Decade of Destiny

New Saddleback Location at the Grove!

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:23:00 GMT

Exciting news from our Saddleback Orange campus! Next Sunday will be a very special one for Saddleback Orange - they will be celebrating Easter at their new location, the Grove!

Yes, you read that right! Our Orange campus will begin meeting at the amazing Grove of Anaheim venue. The space is incredible, and opens up great opportunities for our Saddleback Orange folks to reach the north Orange County community.

"Currently, we meet at a middle school in Orange," said Saddleback Orange Pastor Jeremiah Goley. "We've been at-capacity for parking and space for a long time." Goley and his team have been looking for a new space for their campus. At the top of their wish list for a new location was visibility, accessibility, and parking. "These are important factors for reaching people for Christ," explains Pastor Jeremiah. "We've been praying for a building, and praying for something on the border of Orange and Anaheim . . . the main artery of Orange County."

During the search for a building, the Grove came up for discussion, but Pastor Jeremiah says that it seemed impossible. "But we watched the impossible start to fall," he explains. Saddleback was not only able to secure the building, but they were able to secure permanent space for their children's programs - a major feat. "We pitched the idea of modular classrooms to the City of Anaheim, and they were actually okay with it!" The modular classrooms give the church ample, permanent space for its thriving programs for children and students.

This is just one of the many amazing moments the Saddleback Orange team has experienced as they prayed about and pursued this new building. "It's been such a cool journey," says Pastor Jeremiah. "On December 18, the sermon topic was 'more is possible because God is able.' And that's what we've seen take place." He is adamant about the importance of the building. Although the building is a blessing, he says, it's not what is most important. "The building is not the church. And it's not about convenience. It's about reaching as many people as possible. This is a building for people who don't like to go to church. A place that they would like to come to. And we are passionate about introducing those people to Jesus Christ."

Join the Saddleback Orange campus, who will now be known as Saddleback at The Grove, on their first Sunday in the new building. Services will take place at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. For more information, visit the Saddleback Orange page.

The Grove is located at�2200 East Katella Avenue, Anaheim CA 92806.

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Take Your Next Steps With PEACE 3.0 on Saturday

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:11:00 GMT

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Over 1,000 people gathered together last weekend for the PEACE 3.0 Twelve City Rally. This weekend, Saddleback will host the second official meeting for PEACE 3.0 - the vision to launch 12 base camps around the world. The PEACE Plan is a global movement to fight five the 'global giants' that oppress and silence men, women and children throughout the world.

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What is PEACE?

The PEACE plan is a hopeful response to the five giant problems in the world: spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy. PEACE is a movement to mobilize Christians in the local church as they work together to:

Plant churches that promote reconciliation

Equip servant leaders

Assist the poor

Care for the sick

Educate the next generation

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What is PEACE 3.0?

PEACE 3.0 is what we're calling the third phase of the PEACE Plan. In phase one, the PEACE Plan was created and we began to serve on the ground, partnering with local churches around the world. In phase two, Saddleback Church members went to every nation in the world. And now, in phase three, we plan to reach the remaining 3,800 unreached people groups in the world.

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What does it have to do with me?

The PEACE Plan has a place for every single member. You can participate from your home, in your own neighborhood, in your county, your country and the world. The mission of PEACE is something that is needed both here and abroad, and it takes every kind of person and ability to make it happen. Jesus Christ commanded each of us to "Go and make disciples of all men" (Matt. 28:19) and PEACE is our answer to that call.

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Why us?

Why not us? Why don't we let some other church reach these people groups? Because we want to be a part of God's mission to rescue the world. Because we want to be a people who do not stand by while men, women and children are enslaved, oppressed, bartered and dying. We stand up and say that We.Will.Go.

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Ok! How do I take my next step?

Join us on�Saturday morning for our next informational meeting.�We'll tell you more about the PEACE Plan and how you can get involved. Then, we'll break out in to city groups so you can get more specific information about the city you're interested in going to.

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Saturday, February 4

8:30 - 10:00 a.m.�

Tent 3

Lake Forest campus

Visit thepeaceplan.com or email peace@saddleback.com for more information.

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What's Going On? Watch This!

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:32:00 GMT

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Get a recap of everything that's taking place at Saddleback Church this week. 2012 is off to a great start, so don't miss out on the great things taking place in the Saddleback family!

Get Ready to Change the World With PEACE 3.0

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:31:00 GMT

Get ready, Saddleback Church. This weekend, we move forward with PEACE 3.0! The PEACE Plan is a global movement to fight five the 'global giants' that oppress and silence men, women and children throughout the world. Did you know that YOU can be a part this fight, both here at home and around the globe? Read on to find out how.

What is PEACE?
The PEACE plan is a hopeful response to the five giant problems in the world: spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy. PEACE is a movement to mobilize Christians in the local church as they work together to:
Plant churches that promote reconciliation
Equip servant leaders
Assist the poor
Care for the sick
Educate the next generation

What is PEACE 3.0?
PEACE 3.0 is what we're calling the third phase of the PEACE Plan. In phase one, the PEACE Plan was created and we began to serve on the ground, partnering with local churches around the world. In phase two,�Saddleback Church members went to every nation in the world. And now, in phase three, we plan to reach the remaining 3,800 unreached people groups in the world.

