Rick Warren Releases New Books as Saddleback Prepares for Global Summit on AIDS

Rick Warren, world-renowned author of the Purpose Driven Life is to release two new titles this month ahead of a second global summit on AIDS.

Zondervan has announced the first releases in an exciting new series by Warren in which he explores many of the fundamental issues and questions that people ask.

|PIC1|The first of two releases in the series, which will be released in stores in October, is: 'God's Power to Change your Life'.

"In the years I have been a pastor," writes Rick Warren, "the number-one question I'm asked is, 'Rick, why can't I change?'" People want to change - but they're stuck.

"Here's how to get unstuck. Drawing simple but powerful truths from the Bible, this book gives you practical guidance for specific types of change, and it links you up with the power to actually make the changes you long to make."

In addition, Warren is releasing 'God's Answers to Life's Difficult Questions'.

The book will look to answer key questions such as 'How can I cope with stress; rebound from failure; defeat depression; have peace of mind?' It looks to show how the Bible offers time-tested answers to life's toughest questions.

Meanwhile hundreds of church leaders will enter the "Race Against Time" at Purpose Driven Church - Saddleback's second HIV/AIDS conference in November - and many are saying it's already long overdue for churches to join the fight.

"It's past time for those who claim to be Christ's followers to join the struggle against the devastation that the HIV virus brings," said Kay Warren in a released statement. "We must get in the race to stop AIDS and to care for the millions already affected."

Confirmed speakers at this year's Global Summit on AIDS and the Church, 30 November to 1 December, include evangelist Franklin Graham, President and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Dennis Rainey, President of Family Life; John Ortberg, author and teaching pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church; and Bishop Charles E. Blake, pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, among others.

"Most people expect the government, not the Church, to take care of people living with HIV/AIDS," Rick Warren said. "But Jesus, speaking to his Church, said, 'I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

Rick and Kay Warren co-founded Saddleback's HIV/AIDS Initiative which launched its first milestone conference last year.

The Warrens began mobilising churches in the AIDS fight after visiting villages and churches in Africa where the scene of poverty, orphaned children and still passionate pastors broke them down.

Last year's historic conference at Saddleback brought some 1,700 pastors, ministry workers and government staff together for a wake-up call to the ever-present AIDS pandemic. It was the first major conference the evangelical community held to address the AIDS battle and to mobilise its worldwide network of local churches against the pandemic.

"The global HIV/AIDS pandemic is the Church's greatest opportunity to serve the hurting like Jesus, to show God's love to sceptics, to share the Good News, and to extend a helping hand in communities and around the world," said Warren. "Churches offer faith, help, love, forgiveness, and grace - spiritual support that neither business nor government can offer."

There are currently 40 million people worldwide who have HIV/AIDS.

Local churches may not perceive how to begin addressing a global giant like HIV/AIDS, but Warren is convinced that it is the Church's "greatest opportunity".


[Lillian Kwon, Christian Today USA Correspondent also contributed to this article]