Saddleback Fills God's House and Grows the Church Family

As part of our Daring Faith campaign, we want to grow our church family by filling God’s house with 40,000 worshipers at our weekend services by the year 2020. We are on our way to meet this goal with the launch of new venues, campuses, extensions, and services in Southern California. You already know about our new regional campuses in Aliso Viejo and South Bay. Now we are in the planning stage to reach Temecula, and are looking at adding three new campuses in the next year. And this is just the beginning! We’re also researching other areas. Read below to discover the miraculous things happening at Saddleback to help build God’s kingdom!

 SADDLEBACK IRVINE SOUTH LAUNCHES CHINESE-SPEAKING SERVICE

Saddleback Irvine South is inviting people from the greater Irvine area––whose primary language is Chinese––to come join their new Chinese-speaking service. The movement to reach the Chinese-speaking community started with the Daring Faith initiative to fill God’s house with 40,000 worshipers. Irvine South Pastor, Kevin Nguyen stepped out in faith by hosting a Chinese-speaking service beginning in February. These preview services have been building up to the official launch taking place on Easter Sunday.

“Our faith is being stretched,” says Pastor Kevin, “and that culture is spreading to other local churches. They are hearing about what we are doing through the Chinese-speaking services and are expressing a desire to live out that same Purpose Driven Church model.”

 During the service, Saddleback-style worship songs are sung in Mandarin and English, and Pastor Rick’s sermons are subtitled. As a global church, Saddleback embraces diversity and offers a glimpse of what heaven will look like, as all nations worship together as one body. The immediate success of this new venue means Irvine South will eventually host a second Chinese-speaking service, plus another language venue in Korean. It has also led to a closer partnership with Saddleback Hong Kong.

 “Language can no longer be a barrier,” says Pastor Kevin. “We all know someone we can invite to church, especially this Easter. It’s about opening our eyes and letting people know that there is a place to worship.”

 Pastor Kevin is challenging members to practice missions and demonstrate the heart of Class 401 right here in our own backyards. Chinese-speaking services are held in the Multipurpose Room every Sunday at 11:00 AM. For more information, contact John Shin by clicking here.  

MICROSITES AT ASSISTED CARE CENTERS

 With the growing demand for services at our Laguna Woods campus, Saddleback will be hosting weekend services at other assisted living communities in Southern California. Under the direction of Campus Pastor, Rick Bradford, 34 facilities in Orange County are now hosting Saddleback services, and there are plans to locate more microsites later this year.

Catering to the 55 and over community, Saddleback Laguna Woods has been a model for other care centers to follow. In the past few weeks, the combined microsites have brought in over 500 people, all coming together to worship the Lord in their own “home.” This approach of bringing church to the community gives everyone the opportunity to reconnect with God.

“Some of our members thought they could never go to church again,” says Tom Atkins, Associate Pastor of Saddleback Laguna Woods. “But these services have brought them new life. They are thrilled to attend and find fulfillment in serving.”

Demonstrating that “every member is a minister,” services are led solely by volunteers, with more than 100 now on the roster. They cater to the specific needs of those at the care centers with familiar worship hymns, large-print sermon notes, and Pastor Rick’s messages on the big screen. God is working miracles at the centers, with members stepping forward for baptism, many in their mid-90s!

Pastor Tom credits the Daring Faith campaign and Pastor Rick for challenging the church to help expand this key ministry. Volunteers stepped forward to serve, from children passing out songbooks to teens interacting with seniors. God really used Pastor Ray Massey and Joan McConville to build this ministry. “Some people in facilities don’t get many visitors,” Tom explains. “We try to make them feel special, and walk with them through the rest of life’s journey. This ministry is so precious to them.”

With plans to reach assisted living communities in Corona, South Bay, and LA, the need for volunteers has never been greater. To join Saddleback Laguna Woods in this step toward Filling God’s house with 40,000 worshipers, contact Tom Atkins by clicking here.