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We will be planting 12 base camps in the following regions: South Africa, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Philippines, China, India, Japan, U.K., Russia, Germany, Mexico and Argentina. We are looking for mission-minded members who will stand up and help plant these bases. These base camps will allow us to partner with local churches and reach the surrounding people groups with the gospel of Christ.

What does it have to do with me?
The PEACE Plan has a place for every single member. You can participate from your home, in your own neighborhood, in your county, your country and the world. The mission of PEACE is something that is needed both here and abroad, and it takes every kind of person and ability to make it happen. Jesus Christ commanded each of us to "Go and make disciples of all men" (Matt. 28:19) and PEACE is our answer to that call.

Why us?
Why not us? Why don't we let some other church reach these people groups? Because we want to be a part of God's mission to rescue the world. Because we want to be a people who do not stand by while men, women and children are enslaved, oppressed, bartered and dying. We stand up and say that We.Will.Go.

Ok! How do I take my next step?
Join us this Saturday night for our Twelve City Rally. We'll tell you more about the PEACE Plan and how you can get involved. We will begin to talk about the areas in which the 12 base camps will be planted and give you specific volunteer opportunities.
Saturday, January 28
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Tent 3
Lake Forest campus
Visit thepeaceplan.com or email peace@saddleback.com for more information.

The size of your vision should only be limited by the size of your God.�

PEACE 3.0 is a big dream. But we serve an ever bigger God.

What's Going On This Week? Watch This!

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:20:00 GMT

Get a recap of everything that's taking place at Saddleback Church this week. From the launch of 40 Days, to Decade of Destiny and the exciting things in store for 2012, you won't want to miss this great recap of what's going on at Saddleback.

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What is 40 Days in the Word?

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMT

For the last two weeks, Pastor Rick has been talking about the importance of small groups in preparation for the launch of the new 40 Days in the Word campaign. 'Life is not meant to be lived alone' is something we say a lot here at Saddleback, and it's because small groups have shown this to be absolutely true.

Our small groups are about to embark upon a curriculum called 40 Days in the Word. Heard of it? We bet you have!

So what is 40 Days in the Word and why is everyone so excited about it?

40 Days is a spiritual growth campaign. As you've probably gathered by now, Saddleback is not a church that likes to stand still. We are passionate about continually growing as individuals and as a congregation. Spiritual growth campaigns are a major tool that Saddleback uses to help you grow. A campaign simply refers to a time of unified focus in the weekend sermons, small group curriculum, and interactive elements (such as the web) to help you learn and grow in a specific area.

As Pastor Rick said in his recent Vision Night message, it takes more than weekend sermons to grow up. Spiritual growth must be intentional, personal, habitual, relational, and multi-dimensional. A campaign like 40 Days in the Word incorporates weekly sermons, an interactive online experience and small group curriculum to help you dive in to an area of growth and see lasting, real change in your life.

The small group studies help you go deeper in to the material with other people, providing you with accountability and encouragement. The online portion helps guide you in the multi-dimensional and habitual aspects, and offer tools to keep you growing on a daily basis. Lastly, the weekend sermons tie it all together.

40 Days is a campaign that will truly change your life if you let it. In last week's sermon, Pastor Rick recited this verse:

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

This is the only verse in the Bible which promises prosperity and success, said Pastor Rick. In this verse and others we see God reminding us of the power of his Word to shape, guide, and transform us. With 40 Days in the Word, you will learn how to understand the Bible, how to study it, how to apply it to your life, how to memorize scriptures, and more. When you join a small group, you'll receive a workbook and other tools, for free, that will be your guide in this journey.

If you're ready to take the next step in your faith, whether it's a first step, or another step on a continued journey, a small group is the perfect place for you. And 40 Days in the Word will bring you and your group closer to God than ever before.

Visit the 40 Days website to learn more and join a small group.

One Last Chance to Catch the Vision

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Tonight is your last chance to attend the "Change Your Life! Change the World!" vision rally. Join us tonight in the Worship Center or online to hear Pastor Rick share vital information for the next year at Saddleback Church.

Pastor Rick will give you a preview of the new 40 Days in the Word campaign, plans for PEACE 3.0 and the launch of twelve new churches and base camps in the next year, and the overall vision for 2012 at Saddleback Church.

The Vision Night�will take place from 7:00 -�9:00 p.m.�in the Worship Center on the Lake Forest campus. Bring your friends, family and small group!

To watch the live webcast of Vision Night,�click�here.

Daniel Plan Rally Celebrates, Educates and Motivates

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:45:00 GMT

Hundreds turned up to celebrate the one-year anniversary of The Daniel Plan at the latest rally on Saturday morning. The event kicked off with ten participants taking the stage to celebrate their weight loss victories. Among them was Pastor John Baker of Celebrate Recovery, who lost 70 pounds and has dramatically increased his health.

"The Daniel Plan is a lifestyle. It just makes sense," said Baker.

Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D., spoke next, giving the audience ten tools to boost their metabolism.

