SHUKURANI, Password ya kupokelea unachotarajia. !

Shalom!Natumiani unaendelea vizuri rafiki yangu mpendwa, u mzima wa afya tele na kufanikiwa kama vile roho yako ifanikiwavyo.
Ninayo furaha kushirikiana na wewe jambo moja leo, ambalo ni muhimu sana lakini husahaulika mara nyingi. Twende pamoja tujifunze hapa:
Wengi wetu tuna uhusiano wa karibu na benki kwa maana ya kuwa tunahifadhi fedha zetu benki, na wakati tunapohitaji tunaenda kuzichukua.Na siku hizi wengi wetu tunahifadhi fedha zetu kwenye MPESA au TIGOPESA au AIRTEL MONEY.
Ni wazi kuwa hela haiwezi kutoka kwenye akaunt yako hadi uwe umeweka saini yako kwenye karatasi ile ya kuchukulia hela, na kama unatumia hundi, pia ni lazima uwe umeweka saini yako kwenye hundi hiyo ndipo mtu yeyote unayemlipa aweze kupewa hela. Bila ile saini yako hela haiwezi kutoka kwenye akaunti yako. Kadhalika kwenye ATM Machine huwezi kutoa hela mpaka uingize namba ya siri.

Na unapokosea namba ya siri huwezi kutoa hela, ni hadi utakapoingiza Password sahihi ndipo unaweza kutoa hela. Unapoenda kuchukua hela kwa Mpesa au Tigopesa kadhlika lazima uwe na namba ya siri ili uweze kuchukua hela.

Kama umetumiwa hela na mtu kwenye simu yako labda ni MPESA, ili uweze kuzitoa unapoenda kwa wakala, ni lazima uingize password au namba ya siri, ambayo wewe ndiwe unaijua, na sio wakala.Kwa hiyo ukienda kwa wakala kuchukua hela na hujui/huna namba ya siri au Password hawezi kukupa kwa sababu hata yeye haijui password.
Ile namba ya siri ndio itawezesha kuhamishia hela kwa wakala ili aweze kukupa hela yako cash.

Kadhalika, wewe ndiwe mwenye namba ya siri ya kuchukulia kila jibu la maombi unayoomba kwa Mungu.Namba yako ya siri ni SHUKURANI.


Hela yako imeshatumwa, ila unatakiwa kuingiza namba ya siri ili uweze kuitoa.Uko kwenye ATM Mashine, unahitaji namba ya siri au Password ili uwesze kutoa hela kwenye mashine.

Mtoto anapopewa kitu na baba yake ni wazi kuwa baba anategemea mtoto ashukuru, na kama hajafanya hivyo na baba anatamani kuona mtoto wake anakua katika tabia njema, atamfundisha na kumwelekeza kuwa wakati wowote akipewa kitu na mtu, anatakiwa kushukuru.
Unapompa mtu kitu, na akakushukuru, unajisikia vizuri, nae anaonyesha kufurahia pia kile ambacho amekitoa.Na wakati mwingine atafikiria kukupa tena kingine. Pata picha unajitoa kweli na kumnunulia mtu zawadi alafu unapompa anapokea tu na kunyamaza, bila kushukuru. Ni wazi kuwa hutajisikia vizuri.Na kama ni ndani ya uwezo wako utamwambia mbona hajashukuru.
Hayo ni maisha ya kawaida na ya kila siku ambapo, tunaishi na binadamu ambao kwa namna moja au nyingine wanakosea.
Si zaidi sana Mungu ambae kila iitwapo leo, anatupa pumzi ya kupumua BURE! Wengine wamepewa kazi nzuri, wengine wamepewa familia nzuri, wengine biashara nzuri, wengine huduma nzuri, wengine afya njema na mambo mengine mengi sana?

Kama ilivyo asili ya mwanadamu huwa haishiwi na mahitaji, hata akiwa na kila kitu bado anaendelea kuhitaji zaidi.
Inawezekana umeomba vitu vingi sana kwa Mungu, na wakati mwingine unawaza mbona hiki na kile hakijibiwi, mbona mambo hayasogei mbele. Unapomwomba Mungu kitu chochote ikizingatia kwamba kiko ndani ya Neno lake, anakupa.

