LGBT POV

Sunday morning Pastor Rick Warren tweeted:

“Radically changed lives at Saddleback “vote with their wallet” to show their love for Jesus. $2,400,000 CASH given midweek.”

Warren originally announced the news at a Saturday night service, saying the “history-making” money tallied so far includes only donations brought in person to Saddleback Church by New Year’s Eve following this Dec. 30 urgent plea for $900,000.

The Los Angeles Times reported:

“Now, the church will enter the year with an unanticipated surplus, officials said. “I wasn’t surprised by this offering, as Saddleback is famous for radical generosity,” Warren said during tonight’s service.

Warren represented the total with a display that included 24 parishioners rising to represent $100,000 each, said spokeswoman Kristin Cole. Virtually all of the individual donations were for less than $1,000, according to the church, she added. More donations remain to be counted.”

Noting that the church raised $1.6 million for the victims of the tsunami in Asia in 2004 and $1.7 after Hurricane Katrina is 2005, Warren said in a press release:

“I say without fear of contradiction that I don’t know of a more generous church.”

The Times reported that the church “does not release comprehensive information about its budget — or even a budget total — so it’s difficult for those outside the leadership to get a clear picture of church finances.” But Cole told the newspaper that the church was never in danger of failing, only not being able to complete its planed ministerial work.

The Times reported that the Saddleback Church, with its main campus located about 65 miles southeast of LA in Lake Forest, about 65 miles southeast of LA, belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention. Apparently about 22,000 people attend services every week at its five regional locations.

The Saddleback Church webcasts its services live – with four services on Sunday: 9:00am, 11:15 am, 4:30am, and 6:30am – all times Pacific. Click here.