"I never tell my patients to count calories," he emphasized. "When they start eating right, their bodies know what to do." He also reiterated the importance of community. "We are so much better together," he reminded everyone. "You guys are the seed of something extraordinary."

Dr. Mehmet Oz, M.D., chatted with Pastor Rick via Skype, encouraging people to eat healthy foods they love. "If you love it, you'll eat it," he said.

Billy Blanks, founder of Tae Bo, the most successful fitness program of all time, got the audience warmed up with a few basic Tae Bo moves. He spoke about the power of our minds. "Your mind and your will are the two best things you have," he said.

Finally, Dr. Daniel Amen, M.D., gave The Daniel Plan participants five keys to staying motivated, including rallying their family for support and participation in their quest to stay healthy.

Lysa Terkeurst spoke to the audience via video about her journey that led her to write her bestselling book Made to Crave. "We are made to crave God, not food," she concluded.

The speakers, along with Pastor Rick, joined several chefs on stage as they prepared a variety of healthy breakfast foods, including fruit smoothies and breakfast tacos. Dr. Amen's wife, Tana, encouraged the audience to pack snacks for their busy days. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail," she said.

Pastor Rick concluded the rally by sharing about The Daniel Plan's upcoming cookbook that he hopes to see completed this year. The book will include healthy recipes, success stories and tips from the doctors.

The Daniel Plan is now a global movement, with international recognition through the press and other media outlets, and participation by individuals throughout the world. If you're interested in learning more about The Daniel Plan, visit the Get Started tab on the website to learn how you can begin your journey.

If you're a Daniel Plan participant, we'd love to hear your stories. Let us know about your journey in the comments section below.

What's Happening? Watch This!

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:30:00 GMT

Check out our latest video which shows you what's happening around Saddleback Church over the next week. Don't miss out on all that's taking place to bring change to your life and to the world!

Get Fit, Focused, and Filled At The Daniel Plan Rally

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Join us on Saturday for an exciting time of learning and laughter�as we celebrate the milestones of The Daniel Plan and learn how to take our physical health to the next level.

Whether you're new to The Daniel Plan or have been following it from Day One, this rally is for you.

One year ago, Pastor Rick started The Daniel Plan, a free program created by three internationally-recognized doctors� and Pastor Rick that focuses on achieving health through nutrition, exercise, healthy habits and community. Since its beginning in January of 2011, The Daniel Plan's participants have lost, literally, tens�of thousands of pounds.

On Saturday we will celebrate these accomplishments while encouraging others to join the Daniel Plan. Program highlights will include:
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Kick Start Your Metabolism with Dr. Mark Hyman
Change Your Brain, Change Your Life with Dr. Daniel Amen
Cooking Demonstrations with Pastor Rick
Easy Recipes with The Daniel Plan Our Chefs for Breakfast, Snacks and 10-Minute Meals
Special Guest: Billy Blanks(R), Founder of Tae Bo(R) Fitness!

Saturday, January 14
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Worship Center, Lake Forest Campus
FREE childcare provided for infants through 6th grade

If you can't make it to the Lake Forest campus for this event, watch the live webcast here.

Financial Freedom Workshop Begins

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:20:00 GMT

The seven-week Financial Freedom Workshop begins tonight in Tent 1. Don't miss this opportunity to learn biblical principles for managing your finances, including getting out of debt and saving for the future.

Saddleback Church's Financial Freedom Workshop is offered on the Lake Forest campus. In this seven-week course, you will learn to develop a system to manage your finances according to biblical principles including: setting financial goals, creating a spending plan, paying down debt, and saving for the future.

This is a fast-paced, hands-on combination of classroom style teaching, small group discussion and facilitated exercises. There are trained leaders at each table to help you understand God's perspective on finances and to work alongside as you put your financial house in order.

Cost is $25 per person, and spouses attend FREE (we highly recommend married couples attend together). Persons age 18 and up are welcome to attend. Please contact Dee Dee atdeedeel@saddleback.com with any further questions.

Week 1: Wednesday, January 11 in Tent 1

Lake Forest Campus

7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Cost is $25 per person, spouses attend free.

A Hero Among Us - Jeff Gonzales Plants a Church in Afghanistan

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:39:00 GMT

The United States of America has been at war for 10 years. It has been a long decade of unrest, uncertainty and fear, a decade that has seen men and women standing up to find for our freedoms and showing the kind of bravery and heroism told in movies and novels. It takes a certain type of person to rise up and defend others. And it takes a certain type of church to surround our heroes and give them support as they serve and sacrifice.

Saddleback member Jeff Gonzales is a true hero. More than 18 years ago, he answered the call to defend his country and enlisted in the Marine Corps. He enlisted in the military, and at the young age of 19, he began his military training.

A Born Leader Learns to Follow
Gonzales' strong will and natural leadership qualities were repeatedly recognized by his superiors and he quickly moved his way up the ranks, but his will and resolve would be tested as he continued his training. "After I graduated from boot camp, I went through Communications school where I was underneath what the Marines affectionately call the 'Terminal Lance'. This is someone who will be a Lance Corporal for the rest of his career. He tells me 'You probably don't like what I'm doing. You're right, I'm not good at what I do. But guess what? I may be the lowest guy on the totem pole, but I'm still the most senior guy here, so you gotta listen to me. And, if you don't want to listen to me, that's fine, I'm gonna make you listen to me. The only way not to listen to me is by being in charge of me. So if you want to be in charge of me that means you gotta do things better than me, at a higher standard and you gotta get promoted.'"

