Saddleback Church

February 8, 2010

Dear Saddleback Family,

ON HAITI
Since the disaster in Haiti, we have been so busy I haven't had time to write you. From the moment the earthquake hit, Saddleback has been coordinating relief efforts, not just from our church, but also for those many churches in our network that look to us for direction. I'll give you a full report later, but just know that the situation in Haiti is far worse than you can imagine. The loss of lives and homes is unlike anything I've known. Churches on the ground are doing the best they can but we lost 70 pastors who were in a meeting when the roof caved in on them.

Saddleback has coordinated relief in dozens of disasters, our experience shows us there are 3 stages to every disaster. First is the RESCUE stage, which is the shortest stage (usually hours or a few days) saving those who are still alive. Second is the RESUMING stage, where the goal is to get the power, water, communications, and roads working again. This can take several weeks, but in Haiti, many didn't have these services before the earthquake. The third phase, the REBUILDING stage, takes the longest. For example, we're still sending trained relief workers for Katrina rebuilding - almost 4 years later! We've given millions to disasters and have over 1,800 who've served in the rebuilding process after Katrina. Long after the Hollywood types forget about Haiti, we will still be helping rebuild because we are in this for the long haul.

This Easter, our entire Easter offering (at Angel Stadium) will be used for Haiti Relief through the PEACE plan.

ON RADICALIS
From Tuesday through Friday this week, young pastors from all around the world (about 35 countries) will be at Saddleback for training through our new Radicalis conference. Please pray for them!

NEW SERIES BEGINNING THIS WEEKEND
The spiritual season of "Lent", which begins 40 days before Easter each year, is not a practice found in the Bible but is simply a 2000 year old tradition from Church history. The word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "lencten" which means "Spring." This year Lent begins next week on Feb.17th.

The 40 days prior to Easter is a time to consider and remember all that Jesus has done for us. Through prayer, reading the Bible, worship, giving, fasting, and private acts of self-denial, we remind ourselves of all that Jesus gave up in order to save us.

"Jesus set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death-and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion." Philippians 2:7-8 (Message)

To help you focus on what Jesus did for you, and all of the amazing benefits that he paid for you, I'm going to teach a series on the seven last words of Jesus from the Cross during the next 40 Days. During his hours on the Cross, Jesus made seven statements. Although you have read them many times, you probably don't understand the incredible benefits to you that each statement represents. Jesusnever said anything without a purpose, and his dying words on the Cross are extremely important and valuable to your life. I am eager to unlock their full meaning for you beginning this weekend.

Once you know the meaning of Jesus' last words you'll realize that it's more appropriate to call them Jesus' living words - because they contain the truths you need for life. Here's my teaching schedule up to Easter:

FEB. 13-14 HE SPOKE THE WORD OF ABSOLUTION: "Father forgive them" so we know we are forgiven!

FEB 20-21 HE SPOKE THE WORD OF CONFIRMATION: "Today, you'll be with me in paradise" so we know we are heaven bound!

Feb. 27-28 HE SPOKE THE WORD OF PROVISION: "Behold your Son… Behold Your Mother" so we know he will take care of all our needs!

MAR 6-7 HE SPOKE THE WORD OF CONFUSION: "Why have you forsaken me?" so we know he paid our debt to God!

MAR 13-14 HE SPOKE THE WORD OF DEPRIVATION: "I thirst" so we know he understands all of our human needs, desires, and hungers!

MAR 20-21 HE SPOKE THE WORD OF SALVATION: "It is finished" so we know our salvation is completed and secured!

MAR 27-28 DECADE OF DESTINY VISION. I'll share the vision that God has given me for where we're going next as a church family.

APR 3 Saturday night ONLY pre-Easter worship service HE SPOKE THE WORD OF LIBERATION: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." so we don't have to fear death!

APR 4 EASTER AT ANGEL STADIUM! 10 am sharp! Who are you bringing?

See you this weekend!

Rick Warren
Saddleback Church
Purpose Driven Network
P.E.A.C.E. Coalition
TWITTER @RickWarren

Dear Saddleback Family,

All week, amazing stories have continued to pour in about your part in last week's Miracle of Radical Generosity. I'll share the full story - and the lessons we all learned - in my next News & Views. In the meantime, let me say how proud I am of your spiritual maturity. There simply is no other church that does what you do! The world was watching - and they were astounded.

