovery. The Celebrate Recovery program recognizes that every person can identify with some type of hurt that haunts them; a hang-up that causes pain; and habits that are destructive to people’s lives.

Celebrate Recovery began at Saddleback Church nearly 19 years ago when John Baker, a recovering alcoholic, suggested to senior pastor Rick Warren that the church needed a biblically-based recovery ministry. Baker proposed a program that would offer healing for anyone struggling with any kind of hurt, hang-up, or habit.

“Celebrate Recovery works because it is based on Jesus Christ and the eight principles of the Beatitudes,” says John Baker, Founder and Pastor of Celebrate Recovery. “I have seen Him restore broken people and turn the junk in people’s lives around to be used for His glory and to help other people find recovery.”

 “Not only will people learn to find healing in Jesus, they’ll find safe people who have gone through what they’re going through and are willing to walk alongside them in their journey” says Baker.

After almost 20 years of helping people overcome their hurts, hang-ups and habits, more than 11,500 people have been through the program at Saddleback Church. More than 70 percent of those who have taken part came from outside of the church. Rick Warren calls it "a leadership factory," because more than half of those who have been through the program have become leaders in the church.

The Summit (August 11-13) is a life-changing, three-day conference where pastors and lay leaders will learn how to start Celebrate Recovery in their own churches. Leading experts will be speaking including, John Baker and his wife Cheryl, Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. In addition, there will be over 20 workshops and networking opportunities.

 “Our God is a God of second, third, and fourth chances,” says Baker. “For the past 19 years I’ve had a front row seat in watching God dramatically change lives, and I know that this year will be no different.”