"So I didn't complain," says Gonzales. "I shut my mouth." As he held his tongue and worked hard, within just one year of graduating boot camp, he was meritoriously promoted to corporal. Gonzales then found himself at the same rank as his "Terminal Lance" and, shortly after, was promoted to rank above him. "I went up to him and I said, 'You told me to get promoted above you . . . well here I am.'"

Gonzales then went to Marine Security Guard training, which is training to protect a U.S. Embassy overseas. He was stationed in Honduras, Prague, Czech Republic, and in Africa. After a brief 2 � years of duty, he was promoted to seargant - a level that takes most marines roughly four years to reach. �

Sept 11 and a New Call to Fight
After embassy duty, Gonzales went on reserve duty and began working in the private sector. When the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 occured, he was working as the Senior Executive for Federated Department Stores, doing VIP protection for events such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

"To see everyone running in fear on 9/11, that took a pretty big toll. Some Marines in the reserve unit I was a part of lost their lives in the towers. They were firemen and police officers."

"I knew that my time as a reservist was over. I had to get back in to the fight. I guess that's always been a trend for me. I don't like to sit on the sidelines and I don't like to be that guy that just lets things happen. I wanted to be part of the solution. And I guess that translates to me being a part of Saddleback Camp Leatherneck. I want to be part of this solution, too."

Shortly after September 11, Gonzales informed his parents that he would be returning to active duty. "My job is to put my life on the line so others can be free. That's why I joined the Marine Corps. There is the risk of death but if it means the freedom of others, to live and do what they want and to protest against me or stand next to me, then that's what I'll do. That's what service for this country is." Gonzales returned to active duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Toll War Takes on Military Families
Gonzales talks about his family. "I've been in the Marine Corps for almost 18 years. The majority of the time I've been on active duty. Seven years ago I married my bride Christine, who had three kids. Our oldest is RJ, who is 1, and has cerebral palsy. He doesn't talk, doesn't walk, and is fed through the stomach. Then we have our 16 year old Alexis. She's an amazing 16 year old girl. More mature than most girls her age, but she has to be - she's a Marine Corps daughter. Then there's Zachary who's 10, he's my athlete and soccer star. Then there's Michael who's 5, and he's the actor, athlete and funny guy."

"I got stationed in California in late 2005, after which I immediately went off to training while Christine held down the homefront. With two babies - a special needs family - she held it down. From 2006 until now, the longest period of time I've ever spent at home in a given period is about one month. The war has taken a toll in our family."

Military men and women like Gonzales are strong, brave and resilient, but they are not without limitations. Rates of suicide, divorce, domestic violence and alcoholism have seen devastatingly steep rises over the last ten years that our country has been at war. War and deployment take their tolls in many ways, from depression to the tragic loss of life in battle.

"And you know that's kind of what led me here, to start Saddleback Camp Leatherneck. I see our men and women deploying like this on a regular basis. The divorce rate is something like 70-80% because of the war. Suicide rate has increased, domestic violence has increased. Just a lot of lost souls if you will. But my marriage has stayed firm and my family has stayed firm."

Deployed to Afghanistan
Gonzales was deployed to his latest duty in Afghanistan just a few short days ago. Prior to his deployment, he talked about the struggle to say goodbye and then focus on the mission ahead. "The pre-deployment process is always really hard. For the family, it's really difficult because they're going through a mix of emotions because they know the inevitable is coming."

"You have to go to all these meetings, and briefs about what it's going to look like when you leave. And then they give you those briefs, like your last will and testament. You start understanding that the deployment is coming and you go through a series of emotions with your spouse and your children because they know you're leaving. You want to be able to give and love as much as you can, but there are only so many hours in the day. And as a Marine, you're preparing yourself mentally for deployment, but by the same token you're also trying to prepare your family for leaving. So that's the difficult piece."

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"Once deployment day comes - and you never really know what day it will be until that very day - �it's a hard day. You have to be strong for your family, and there's a lot of tears, but I don't usually let them see me cry. The toughest piece is right before you get on the bus, because you know they're going to be crying. And the hardest piece is when they say, 'Daddy don't go' because you know you don't want to leave. Those words will crush the strongest of Marines. And the potential is that you will never see them again, and they'll never see you. But we suck it up, we stand tall and we get on the bus and we do the mission because we know we have to do it - not for us, but for them. But it doesn't make it any easier. So that's the toughest part of deployment - leaving."

"Once you get on the bus, everyone kind of puts their iPod on and struggles through the drive to whatever plane we're going on, and then we have to shut it down completely. Take those emotions and put them away, tuck them down deep inside because those emotions will cripple you. They'll cripple you and I've seen it."