Sasa swali linakuja kwamba mbona sikioni katika uhalisia?

Ipo siri kubwa ambayo ukiijua itakua suluhisho la kila ambacho umekua unaomba, na hutangángána tena katika maisha yako.

Watu wengi husahau hii namba ya siri na hivyo hushindwa kupokea kile ambacho walimwomba Mungu.
Kama ambavyo unaposahau namab ya siri unashindwa kuchukua hela kwenye ATM ndivyo ambavyo unaposahau KUSHUKURU katika kila jambo, unashindwa kupata 'access' na zile ahadi ambazo Mungu ametuandalia.


SHUKURANI  SHUKURANI  SHUKURANI

Hiyo ndio sahihi yako, ili uweze kupewa mzigo ambao umetumiwa.
Hiyo ndio namba yako ya siri ili uweze kuchukua fedha ambazo umetumiwa.
Utakapo jifunza hii NAMBA YA SIRI na kutoisahau, kila utakapo kuwa una uhitaji wowote, unaiingiza tu hiyo namab ya Siri na kupokea jibu lako.

Nakutakia Baraka tele na fuarha unapoendelea kutumia hii Password kupokelea kile unachohitaji!


Ubarikiwe!

Pastor Uche Agu ~~ From Double double to overflow!

Uche Agu is probably less known by his real name but when you mention Uche of Double Double fame, the gospel artiste based in South Africa; his name is like a wild fire; he is not just a gospel musician but a preacher of the gospel who delights in seeing souls saved for Jesus Christ through his musical shows. He was recently in Amsterdam and the Voice magazine couldn’t allow him pass bye without speaking to us for our reading audience. One on one with Pastor Uche ‘Double Double’ Agu. TV: Can you introduce yourself to our readers? Uche: My name is Uche, Pastor Uche ordained at Halleluiah Ministries International, I am a recording artiste and also a member of Joy Celebration in South Africa. I love the Lord and I love singing for the Lord. TV: What is your other name? Uche: Well, I am the first son of Assemblies of God parents and Pastors, my full names are Uchechukwu Godstime Agu. I was born in Nigeria in the city of Onitsha although my parents are from Imo State. TV: You have been living in South Africa for how long? Uche: For eight years now, I reside in Johannesburg, it has been an awesome experience, I love the people, the clulture, the warmth; one of the things that made me to fall in love with the country is their music. There depth of music and the love for music, the passion for music really drew me closer to the country. TV: Did you start playing music in South Africa? Uche: I have been doing music all my life, I have been singing, trying a lot of things and my mom informed me that I have been singing as a kid from the age of 4. I can remember back then when I used to sign at the Children’s choir, we were allowed once in a while to come and sign in the main church service, so music has always been part of my life for a long time. TV: Have you also studied music? Uche: (laughs) No, I have not studied music or have a degree in music but I have studied the basis at the Royal Bible church in Johannesburg, I have done vocal training, voice training, I learnt piano as an instrument, I didn’t go deep because then I started traveling and I couldn’t catch up, but I have the basic knowledge on music. TV: Playing music as a gospel artiste, how is it compared to secular artistes? Is there a good reception for gospel music? Uche: It depends on which part of Africa or the world you go to but generally gospel music is well received because the secular guys are more into media; they take advantage of the media and the technology available to sell their music while the gospel artistes especially in Africa are like on second level compared to the Americans or Europeans. But the gospel music in Africa is making impact among the people that are being raised up at this moment. God is rising a new generation of gospel artistes; you come to Holland, you hear of Elvis E in Amsterdam, you go to London, you hear of Aaron T. Aaron; you go to America, you hear a lot of gospel artistes so God is rising up; we are working hard, using what we have to reach our people and others. We know the future is bright and we can work together. TV: Is this your first time in Amsterdam? Uche: Yes, first time of coming inside Amsterdam, I always pass bye Amsterdam airport flying to other places but this is my first official trip to Amsterdam. TV: How was your experience? Uche: It was good, it is a lovely place, the city is good, and the places I visited are very nice, I also visited Almere, quite just like Johannesburg. The people I met here are very friendly, at least Elvis and his family were very friendly (Laughs). The people I met were friendly too. TV: You had a concert in Amsterdam. Tell us about it? Uche: As you read in this magazine, I was here last month and if you didn’t attend the show, you missed. I featured in that concert with Elvis E. Aaron T. Aaron, the Ghana Community Choir from Amsterdam, we chose some of the choirs that are resident in Amsterdam to feature in the concert, the performances were ballistic. You need to contact the organizers for your DVD copy to watch the show again. We were all on fire for Jesus, it was our first time in Amsterdam and we gave our best for