Pastor Rick Warren of the Saddleback Valley Community Church and author of the best-selling "The Purpose Driven Life" will bring a Christmas message of hope and peace during "The Purpose of Christmas with Rick Warren" to be broadcast in the US on the Fox News Channel and to US troops worldwide via the Armed Services Television Network.

"The message of this programme is encouragement," Pastor Warren said. "Though Christmas is all about giving, hope, and joy, it is actually one of the loneliest times of the year for many people."

Pastor Warren's Christmas message is set to reach an audience of 800,000 uniformed armed service men and women and their families currently stationed in more than 177 countries through the Armed Services Television Network.

The special Christmas programme will be pre-taped at the first of 13 Christmas services to be held at Saddleback over the holiday weekend, 22 - 24 December. In previous years, the Christmas schedule of services at the church has attracted audiences of 35,000 people.

Pastor Warren's spirit-lifting message this year will focus on the three purposes of Christmas as revealed through the words the angel spoke to the shepherds on the night of Christ's birth.

"Christmas is the celebration of an invasion when God came to earth 2,000 years ago, and the world has never been the same since," said Pastor Warren. "It is a time for celebration - 'don't be afraid for I bring you good news of great joy;' salvation - 'for unto you is born a Saviour;' and reconciliation - 'peace on earth, good will toward men.'

"Christmas is also a time of coming together, and we need reconciliation in so many areas - in families, in communities and between nations," added Pastor Warren. "Many times when families get together over the holidays, there is a lot of brokenness, dysfunction, hurt and heartache. That's why this message of reconciliation, - peace with God, of God and with each other - is one that will ring true in a lot of hearts."

Interspersions of various musical selections from the Saddleback orchestra, choir and congregants will give a special seasonal flavour to the Christmas message from Pastor Warren who will culminate his message by sharing the P.E.A.C.E. plan.

P.E.A.C.E. is a worldwide effort to mobilise one billion people to address the five global giants that encompass leadership, finance, health, education and faith. The P.E.A.C.E. plan is currently being tested in nearly 70 countries by Providing Hope, Equipping servant leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick and Educating the next generation.

Pastor Warren said of his message: "Though this message of encouragement is important for all to hear this Christmas season, the purpose of this broadcast is not to benefit Saddleback Church but to help and support other local congregations. We want people who are inspired or encouraged by this program to find a church in their community."