"And then you're in country, and in the cycle. You're in the numb cycle just trying to get through the job. You work 12-18 hours a day, up to 3 days at a time, making sure that you're staying alive and that your buddies are staying alive. At about the two or three month mark, that's when your emotions hit you and you think, 'I'm ready to go home. I'm tired. I've seen my buddy die. I've seen death and destruction.'"

"The things that have gotten me through those times are the times where I can find a sense of normal. I �don't wear any rings or any jewelry when I'm out on patrol. So I'll go back to wherever I'm sleeping, and I'll take out my wedding band and put it on because that's the only normal thing I have. That's the only thing that's not green and tan, sand and bullets, and all that stuff. That's the only thing that's home to me. And that's the little bit of normalcy I have in my life."

Saddleback Offers Hope Both at Home and Overseas
Gonzales describes how the Saddleback community reach out to his family during a time when they were working hard to cope with his constant deployment. "Throughout the time where I was repeatedly being deployed, some military wives from Saddleback stepped out and invited Christine to an Easter service at the Lake Forest campus. I called her one night when I was in Afghanistan and she said, 'I've found a church! There's this guy, Rick Warren, who made me cry and talked directly to me, or so it seemed. When �you come home, we have to go to the church.' �And like a good Marine, I listened, and we went to the church. And I knew the care and feeding of my family while I'm gone was going to take place at Saddleback. A lot of churches and organizations don't really take care of the family as a whole, but we have come to find that here - they have provided that care and feeding for my family while I'm deployed. And that's what we needed."

Saddleback Church has long been focused on serving supporting and caring for the 'least, the last, the lost,' but military families are not usually plugged in to these categories. We think of these families as being just as strong, tough and capable as their father or mother who is serving in the military. They are all of these things, but they also need a unique support system to keep them healthy and thriving.

That's where Saddleback Church comes in. When military personnel deploy overseas, they often lose connection to their church family. There is limited time to phone home or send emails, and a sense of normalcy can be hard to find on base, especially in Afghanistan. The San Clemente campus has been instrumental in supporting military families based on Camp Pendleton.

Camp Leatherneck is the military base in Afghanistan where Gonzales is now stationed after his most recent deployment. This base houses more than 60,000 military men and women from around the world. Saddleback Camp Leatherneck is our church's first international church plant and first campus to be located on a military base.

Jeff Gonzales is focused on bringing a sense of family and calm to the troops stationed on base though his campus. His passion to provide this sense of normalcy comes from his own experience, and the experience of his family, as they weathered his repeated deployments.�

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"When I got promoted to being an officer, they said, 'Your job is to take care of your marines.' I said, 'Alright, what does that really mean? Take care of them on the battlefield?' Well, they're having their own battlefield at home and that battlefield is a battlefield of emotions, a battlefield of depression, a battlefield of just dealing with life, a battlefield of not knowing how to deal with things."�

"As I was deploying back and forth, I saw my family succeeding despite all the ups and downs. I looked inward and thought, 'What is it that I'm doing right, and how can I duplicate that for other people?' I realized that there are some key things that Saddleback offers that I want to be able to give back to my Marines. One is that direct relationship with God. Next is the small group atmosphere - a group of people taking care of each other."

"And the Marines do that - but we call it a "fire team." A fire team is the small group of individuals that, when you're in the battlefield, and you look to your left and your right - these are the dudes that are next to you that do three things - one, make sure you're still alive, two, that you have enough ammunition, and three, if you happen to get shot, they're there with that first aid kit to render 'buddy aid' to you."

"A small group does the same thing that fire team does. And that's how my family weathered my deployment. The fire team at Saddleback was taking care of my family while I was gone. And now I'm taking that and trying to show other people how to do that through Camp Leatherneck."

"As a Marine, my job is to have mission accomplishment. And mission accomplishment for Camp Leatherneck means that we take care of our families . . . they pay a huge price in this war."

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"So if I can take a little bit of what we have here at Saddleback and give my men and women a little bit of "normal" and a little bit of home, then maybe one marriage will be okay. Just maybe, one person will feel normal. Just maybe, one person will say 'I want to give my life to the Lord.' Mission accomplished."

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To learn more about Saddleback Camp Leatherneck or to support the families of our deployed Saddleback members, click here.

A Life Changed Through The Daniel Plan

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Teri Miller is a Saddleback member whose life has been changed by The Daniel Plan. She joined the program at its launch in January of this year after being invited to the kick off rally by a co-worker. Since that time she has lost more than 93 pounds and has seen immense change in her life.

"I heard about The Daniel Plan through Saddleback Church," explains Teri. "I went to the first presentation on January 15 with six co-workers from my office. I was so inspired by the brain information from Dr. Daniel Amen, and by Dr. Mark Hyman's talk on how certain foods can help with symptoms and diseases. I just knew I had to start it the following Monday."

Teri's motivation for jumping on board with the Daniel Plan was more than simple weight loss. "My father had Alzheimer's disease," she said, "but I was not aware that obesity was a gateway to Alzheimer's. That point clicked with me that day, and each day since."

"What I got from that first rally was that it isn't a 'diet,'" said Teri. "I had allowed myself to become overweight and not exercise, so I made those choices myself. I knew it was hurting me in the job marketplace, but one thing I'd always had confidence in was that I was smart-the person others came to for advice. So when Dr. Amen spoke about the dinosaur syndrome, that the heavier you become the smaller your brain becomes, it was like a slap in the face! I can't be fat and dumb. Dumb simply isn't an option!"

