KTLA News
7:33 PM PST, January 2, 2010
LAKE FOREST -- Evangelical pastor Rick Warren says his appeal for donations to his Orange County megachurch pulled in a "history-making" 2.4 million dollars.At Saturday evening's church service, Warren announced that $2.4 million was raised after he asking for members to donate to the church.
"This is pretty amazing," Warren told his congregation. "I don't think any church has gotten a cash offering like that off a letter."
In a New Year's posting on the Saddleback Church Web site Friday, Warren said parishioners called in and dropped off contributions in droves.
On Wednesday, Pastor Warren posted a letter on the Saddleback Church's Web site appealing to parishioners to help fill a $900,000 deficit.
The message begins, "Dear Saddleback Family, THIS IS AN URGENT LETTER."
"With 10 percent of our church family out of work due to the recession, our expenses in caring for our community in 2009 rose dramatically while our income stagnated," the letter reads.
Warren said the church managed to stay within its budget but claimed "the bottom dropped out" when Christmas donations decreased.
"On the last weekend of 2009, our total offerings were less than half of what we normally receive - leaving us $900,000 in the red for the year," the letter states.
Pastor Warren posted a new message on Thursday, thanking followers for their "instant and overwhelming response."
He also reiterated that the church's financial shortfall was "NOT a management issue."
A church spokesman said the megachurch provides many charity services during the year based on what it anticipates in donations. With holiday offerings down, the church basically has to do more with less, church spokesman A. Larry Ross said.
The church is hoping those who haven't been hit by the recession will step up and help, Ross said.
The initial letter details where the donations would be used, including the church's food pantry, homeless ministry, counseling and support groups.
Warren gained attention with his invocation at President Obama's inauguration and comments in the aftermath of California's Proposition 8, which overturned gay marriage. The pastor also gained attention for his work in Africa involving AIDS relief and other humanitarian activities.
Warren founded Saddleback Church in 1980 in Lake Forest.
He is the author of numerous books, including the best-selling "The Purpose Driven Life."
Copyright © 2010, KTLA-TV, Los Angeles"
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-saddleback-money,0,2741252.story
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(KTLA-TV)-"Saddleback Pastor Requests $1 Million Donation in 2 Days
KTLA News
December 31, 2009
LAKE FOREST, Calif. -- Evangelical pastor Rick Warren, who generated controversy for giving the invocation at President Barack Obama's inauguration, is asking followers to donate nearly $1 million by the year's end.Pastor Warren posted a letter on the Saddleback Church's Web site late Wednesday, appealing to parishioners to help fill a $900,000 deficit.
The message begins, "Dear Saddleback Family, THIS IS AN URGENT LETTER."
"With 10 percent of our church family out of work due to the recession, our expenses in caring for our community in 2009 rose dramatically while our income stagnated," the letter reads.
Warren said the church managed to stay within its budget but claimed "the bottom dropped out" when Christmas donations decreased.
"On the last weekend of 2009, our total offerings were less than half of what we normally receive - leaving us $900,000 in the red for the year," the letter states.
A church spokesman said the megachurch provides many charity services during the year based on what it anticipates in donations. With holiday offerings down, the church basically has to do more with less, church spokesman A. Larry Ross said.
The church is hoping those who haven't been hit by the recession will step up and help, Ross said.
The letter details where the donations would be used, including the church's food pantry, homeless ministry, counseling and support groups.
Warren gained attention with his invocation at President Obama's inauguration and comments in the aftermath of California's Proposition 8, which overturned gay marriage. The pastor also gained attention for his work in Africa involving AIDS relief and other humanitarian activities.
Warren founded Saddleback Church in 1980 in Lake Forest.
Copyright © 2009, KTLA-TV, Los Angeles"
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-saddleback-money,0,2741252.story