the first edition of Africa Praise, next year I believe UNIQ records is going to announce a date for the concert very soon for the second edition. TV: Your hit track, ‘Double Double’ makes the headline everywhere, do you have other songs? Uche: I have other songs but the track Double Double is ever new when it is played, if you go to another part of the world, they are just catching up with Double Double; I have released three other songs on Joy Celebration label, after that people still talk about ‘Double Double’ so I think it is one of those songs that the life spam is timeless. TV: It seen internality! Uche: I tell you, I saw the song on Youtube being taught to kids in Brazil, on youtube it is over one million views and many are still viewing it. I have released several other songs but people are really hooked to that song. TV: It is a great song but how profitable is it to you? Uche: Well you see the thing is that the song was registered in South Africa which is a good breathing space for me and where they system is organized. The song was recorded there with Joy Celebration as the platform, the son is protected in that domain, obviously whatever happens in other African countries, I don’t have control over that. In South Africa, all my songs are registered and protected. In terms of making money, like my friend Elvis says, ‘you never say money is too much’. The money is coming in step by step, royalties also take time to come in so I thank God for where I am; I am not where I used to be before and I am moving forward with other African gospel artistes. TV: What is the ultimate for you with gospel music? Uche: This gospel music is an adventure, I cannot accomplish it alone, we are working together with my friends, Elvis E, Aaron T. Aaron, Tony in Canada, we have our contacts all over the world; we are trying to build this network, what we want to do is this; we want the world as a whole, not just the African communities but for instance, there must be a cross over; the Americans should be able to appreciate what we are doing, the Chinese, Japanese so this is the next level, to go into the market we have not reached for now; let the white people, the colored people, different kinds of people all over the world begin to enjoy our work. This is what the Americans have been able to do; they have made universal records. I was speaking to a record company, the focus and the direction now is global music; my next recording will be a global album whereby we feature artistes that I don’t want to mention their names now but with worldwide appeal. I am going to collaborate with some international artistes and when we release the music, it can reach the entire world. TV: Is Uche married or still available? Uche: I will be married very soon, marriage is not something to rush into, if you rush into it, you will rush out; your eyes have to be open to make sure that you make the right choice and you are able to connect. TV: One of the objectives of the gospel music is to win souls for Christ but I sense that gospel music is becoming just like secular music – to dance and to enjoy yourself. What do you think? Uche: Gospel music must be different from secular music, belief it or not if your gospel music is the same as secular music, then you must listen to what I am about to say. I am not saying that it must be different in the beats or rhythms, harmony but the power behind it must be different. The Apostle Paul said I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God onto salvation. The gospel music must carry power to touch and change lives, there must be something different about it. Secular music is just for you to play and dance, entertainment but the gospel music must be able to reach the spirit, it must be able to reach the soul; for instance if you are feeling down, you listen to gospel music, it should lift you up, it should develop your spirit man; it should bless you. It shouldn’t be only for entertainment but there must be a spiritual aspect of it. TV: How do you make sure that your gospel music carries power? Uche: You must be connected to the source of the power to receive the power. I see a lot of gospel artists, although no one is perfect, but your life style must correspond to what you are singing. You cannot say follow me, sing what I sing but don’t do what I do. Your life must correspond to what you and that is the difference between gospel music and secular music. I am an entertainer when I sing, dance, I bring fun but at the end of it, what happens? Is your sickness still there? Did something happen in your life? Does your heart bring glory to God? I ask myself these questions. Secular music directs people to money, life, and good times while gospel music should bring people closer to God. TV: Thank you for your time Uche: Thank you very much sir. Source: the voicenewsmagazine. Listen to his two songs my God is Good ooo and Overflow :                                   My God Is Good ooo                                          Overflow

A Lion wanted to be a hedgehog!

