Pastor, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA
(as of 2006)
Dr. Rick Warren is a global strategist, theologian, pastor, and philanthropist. The media has often named him "America's most influential spiritual leader." and “America’s Pastor.”
As a global strategist, Dr. Warren advises leaders in the public, private, and faith sectors on leadership development, poverty, health, education, and faith in culture. He has been invited to speak at the United Nations, the World Economic Forum in Davos, the African Union, the Council on Foreign Relations, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, TIME’s Global Health Summit, and numerous congresses around the world. TIME magazine named him one of “15 World Leaders Who Mattered Most in 2004” and in 2005 one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World.” Also in 2005 U.S. News & World Report named him one of “America’s 10 Best Leaders”
As a theologian, Dr. Warren has lectured at Oxford, Cambridge, the University of Judaism, the Evangelical Theological Society, and numerous seminaries and universities. His six books are known for explaining theology in understandable ways, and have been translated into over 50 languages. Dr. Warren says he teaches theology without using theological terms and without telling people it is theology. His latest book, The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold 25 million copies, is the bestselling hardback in American history, according to Publisher’s Weekly
As a pastor, he founded and has been the pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA since 1980. He also leads the Purpose Driven Network, a global movement of churches in 162 countries. Over 400,000 ministers and priests have been trained worldwide, and 189,000 church leaders subscribe to Ministry Toolbox, his weekly newsletter. His previous book, The Purpose Driven Church is listed in “100 Christian Books That Changed the 20th Century.” Forbes magazine called it “The best book on entrepreneurship, management, and leadership in print.”
As philanthropists, Rick and Kay Warren give away 90% of their income through three foundations: Acts of Mercy, which serves those infected and affected by AIDS, Equipping the Church, which trains church leaders in developing countries, and The Global PEACE Fund, which fights poverty, disease, and illiteracy.