This weekend, I begin our first series of the new decade: "WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW JESUS".

Also this weekend, on Sunday afternoon, you can enjoy one of four Saddleback Life Development Classes. If you haven't completed these basics - take your next step to spiritual maturing and sign up by clicking on Class 101 or the next class you need to take.

If you missed last weekend's historic message on Radical Generosity: THE MIRACLE! you can watch it here: http://bit.ly/3vwBvk

See you this weekend.

Rick Warren
Saddleback Church
Purpose Driven Network
P.E.A.C.E. Coalition
TWITTER @RickWarren

WELCOME TO 2010!

Dear Saddleback Family,

You won't want to miss this weekend at Saddleback! It will be history-making and also the first service of our Decade of Destiny. I can't wait to share with you what happened this week.

It speaks volumes about YOU, the depth of commitment in this fellowship, and where God is taking us in 2010 - our 30th Anniversary year. I'm simply calling this week's message "The Miracle".

In spite of a media culture that thrives on bad news and is typically clueless about how churches actually work, and in spite of hatefulness and insults by some who immediately jumped to wrong conclusion - the church of God marches on, and once again God surprises all of us!

I am humbled to have been your pastor for 30 years. See you this weekend.

Rick Warren
Saddleback Church
Purpose Driven Network
P.E.A.C.E. Coalition
TWITTER @RickWarren

Wednesday Evening Update:

Dear Saddleback Family,

It has been both inspiring and humbling to hear the reports of your instant and overwhelming response to this week's News & Views. Thanks so much for all your encouraging notes and emails! Here's just one:

BACKGROUND: The cause of our financial shortfall was NOT a management issue but simply by the way Christmas occurred in this year's calendar. After 10 packed Christmas services, and with Christmas Day on Friday, many people were out of town or too tired to come back for weekend services, so the unusually low attendance created an unusually low offering. That is understandable.

MEDIA: Because our church attracts a lot of attention, the media will undoubtedly report my letter- but only partially, not telling the whole story. It is likely that none of the positive end-of-the-year reports of your service to the community and none of your amazing accomplishments as a church family in 2009 will be reported. They may get some facts wrong or even misjudge our motivations. I know this is frustrating, but don't let it bother you.

See you this weekend!

Rick Warren
Saddleback Church
Purpose Driven Network
P.E.A.C.E. Coalition
TWITTER @RickWarren

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Dear Saddleback Family,

THIS IS AN URGENT LETTER unlike any I've written in 30 years. Please read all of it and get back to me in the next 48 hours.

I have thrilling news to share with you below but first some seriously bad news:

With 10% of our church family out of work due to the recession, our expenses in caring for our community in 2009 rose dramatically while our income stagnated. Still, with wise management, we've stayed close to our budget all year. Then... this last weekend the bottom dropped out.

On the last weekend of 2009, our total offerings were less than half of what we normally receive - leaving us $900,000 in the red for the year, unless you help make up the difference today and tomorrow.

Please read this end-of-the-year review and then take one of the 3 actions below.

2009: A BANNER YEAR OF MINISTRY IN SPITE OF THE RECESSION
There's so much to share - I can only hit the highlights (maybe 5%) of how your church has served our community this year:

YOUR GIFTS HELP THE POOR & THOSE HURT MOST BY THE RECESSION:

• Saddleback Food Pantry- Your gifts are feeding 400 hurting families in our community each month. Over 2,000 different families received food assistance in 2009, thanks to your generosity and the help of over 250 volunteers.
• Breakfast Together & Homeless Ministry- Thousands of Saddleback volunteers are serving in the 6 locations hardest hit by poverty here south OC.
• Financial Coaching- With 10% of our congregation out of work due to the recession, this ministry exploded with growth in 2009.
• Cars Ministry- Received over 150 donated vehicles. Some were sold to pay for parts to refurbish the rest of the cars which were given to members struggling without transportation. All our mechanics volunteer their time.

YOU ARE HELPING THOSE WITH PERSONAL & RELATIONAL PAIN

• Counseling- Your 230 certified Saddleback counselors provided over 20,000 free counseling sessions to our community this year! Training for new counselors start in January. The need is so great.
• Support Groups- 193 volunteers lead these specialized small groups that focus on acute needs. We support everything from Alzheimer's and AIDS to Young Adults with Aspergers.
• Recovery- During the recession, attendance at Celebrate Recovery has grown 35% after 27,000 participated in our 8 week Life's Healing Choices Campaign Experience. A new program for elementary kids, Celebrate Station, was launched. Over 12,000 other churches nationwide now use our Celebrate Recovery program.
• Prayer Garden- 6,720 people in crisis received warm, face-to-face attention and prayer through our Prayer Garden and Restoration Service. This does not include our counseling ministry.