The following story will give you a perfect understanding of how social approval effects someone's self esteem.

Once there was a lion living in a big forest along with his other lion friends. One day that lion decided to visit the place where the hedgehogs lived. Upon his arrival there he liked the place much and so he went to the leader of the hedgehogs and asked him if he can stay with them.
The leader told him, "I am sorry, you are much different than us, please go and cut your tail in order to look more like us".
So the lion went away and thought about it and then decided to cut his tail because he needed to be approved by them badly. The lion came back to the hedgehog's leader and asked him if he can stay with them and the leader replied "hmmm your looks are still much different ,please shave all of your hair in order to look more like us".

                                       A  Hedgehog

But the lion was in need of social approval so ....

The lion thought that this is too much but because he wanted their approval so much and because he was eager to be accepted by the hedgehogs he shaved his hair then went back to the  leader who told him "hmm, you still need to remove your very long nails in order to look more like us", the lion thought about it, then he did it for the sake of being approved.
After returning back the leader told him "am sorry but, seems that whatever changes you do to yourself, you can never look like us, maybe you was never meant to be a hedgehog. Now please leave.

The lion headed back home feeling very disappointed and upon arriving back to the place he found big surprise was waiting for him. The other lions didn't accept his new looks and told him that he is no longer a lion. "you lost your identity , you are no longer a lion" said one of the lions.
The lion went away feeling bad and lost. He sacrificed precious things for social approval yet he got nothing.

How the need for social approval impacts self esteem

The problem of that lion is that he exchanged his identity for social approval. 
He sacrificed his true self to gain the approval of others.

The same story happens everyday but with lots of human beings who sacrifice their self esteem for social approval. They change the way they dress in order to appeal to others, they sacrifice what they like for what others like and the result is usually either one of a two things, either acceptance but zero self confidence or either rejection and a loss of their identity.
A person will never manage to become confidence before his subconscious mind accepts that he is worthy and this can never happen before his self worth comes from within. What striving for social approval does is that it allows others to control your self confidence while leaving you helpless.

It is good to seek approval from God rather than men. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ(Galatians 1:10)

If you don't know your tittle, you do not know the authority you have! Usipojua nafasi yako au cheo chako, hutaweza kujua mamlaka uliyonayo.

If you don't know your tittle, you do not know the authority you have!
Usipojua nafasi yako au cheo chako, hutaweza kujua mamlaka uliyonayo.


Mamlaka hutokana na cheo chako au nafasi yako uliyonayo. Rais kwa mfano, bila cheo alichonancho ni mtu wa kawaida tu kama mtu mwingine yeyote. Nafasi yake ndio inamfanya awe na mamlaka aliyo nayo.Askari bila cheo alichonancho hana mamlaka yeyote ya kufanya kazi ya uaskari. Kadhalika mama au baba kwenye familia asipojua nafasi yake au cheo chake kama mama au baba,hawezi kujua mamlaka aliyonayo katika familia.

Mpaka utakapojua nafasi au cheo chako ndipo utakapojua mamlaka uliyonayo katika eneo fulani.Iwe ni nyumbani, au kanisani, au katika eneo lako la kazi.Sio lazima uwe na cheo kikubwa, kama mkurugenzi au mwenyekiti wa sehemu fulani au meneja fulani ndio utumie mamlaka uliyonayo, kila mtu ana nafasi fulani katika eneo alilopo.Hata muuza machungwa ana nafasi yake katika eneo alilonalo, kuhakikisha anapanga machungwa yake vizuri  na kwa usafi yakaweza kununuliwa! Asipotambua nafasi yake hapo, hawezi kutumia mamlaka aliyonayo.

