Saddleback Church Commemorates 35 Years of Ministry and Growth

God has brought Saddleback Church a long way in 35 years under the direction of Rick and Kay Warren.
God has brought Saddleback Church a long way in 35 years under the direction of Rick and Kay Warren. (Facebook)

Saddleback Church, founded by Pastor Rick and Kay Warren, will celebrate 35 years of ministry influence and impact during a special community-wide service on Saturday, March 21 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California

"Together we are going to remember how God has led us in the past and imagine how God will guide us in the future as we respond to His leading for our next season of ministry," Rick Warren said. "We thank God for 35 years of blessing our church. The Bible says over and over again, we are to remember. The reason we remember the past is not to dwell on it, but to build our faith for the future."

The Warrens founded Saddleback Church with seven people in their apartment in 1980. On Easter of that same year, 205 individuals gathered for the first public worship service.

Today, the church is one of the largest in America, with 10 campuses across Southern California as well as growing congregations in Berlin, Germany; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hong Kong, China; and South Manila, Philippines. The church averages 27,000 attendees at its weekly services, with individuals meeting in more than 7,500 small groups throughout the week.

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Led by Pastor Warren, author of the best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, and Kay Warren, Saddleback Church has become a global influencer through initiatives such as The PEACE Plan, Celebrate Recovery, The Daniel Plan, Global HIV and Orphan Care and Mental Health. The church has been equally impactful across Southern California through community outreaches for all walks of life, including The Food Pantry, Military Outreach, Medical Clinic, Legal Aid, Homework Club and English as a Second Language classes, among others.

"There are so many individuals not only around the world but also in our backyards who are hurting and need a message of hope," Kay Warren said. "At Saddleback, we not only want to help those in need in our communities, but we also want to teach those who are served to then serve others in the name of Christ."

The 35th anniversary Angel Stadium service will take place Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30 PM PDT, during which Pastor Warren will share a message titled "The Church that Dared," reflecting on the history of Saddleback and challenging members to make an even bigger impact for God in the next five years.

No tickets are needed to attend and seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, visit saddleback.com/events/35th-anniversary.

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