Teri says that sugar was the toughest thing to give up as she embarked on a journey towards physical health. "I am a sugarholic and was eating sugar at least six times a day. I learned that sugar can affect the part of the brain the same way heroin does, and that made total sense to me. I needed sugar to feel better about my life. In times of stress, depression and crisis, I turned to food. I also ate a lot of carbohydrates filled with white flour and sugar. I learned that eating that way goes directly to your middle area and can damage your vital organs such as your heart, liver and kidneys."

Teri has since replaced the sugar, white flour, and saturated fats with delicious lean proteins, fresh vegetables, brown rice, fresh fruit, nuts, spices and whole, unprocessed foods. Her energy levels have returned and she feels empowered to continue on the path to better health.

Although her eating habits were a major part of her success, Teri attributes the most important changes to a lesson she learned from Pastor Rick about prayer.

"Using the Lord's Prayer as a model, Pastor Rick laid out each verse and how to relate it daily to my life and to change my habit. I had to give my stress, my depression and my crisis situations to God and not try to stuff them away with food. The Daniel Plan is changing my food choices and turning to God for the tough choices is the success I am experiencing today and that keeps me going.

"The most important advice I can give you is that The Daniel Plan is not a diet . . . it is a way of life. Losing weight is a side effect of not eating white flour, white sugar, saturated fats, and putting exercise in to my life. Feeling good, looking younger, knowing I am taking care of my brain, and turning to God in place of food are the real benefits of this way of life.

Whether you've participated in The Daniel Plan from day one, or are interested in learning more about this FREE program, visit danielplan.com for more information and to create or update your health profile.

On January 14, 2012, we will hold our next Daniel Plan rally! We will celebrate, hear from the Daniel Plan doctors and Pastor Rick as well as be inspired by Tae Bo creator Billy Blanks and chef Tana Amen. Don't miss this change to take the next step in your physical health!

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Community Attends PEACE Center Grand Opening

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:00:00 GMT

What if we could create a place where the residents of Orange County could come when they are in need of basic resources and assistance? What if they could not only receive fresh groceries, but career counseling, legal information for family and immigration issues, attend support groups, and get other necessary care? This dream is now a reality!

Today, under a bright blue sky, Pastor Rick, the mayor of Lake Forest, other dignitaries and the staff of Saddleback Church attended the ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for Saddleback Church's historic PEACE Center.

Pastor Tommy Hilliker, whose team has led the charge in developing the PEACE Center, spoke about the vision of Saddleback Church and The PEACE Center.

"'It is the dream of a place where the hurting, the depressed, the frustrated, the confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness, guidance, and encouragement,'" said Hilliker, quoting from Pastor Rick's sermon at Saddleback's inaugural service more than 30 years ago. "'It is the dream of a place of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with hundreds of thousands of residents of south Orange County.'"

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"Today is a very special day for Orange County, the city of Lake Forest, and Saddleback Church," he continued. "As these PEACE Center doors open today, this building and the ministry that will take place inside these walls is a continued fulfillment of Saddleback's vision to reach its community for Jesus Christ, not just in words, but in tangible real deeds that meet people at their deepest point of hurt and help them emotionally, physically, and spiritually. The PEACE center is the gift of love and service to Orange County."

The PEACE Center is the first of its kind in our county. The Center's purpose is to bring together the myriad ministries and resources of the church in to one, central location. Saddleback Church offers more than 400 ministires to the community, yet many of these resources were located in different places on the Lake Forest campus and surrounding areas. But now, the PEACE Center is like a beacon to those in need - a singular place that is easy to find and that gives guidance and direction once found.

What is the PEACE Center?
"Quite simply," said Hilliker, "it is a place of hope. What you see before you is what we call 'PEACE Center 1.0'. The first step towards a much larger building with a greater extension of ministry that will not just touch Orange County but touch the world."

The PEACE Center currently houses Saddleback's Food Pantry which has been serving food to the community since May of 2009. Since its inception, the pantry has served over 72,000 in south Orange County, �processed over 1.4 million pounds of food and been kept afloat by more than 42,000 hours of service given by Saddleback members, volunteers and staff. And the most exciting statistic is that, in the last year and a half alone, more than 1,100 come to faith in Christ through the Food Pantry.

In addition to the Food Pantry, the Center offers HIV & AIDS support, classes and seminars, and support groups. In January of 2012, the Center will begin a partnership with the Orange County Healthcare Agency in giving out MSI insurance applications for those at or below the poverty level. In the spring of 2012, the PEACE Center will expand to include legal information for the community in the areas of family law, immigration, and bankruptcy, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, personal finance training and after school tutoring. Then, in the Summer of 2012 the PEACE Center will have a medical clinic, staffed by trained volunteer and paid staff who will diagnose and care for individuals free of charge and offer free AIDS testing.

Why does Orange County need the PEACE Center?

