Founded by Rick Warren, a recent seminary graduate in 1980, Saddleback Church has grown to be one of the largest mega-churches in the country.
Based in the Orange County city of Lake Forest, California, the church has campuses throughout California, as well as in Argentina, Germany, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. Besides its campuses, Saddleback Church also has a large broadcast and online ministry.
Known for his guide to church ministry and evangelism, The Purpose Driven Church, his guide to Christian living, The Purpose Driven Life, and other books and videos, Warren is largely conservative theologically and holds traditional evangelical positions on such social issues as abortion, same-sex marriage, and abstinence-only education.
He has, however, become increasingly political, and has broken with conservatives on issues like global warming, and has been viewed as cozying up to the liberal Democrat, Barack Obama, during his tenure as president, and before.
The first service at Saddleback Church was held on Palm Sunday, March 30, 1980. The congregation met at the Laguna Hills High School Theater, and there were forty people in attendance. A year later, he had an attendance of two hundred and forty. Saddleback Church met in rented facilities until it had grown to a weekly attendance of ten thousand. For several years in the early 1990s, Saddleback met in a huge tent, offering four services each weekend. The church built its own worship center in 1995, and has been added onto several times since.
In addition to its weekly services, Saddleback Church operates dozens of other ministries and programs. Large among them is its PEACE Plan ministry, which is an anti-poverty programs, as well as Celebrate Recovery, and a health and fitness program known as the Daniel Plan.
Websites representing the Saddleback Church network or any of its campuses, programs, ministries, or affiliated organizations or corporations are appropriate for this category, as are informational sites focused on Saddleback Church, whether supportive or critical of the church.
Recommended Resources
Affiliated with Saddleback Church, Celebrate Recovery is a 12-step recovery program for people struggling with hurt, pain, or addiction of any kind. A history of the program is presented here, its team is introduced, and a schedule of training conferences, summits, and rallies. The 12-step program is outlined, along with Biblical comparisons, along with its eight recovery principles, guidelines, the serenity prayer, and group information.
https://www.celebraterecovery.com/
DriveTime Devotions is a free application available for the iPhone or Android devices that makes Pastor Tom Holladay’s library of devotions available at any time, searchable by keyword, verse, or book of the Bible. Episodes can be downloaded for offline listening, and progress can be tracked through individual episodes and entire books of the Bible. Devotions may also be viewed online.
http://drivetimedevotions.com/
A program of Saddleback Church and Rick Warren, the site offers resources for pastors, many of which are downloadable without charge, others which may be purchased online. Products and information include sermons in several formats, including MP3, transcripts, PowerPoint, DVD set, or CDs. as well as informational articles sorted by topic. books and music, group studies, church health assessments, and children and youth materials.
https://store.pastors.com/
The official website for Saddleback Church offers directions, schedules, and contacts for its main campus in Lake Forest and its other California campuses in Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Corona, Dana Point, Irvine North, Irvine South, Laguna Woods, Los Angeles, Newport Mesa, Rancho Capistrano, San Clemente, San Diego, South Bay, and Yorba Linda, as well as its overseas campuses in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, and South Manila.
https://saddleback.com/
Located in Lake Forest, California, the high school ministry of Saddleback Church meets on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings, exposing students to Jesus and the purposes of the church through large-group programs as well as small-group programs. Its leadership team is highlighted, and a schedule of programs and events are published to the site. Membership information is set forth, and volunteer opportunities may be available.
https://highschoolministry.com/
The Saddleback Church junior high school ministry includes four weekend services for seventh and eighth grade students, as well as Life Groups who spend time laughing, praying, learning, and serving together, and its Next Steps program that teaches them to take the next step in their relationship with Jesus. Each of these programs is highlighted here, including weekend messages, volunteer opportunities, and parent information.
http://www.saddlebackjhm.com/
The children’s ministry at Saddleback Church is led by a team of staff and volunteers who help to make it a fun and interactive program designed specifically for children, whatever their age or grade. Its nursery age program, early childhood program, and elementary school programs are highlighted, along with leadership devotionals, free downloadable resources and an online shopping area for those that may be purchased online.
http://www.saddlebackkids.com/
The Saddleback Church program is made up of artists, who are discipled, equipped, and led to better understand their calling, the influence they may have, and the impact that can have for Christ. The art director and pastor are introduced, along with its leadership team, examples of the art produced by the program, a calendar of exhibitions and events, its creative teams, membership information, video, and a blog.
https://saddlebackvisualarts.com/
