A sacred assembly to awaken God’s people and bring them back to Him.
Saddleback Lake Forest
1 Saddleback Parkway, Lake Forest, CA 92630
If you’re interested in volunteering, sign up here.
Imagine our church family coming together, hungry to encounter the presence of God over three days of worship, prayer, and reading of Scripture. As we are seeing embers of revival around the world, we believe God is calling us to prepare for new dreams and lasting transformation for our lives and for our church. The Return Gathering is a time for us to gather a sacred assembly (Joel 2:12-17) — to seek God, build unity together, receive a fresh outpouring of his Spirit, and commit the future to Him.
Andy is currently the lead pastor at Saddleback Church, a global church with 19 locations in California and around the world. He has a deep passion for developing leaders and church planters.
Stacie is a teaching pastor at Saddleback Church. Stacie and her husband, Andy, originally founded Echo Church in the San Francisco Bay Area before coming to Saddleback in 2022. She has a deep desire to help people fall in love with Jesus and his Word.
Based in Nashville, Luke is Founder of Consecrate Movement, a calling of a generation to radical holiness, audacious faith, and devotion to Jesus. He is author of Holy Unto The Lord: Rediscovering the Joy of Holiness and is committed to the revival in the church.
Al leads SAINT, a fast-growing and thriving church in East London. Through RENAISSANCE, his vision is to help people encounter their creator, equip creatives, and empower the local church to become a cathedral of creativity. Al and his wife Olivia have 3 children.
David Thomas helps lead New Room, a division of Seedbed, which exists to gather, connect, resource, and commission the people of God to sow for a great awakening. A seasoned pastor, David earned a PhD in historical theology studying patterns of prayer that have preceded awakening movements in American history. David and his wife, Karen, live in Lexington, Kentucky, and are the parents of three young adults.
Is registration required?
Yes, registration helps us prepare well for meals, seating, and space as we anticipate a full gathering. Registration is $25 for adults and covers the entire gathering, whether you attend one session or all three days.
Is seating reserved?
No. Seating is general admission and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Will childcare be provided?
Childcare will not be provided during The Return Gathering. This gathering is rooted in the book of Joel, where our entire church is called together to seek the heart of God—including kids! As a church, we are intentionally gathering all generations in the same room, and we want children to be part of this sacred moment. Kids are welcome at The Return Gathering, and we have created several ways for families to participate together [see below]. We also understand that some parents may prefer to experience the gathering on their own, and if so, we encourage you to make childcare arrangements in advance. Thank you for understanding!
If you have questions or want to talk through what would work best for your family, you can email saddlebackkids@saddleback.com.
Will meals be provided?
Yes! We will be providing dinner Wednesday through Friday, and lunch on Friday.
Can students attend The Return Gathering?
Yes! We encourage students to join us for The Return Gathering. The next generation plays a vital role in God’s mission for revival, and we’re excited for students to be a part of this powerful experience. All students (Grade 6 through College) are invited to attend for free; however, registration is still required.
Can I bring my spouse or a friend?
Yes! We’d love for you to bring others to experience The Return Gathering with you. Just make sure to register them so we can plan accordingly.
Will The Return Gathering be livestreamed?
The Return Gathering is designed to be experienced in person, and the sessions will not be livestreamed.
Will there be translation services available?
While the event will be in English, translation of the speaker sessions will be available on demand in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Farsi. Participants accessing translation services must bring their own personal headphones and a device with a web browser. There are two options available:
ASL interpretation will also be available at the gathering.
When you arrive at the event, head to The Hub to get set up with the program. If you require translation into a different language, please email info@saddleback.com in advance.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
If you have additional questions, please email info@saddleback.com, and our team would be happy to help.