"I have been the pastor of Saddleback for 30 years," said Pastor Rick. "I have counseled, and sat at bedsides, and listened to the hurts of the people of Orange County. I know what Orange County thinks and I know where Orange County hurts. And we are serious about helping people through this recession."

"Jesus said that the church is to minister to the community and to the world," continued Pastor Rick. "You know, our full name is actually Saddleback Valley Community Church. And this new PEACE Center puts the 'community' in Saddleback Valley Community Church."

The vision for the PEACE Center began just six weeks ago. Pastor Rick brainstormed about the idea with his leadership team and gave them the green light to make it happen. "Peace Center 1.0" is housed in a renovated portable building at the front of the property, with plans to build a new PEACE Center building in the future.

A walk through the PEACE Center reveals a clean, fresh building that is welcoming, practical and convenient. Visitors are greeted by friendly volunteers as soon as they enter the building. Food Pantry shoppers are then personally taken to the food pantry area where volunteers connect with shoppers while filling their immediate need for food. The rest of the building features office spaces, meeting rooms, future medical space and class rooms ready and waiting to be used.

"'Remember the past, challenge the future' is the motto of the city of Lake Forest," said Dave Arnold, Pastor of Development. "Boy, does that sound like something Saddleback would come up with!" Arnold affirmed that, while the PEACE Center is the first of its kind in our county, the plan also extends beyond our county borders - to the world. "We want to make this a reality at churches we train around the world," said Arnold. "It took a village to begin this, but this is just the beginning."

"The city of Lake Forest and Saddleback Church share many of the same values," said Lake Forest Mayor Peter Herzog, " to improve the quality of life for Lake Forest and South Orange County. This is a true partnership and we look forward to the next 20 years. The city will be here to continue to bring help to the PEACE Center 2.0." Mayor Herzog presented Pastor Rick with a commendation for Saddleback for the formation of the PEACE Center.

"You are what makes America great," said Mayor Pro Tem Scott Voigts as he lookedout over the staff and volunteers of Saddleback Church who attended the ceremonies. "You are what makes our city great. People of faith are changing our world."

As the opening ceremonies came to a close, families from the community began to walk up the steps to the PEACE Center. They were the first customers of the newly-opened PEACE Center's Food Pantry. Their presence was a clear sign that this is not a building that will stand unused. It is already at the heartbeat of Saddleback's constant mission to reach, connect to, and serve the community of south Orange County.

"May God bless all who enter here, and may they go out in joy and go forth in peace."

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For more information about the PEACE Center, click here.

Your Good Neighbor Weekend Stories

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Last weekend, thousands of Saddleback members fanned out across the community and answered the call to be Good Neighbors. This weekend was the culmination of a teaching series that began in November in which we have been learning about why and how we are to love those in our neighborhoods and communities.

In biblical stories such as the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus sets the example as he sees the needs of those around us, and takes the time to stop and serve. Following in his footsteps, more than 20,000 people from Saddleback Church's nine California campuses and the Internet Campus and spent more than 100,000 hours serving people in a number of different ways.

We asked you to share your Good Neighbor weekend stories with us, and here's what you said:

"We put up Christmas lights at several homes in a senior community, and packaged and delivered 50 meals to the "shut ins". And, the coolest part was that, while delivering the meals, we ran into a lady who asked us to put lights up at her house. It turns out her mom lives with her and is the oldest living resident in Riverside, we had a chance to visit with a 106 year old lady!! what an awesome blessing!!!" Uly from Riverside

"We have a neighbor (not a Christian, at least that we know of) who has had a terrible year; son in jail, a mother who had to be placed in a home due to dementia, and the small restaurant she owns is struggling. So, we offered to distribute fliers about her restaurant throughout our community. Saturday we walked for nearly four hours, placing 400 fliers on 400 homes and businesses in the neighborhood where her restaurant is located. We've also invited her to our holiday open house/dinner next Saturday. It was a great day to walk, get lots of exercise, and hopefully help our neighbor's small business to prosper." Anita from Orange County

"We both had to work this weekend, so we only did a small thing. You see, we just moved to a new neighborhood in September and up until now, we had not taken the time to meet our neighbors. So we baked some cookies and one by one we knocked on a stranger's door and introduced ourselves. Two were not home, one looked at us like we were weird and the other two welcomed us inside to chat. If it weren't for Saddleback Church, asking us to pursue our neighbors, we probably would have kept to ourselves and just continued to only wave at our neighbors as we passed them each day. Like I said, it wasn't much, but it was a step in the right direction. Thank you Saddleback Church for inspiring us to step out of our house and do something different." Wayne from Orange County

"I helped a man retrieve a wallet he lost while being mugged. When he came to pick up the wallet, I hugged him and said, 'It is a miracle for you to get back your things this fast. God bless you!' He looked at me and smiled. It's is amazing, a true Christmas miracle moment." Mats from Sweden

"I will be going to the Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa on Sunday! They feed at least 300 people for breakfast! God Bless everyone for helping their Communities!" Theresa from Costa Mesa