YOU ARE HELPING CHANGE LIVES FOR CHRIST!

• Baptisms - 2803 people demonstrated their new life in Christ through baptism- the most in 30 years!
• Joining our Family - 4,026 attended Class 101 in 2009 - another 30 year record.
• Prison Ministry - CR Inside grew by 20 state representatives who are directing our work in jails, prisons & rehab facilities nationally. Every state will be covered by the end of 2010.

YOU ARE HELPING PEOPLE FIND GOD IN WORSHIP
There is so much going on with our worship ministries it would require 3 pages. Here are just a few activities you probably don't know about:

• A 5th Saddleback campus opened in Laguna Woods - Adding to our available services in San Clemente, Irvine, Corona, and Lake Forest. Our Lake Forest worship venues (Overdrive, Praise, Traditions, and others) continue to minister to tens of thousands of spiritually hungry people. 20 worship leaders have been mentored.
• Saddleback's School of Music & Arts - 472 students took weekly lessons with our ten instructors. Our children's choirs, involving hundreds of kids, did 20 outreach events in our community.
• Guitarists in God (GIG) Ministry - Over 50 guitarists volunteer to play at nursing homes, our motel ministry to the homeless, urban outreaches, and Bible studies on our campus and in homes. A new credentialing program will launch in 2010.
• Purpose Driven Radio - Began in 2009 on the Internet, offering 24 hour a day music, daily devotionals, children's programming, and more. You can hear it HERE.
• Our Ohana Band & Hula Team - (Island music) serve the community as Saddleback ambassadors.

YOU ARE HELPING PEOPLE GROW SPIRITUALLY

• Small Groups - The heart and soul of our church family grew to over 4,000 adult groups, meeting in almost every city in Southern California. We're testing 26 online groups. Talk It Over, our small group studies based on the weekend messages were downloaded 53,893 times for use by groups. Our groups speak over 20 languages.
• Our online Spiritual Growth Center - was used 44,716 times. All our Bible studies set records for growth.
• Married Life Pathway - 2,704 people took advantage of our programs for couples to strengthen their marriages in 2009.
• Our Children's, Jr. High, Senior High & College Ministries - We are shaping thousands of young lives and exploding with record growth. High school ministry doubled in the last year after we opened the Refinery.

YOU ARE MAKING A HUGE INTERNATIONAL IMPACT!

• PEACE Plan & Purpose Driven Leadership Training Worldwide - It would require a book to tell you all your church is doing to Promote reconciliation, Equip leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick, and Educate the next generation. No other local church on earth has the international reach that Saddleback does. Over 8,000 Saddleback members have served in 139 countries. PEACE Teams are already planned to serve in the remaining 58 nations of the world in 2010.

READING JUST THIS SHORT LIST
It's obvious that your giving through your church family is providing more "bang for the buck" than anything else you could support. It is no wonder that our ministry was named the top religious newsmaker of 2009 as reported by Associated Press.

YOU CAN HELP SAVE THE DAY 3 WAYS BEFORE JAN 1

1. Click HERE right now to and give as large an end-of-the-year gift as you can to help avert this crisis. If we all do what God leads us to do, we'll all be a part of a miracle.
2. Mail in your gift today. Gifts must be postmarked in 2009 to be posted as 2009 gifts for tax purposes. Mail to: 1 Saddleback Parkway, Lake Forest, CA 92630.
3. Drop your gift in the box at the front door of the Ministry Center at 1 Saddleback Parkway so you know for certain we get it TODAY or Thursday.

Saddleback is the most generous church family I know. You have always come through when asked. Now, you can make a difference, and help us continue serving so many. If we all do our part, we'll end this year in the black and start the new decade with high hopes!

I love you so much. It is a deep privilege to be your pastor. I will be teaching again this weekend and writing to you about the lessons I've learned in 2009. If you missed Radical Hope this last weekend, I urge you to watch it on line. I'll see you this weekend!

Rick Warren
Saddleback Church
Purpose Driven Network
P.E.A.C.E. Coalition
TWITTER @RickWarren