Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Church has managed to raise over $70 million to help fund a campaign to combat poverty, sickness, and lack of education.
He ended his 11-week sermon series called "Daring Faith" with this impressive announcement, saying the fundraising campaign of the same name was a success thanks to the generous contributions of the members of his Southern California-based megachurch, according to The Christian Post.
"I have said this over and over, and you need to believe me," he said. "There is no more generous church than Saddleback Church. This is the most unselfish giving church on the planet Earth. Nobody gives more to help the poor. Nobody gives more to care for the sick, to reach the lost than this church."
The amount they raised this year is actually double the amount the congregation managed to raise five years ago for their "Decade of Destiny" campaign. It is also $22 million more than what they collected to help build a state-of-the-art student structure and launch the church's PEACE plan.
"Nobody can explain it, nobody can rationalize it away, however, in Southern California which is typically known as the most materialistic part on the planet, God found an oasis of generosity called the people of the family of God, called Saddleback Church," Warren said.
He said he is extremely proud of their congregation, especially since during this time when people are more focused on spending their money on themselves, they decided that there is actually something far more important — and that is the kingdom of God.
"It is that the lost be found, and that the least be brought in, and that the hungry be fed, and that the sick be cared for, and that the poor be clothed, and that the word of God be spread all around the world," he said.
At the same time, they raised the funds without having to resort to any bingo parties, raffle ticket sales, and all kinds of fundraising gimmicks. "All we did for 11 weeks was talk about faith and sacrifice. We said that if you want to be like Jesus Christ you need to learn how to be a giver," said Warren.
