Saddleback Church Comes To The Philippines

When In Manila, you may have encountered in some way or another this book called “The Purpose Driven Life”, a best selling non-fiction book (over 32 million copies sold) authored by Rick Warren who founded one of America’s most influential churches, Saddleback (est 1980).

 

This powerhouse church with an over 25,000 weekly attendance is situated in Lake Forest California offers more than 200 community ministries & support groups for parents, families, children, couples, prisoners, addicts, people living with HIV & AIDS, depression, MS, Parkinson’s, autism, and many others.

Pastor Rick has a global vision to attack the five global giants of poverty, disease, spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership and illiteracy.  His solution – The PEACE Plan – is a massive effort to mobilize Christians around the world into an outreach effort to attack these five global giants by planting churches that promote reconciliation, equipping servant leaders, assisting the poor, caring for the sick, and educating the next generation.

 

 

The Philippines, more specifically South Manila, has been chosen among 12 strategic cities to execute the PEACE Plan in the next 10 years.  South Manila is specifically Sta Rosa, Laguna.  Why there?  Because its the place where growth & development is happening most rapidly in the country.  From major campuses, to residential communities and booming companies – this place is where young urban professionals and young families are taking root.  

 

 

But what about the other churches?  Is there anything other smaller churches have to be afraid of with Saddleback’s presence?  There’s actually nothing to worry about since Saddleback is here not to compete but come together as partners.  It is actually talking to other church leaders and taking in interns from different churches to train on applying Saddleback principles to their own communities.

 

 

In a press launch last July 8 at Seda Hotel Nuvali, City Pastor Dr. Narry Santos (who will lead Saddleback South Manila) explained everything more in detail.  I got to appreciate that Saddleback South Manila is there to help the community. Instead of imposing their own plan, they meet with the local government, home owners and other community stakeholders to know what the people need on a practical level.  They intend to partner with the city government, businesses, and other churches who all want the same thing – which is to add value to people in the community.

 

 

So if you’re thinking this is going to be a church for professionals, it won’t be – because it will be a church for ordinary people, for the community.  It’s a church with a burning desire to turn an audience into an army, and spectators into participants.  It’s a place for love, not legalism and a venue for ordinary people wanting to help others the way Jesus did.