|PIC1|Rick Warren says 'radical generosity' is behind the $2.4 million in donations netted by the church in just a few days.
The Purpose Driven author issued an "urgent" plea last week to raise $900,000 in just 48 hours so that his California church, Saddleback, could end 2009 debt-free.
To the cheers of the congregation, Warren announced at Saturday night's service that $2.4 million in donations had so far come in via the web and in envelopes dropped off at the megachurch as a result of the appeal. The total does not include mailed donations, he said.
Warren praised the congregation for their spirit of giving, as he read out letters from donors who had given beyond their means.
“This is pretty amazing," said Warren. “That’s a record. I don’t think any church has gotten a cash offering like that off a letter.
"We're starting the new decade with a surplus.
"It came from thousands of thousands of ordinary people. There was not one big fat cat.”
He added: "Unparalleled generosity is the norm here."
-
Christian nationalists 'are neither patriots nor Christians', says Church of England's parliamentary rep
-
Many Christians among the missing and dead after Nepal floods
-
Church vows to plough on with Project Spire
-
James Orr stands down as adviser to Reform after donations sting
-
Hundreds of churches prepare to welcome Franklin Graham’s ‘God Loves You Tour’ to Manchester
-
MPs vote against assisted suicide in 'victory for hope, compassion and life'
Most Popular
News
AI could become a ‘very dangerous master’, warns John Lennox
Apologist and Oxford mathematician John Lennox warned Christians that artificial intelligence could contribute to a generation becoming increasingly disconnected from Scripture and cautioned that technology meant to serve humanity can become a “very dangerous master.”
Catholic baptisms fall sharply across Ireland as births decline and secularisation grows
The number of Catholic baptisms taking place across the whole island of Ireland has fallen by almost 30% over the past decade, with declining birth rates and the growth of religious non-affiliation identified as the main reasons.
Against backdrop of conflict and tough working conditions, seafarer happiness falls
Seafarer wellbeing has declined for the second consecutive quarter as heavy workloads, restricted shore leave and concerns over pay increasingly weigh on crews, according to new research from The Mission to Seafarers.
When Eastern Europe appeared to be going Protestant
The crucial question is: why did so much of the early Protestant advance subsequently disappear?