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"Our Wednesday small group of men from The Herd went and helped a service member with a broken foot whose wife is due anyday. We cleaned their home, put up Christmas lights, and cleaned out a garage with a car that wasn't running. The guys went to auto part stores trying to get the parts needed, but couldn't find them so they went to a junk yard and got the parts. Now the car is running. After finishing cleaning the apartment, we went back to San Clemente and helped a member from the Lake Forest campus who was injured in a car accident. We pulled up weeds all around her home. She put a sign on her car window that said, 'God bless Saddleback Church.' Under the leadership of Scott Friederichsen, we reported for duty and we were blessed by the people we served. Glory to God." Eugene from Orange County

"About 400 people gathered together to serve with the Breakfast Together motel ministry. We split in to teams and went to about 15 motels. At each location, the teams passed out Christmas PEACE boxes, served breakfast, and a PICS photographer took family photographs for the residents. It was great to get outside my comfort zone and meet people in need, face to face, to talk with them, pray with them, and encourage them. I want this to be part of my regular day-to-day life!" Sarah from Orange County

Have your own Good Neighbor story to share? Share it in the comments section below!

Tell Us About Your Good Neighbor Weekend Experience

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:45:00 GMT

We want to hear from you! We are collecting stories from the Good Neighbor Weekend. Did you help a neighbor? Did you join other Saddleback members and serve in the community? Share your stories here!

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Use the comments section below to share your Good Neighbor Weekend serving experience. Be sure to leave your contact information so we can follow up with you, if necessary.�

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What Are You Doing For Good Neighbor Weekend?

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:14:00 GMT

Hopefully you've heard that this weekend is about us as a Church serving those around us and practically mobilizing our congregation to bring church to the community. We want to encourage you to find a place to serve instead of sitting in a service.�

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Join your small group, family and friends and be a part of Good Neighbor Weekend! Get creative and come up with a way to connect with people in your neighborhood or register to help with one of the "Good Neighbor Projects" happening through the Church.

For more information on ways you can serve check out our good neighbor website: http://saddleback.com/goodneighborweekend and remember that there won't be any services this Saturday or Sunday.

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Share your Good Neighbor Weekend experience with us in the comments section below. We'll be contacting a few of you to tell your story to the rest of the church...so share your story today!

Volunteer or Bust! A Volunteer's Story

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:00:00 GMT

In November, Saddleback kicked off the Holiday season with the start of the second annual Hope for the Holidays drive. The program, which runs through December 18th, is an important ministry that depends heavily on volunteers. Whether they are dropping off materials at various Albertson's around Orange County or sitting at a table passing out information on how people can donate, every position in the program relies on people to serve.

Determined to see The PEACE Plan at work within my own community, I volunteered at the Albertson's off of Malvern, in Fullerton, on Sunday afternoon. I was the first, and ended up being the only, volunteer of the day, so it was my responsibility to ask a manager for the materials. The manager, named Wayne, was very helpful. He brought out a table and chair, handed me the information to pass out and I got right to work.�

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At first, I was intimidated by the prospects of the two hour shift I had signed up for. Being a college student, time is the most valuable currency I possess. It was rainy, with temperatures in the mid 50's and I was outside. That's when I was encouraged by a man who walked by and said, "if you can sit out in this, the least I can do is take a pamphlet". The time didn't end up feeling that long either, as people were constantly pouring in, all it took on my end was saying "hello" and holding information out for them to take. Every time I let myself sink in to less than great spirits, I was reminded that I was there to serve the Lord, who epitomizes humility and who proceeded to use those two hours to humble me.

Serving is not always convenient. There will be times when you are be needed a little further up the road from where you normally serve. Serving is not always comfortable. Rain or shine, people need to hear the good news and whether it's ideal conditions or not, it's two hours that could mean giving a holiday meal to a family in need. Finally, serving is not always care-free. People are not perfect, volunteers are no exception! Sometimes serving means stepping up and going above and beyond what you expected to be doing. That's when you need to take on the mentality of a servant, be flexible, be patient, and don't expect anything in return. After all, serving is not about us. So be a part of bringing Hope to the Holidays for someone. Go online and register for a time to volunteer today!

Get Involved With The PEACE Plan - Present and Future

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 10:00:00 GMT

The PEACE Plan has made a radical impact on the world. Since its conception, The PEACE Plan has been a living example of how ordinary people, empowered by God's Spirit, doing what Jesus did, together-can make a difference wherever they are.�

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This weekend Pastor Rick is sharing about the future of The PEACE Plan and opportunities to get involved. Learn more about how you can discover your PEACE shape and make The PEACE Plan an important part of your Decade of Destiny by checking out the PEACE Opportunities catalog.

Dr. Oz Show to Feature Pastor Rick and The Daniel Plan

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:11:00 GMT

Set your DVR!�Pastor Rick will be on the Dr. Oz Show tomorrow, Friday, at 3pm on the ABC network discussing The Daniel Plan! With one of the largest televised audiences, we hope and pray many people find The Daniel Plan and get started on their journey to new physical and spiritual health!

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Dr. Mehmet Oz is, a heart surgeon, television host and health expert who has coached our Daniel Plan participants to better health. Visit The Daniel Plan website to learn more about this free health program and get started on your journey to better health.�

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Check your local listings for more specific time and channel information. Tell your friends to tune in to this great segment. The Daniel Plan is changing lives across the country and around the world!