Local Community Service Ministries

Acts of Appreciation Military Outreach

We are a military outreach ministry that looks for ways to extend God's love to our military and their families whether they are as close as Camp Pendleton or as far away as Afghanistan. We feel responsible to honor those who serve in the armed forces defending our freedoms. We respond with acts of appreciation that include newborn baby baskets, goody bags to troops deployed around the globe, hosting deployment and welcome home events at Camp Pendleton, sponsoring retreats, and much, much more.

Making Music Guitar Lessons

Be part of a new and growing ministry opportunity at the PEACE Center, by helping kids in our community learn to play the guitar. Studies have shown time and time again how musical abilities help increase scholastic aptitude. In addition, it provides kids with a talent they can be proud of. No prior teaching experience required, just the ability to read music, play the guitar and love kids!!! Our classes meet weekly, Mondays at 4:00pm. All volunteers must be Saddleback Church members, (accepted Christ, completed CLASS 101, been baptized by immersion and signed the membership Covenant). All volunteers must be willing to be fingerprinted and a background check.

Knitting and Crocheting for Christ

Do you love to knit and crochet? If you have the heart to make handmade scarfs, blankets, and hats this ministry is for you. The Knitting and Crocheting for Christ ministry creates items to be distributed to our members and community, we make items for support groups to pass out, as well as for teams to take on Mission Trips. We meet off site monthly and you can certainly work on items right from the comforts of home. Our items are a blessing to those who can use them, and the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.

Resource Coaches

Resource Coaches assist in connecting individuals to services and resources at Saddleback Church and throughout the community.

The Initiative for Vulnerable Children

The Initiative for Vulnerable Children at Saddleback Church exists to find a family for every child and equip the church to care for them. Come, join us and help find families for children who need them and share tools and trainings, to equip churches to care for adoptive, foster, kinship and safe families. Together, empowered by God, we can solve the orphan crisis making sure every child has a loving family supported by a local church. “A father to the fatherless, …God sets the lonely in families” Psalm 68:5-6

Tutoring

The Tutoring Ministry aims to help Jr. High and High School students with their mathematics and science subjects, such as Algebra 1 or 2, Geometry, Calculus, biology, etc. Tutoring is offered after school during the week, usually between 3:30 - 5:00 PM (tutoring appointments typically run in 30-45 minute increments). Volunteers must be Saddleback Church members (completing DYP 1, Baptism, and signing the Membership Covenant).

Recycling Ministry

Do you have a heart to bring the news of Jesus to the spiritually empty? You can help transform a life by serving with the Saddleback Church Recycling Ministry. For over 20 years, the Recycling Ministry has collected and sorted donated bottles and cans from the church campus receptacles and sheds. For every 10 bottles recycled, one new Bible is purchased. How can you help? Simply drop off your aluminum cans and plastic bottles at the Saddleback Lake Forest or Rancho Capistrano campuses. Should you feel called to serve in a greater capacity with the Recycling Ministry, we can use you! Volunteers typically serve on Sunday afternoons however there are also weekday service opportunities.

GRIP (Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership)

GRIP (Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership) is an initiative of the Orange County District Attorney’s office, Sheriff's department, and school district. It is an incentive program for 4th through 8th graders, giving them and their families resources and alternatives to gang membership. There are two rewards programs that are utilized as positive incentives to motivate at-risk children to improve their grades, school attendance and behavior. Saddleback members have the opportunity to serve at these events. Every Spring GRIP kids can earn attendance at an Angel’s game, where they also hear inspiring stories from players. After this motivational time, Saddleback volunteers play games with the kids before the ball game starts. Every November GRIP kids celebrate improved grades, attitudes and attendance by earning their families a full Thanksgiving meal. Saddleback hosts the packing and distribution of these meals on our Lake Forest campus. Volunteers also have the opportunity to transport meals to GRIP schools where they can join in on the celebration as they watch the children receive these meals along with their parents. If you would like to serve with either event, please email us at localpeace@saddleback.com

Urban Dance

Visionaries Dance Ministry is a group of friends and family choosing to live out our faith and our love of Jesus Christ to spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. We also choose urban dance as our form of communication to share this love to those who do not know Him! Some dance styles include: -Contemporary -House -Salsa -Krump -Jazz and many more! Urban dance encompasses all these styles because the individual creating them can come from different dance backgrounds and are impacted from cultural and social influences! We chose the term 'urban dance' is because God uses each and everyone of us uniquely and within our context and generation! Regardless of the technique used or style to close ourselves in, we are all children of God called to love one another and seek God!

Legal Aid

Legal Aid is a group of Saddleback Church members who are California Licensed Attorneys that meet and counsel with individuals on a one-on-one basis regarding their legal concerns. It is not only an informational process, but one where the attorney counsels the best course of action. Participating attorneys can assist in specialized topics or open the door to any legal concern. Each Attorney makes their own schedule according to their own availability. The members of the Ministry also meet monthly in order to compare their PEACE Center experiences and share how to integrate their Christian walk with their own practice.