Kadhalika mkristu yeyote asipojua nafasi yake hawezi kujua mamlaka aliyonayo. Mamlaka katika eneo husika hutokana na nafasi mtu aliyonayo katika hilo eneo. Iwe ni kikundi cha watu au ni tasnia fulani au taaluma fulani au huduma fulani.Huhitaji kuwa mchungaji au kiongozi mkubwa sana kanisani ndio utumie mamlaka uliyonayo, hapo hapo ulipo una nafasi kubwa ya kutumia mamlaka uliyonayo ikiwa utagundua nafasi yako au cheo chako.

                                King of the jungle!

Mnyama Simba ambae wote tunamfahamu anaitwa 'King of the jungle' au mfalme wa mwitu, lakini tumwangalie huyu simba ana nini hadi kuitwa hivyo?
Simba sio mnyama mkubwa kuliko wote,wala sio mnyama mrefu kuliko wote, wala sio mnyama mjanja kuliko wote, wala sio mwenye mbio kuliko wote, wala sio mnyama mwenye nguvu kuliko wote.
Simba ni mnyama ambaye aliijua nafasi yake toka mwanzo na akaitumia vizuri,anatumia mamlaka aliyonayo katika nafasi aliyonayo kule mwituni.
Kila mnyama akimwona simba anakuja, anakimbia. Kwa maana nyingine, ana mpa heshima yake, 'mzee wa kaya' anapita.
Simba anajua nafasi yake au cheo chake kama king of the jungle, na hivyo hutumia mamlaka aliyonayo vizuri.

Kujua nafasi yako au cheo chako inakupa uwezo wa kufanyia kazi mamlaka uliyonayo.
Kama Rais asingejua kama yeye ni Rais ina maana asingeweza kutumia mamlaka aliyonayo kama Rais.
Mwalimu asingejua nafasi alioyonayo kwa wanafunzi wake asingejua mamlaka aliyonayo.
Kutambua nafasi au cheo ulichonacho katika eneo ulilopo itakusaidia kujua mamlaka uliyonayo. Wakristu wengi sana hawajui nafasi walizonazo kwenye ufalme wa Mungu na ndio maana maisha yao hayana tofauti na watu wengine ambao hawamjui Mungu.

Hata mtoto asipojua kama yeye ndiye mrithi wa baba yake hawezi kutumia mamlaka aliyonayo kama mrithi, na Biblia inasema, mtoto huyo atabaki kama mtumwa na sio mrithi kwa sababu hajui kama yeye ni mrithi..

Mrithi anakua mrithi pale ambapo yule anayemrithisha hayupo.Na kama anayemrithisha hayupo na bado mrithishwaji yule hajui kama yeye ni mrithi ataendelea kuishi kama hali ile ya kwanza ili hali anao urithi mkubwa ambao ameachiwa na baba yake.
Huo ni mfano halisi wa maisha ya kila siku..lakini usishangae kuona kwamba hayo ndio maisha ya wakristu wengi sana, ambao wanajiita ni wakristu lakini hawajui nafasi zao au 'vyeo' vyao katika ufalme wa Mungu.

Tayari tunao urithi ambao Mungu ametupa kama watoto wake, lakini kutokana na kutokujua, mtu anaendelea kuishi maisha ya matatizo yasiyoisha, na shida zisizokoma kwa sababu tu ameshindwa kujua mamlaka aliyonayo katika nafasi yake.

Rais anapotoka madarakani, hawezi tena kutumia mamlaka aliyokuwa nayo kama Rais hapo awali,kwa sababu sio yeye aliyekua ana amuru, bali ni ile nafasi yake ndio ilikua ina amuru.Na ndio maana akiondoka adarakani, yule anayeingia madarakani, ndie anakua na mamlaka ya kuamuru vitu vifanyike.
Sio kwa sababu ni yeye kama yeye, ila kwa sababu ya nafasi aliyonayo, na ameitambua hiyo nafasi hivyo akatumia mamlaka aliyonayo.

                                Martin Luther king jr

Wote tuliomkiri Yesu Kristu, tumefanyika watoto wa Mungu,lakini sio watoto wote wa Mungu ni watumishi wa Mungu.Ila watumishi wote wa Mungu ni watoto wa Mungu.-Not all Children of God are servants of God, but all Servants of God are children of God-hii inatokana na kujua nafasi uliyonayo.
Kujua nafasi yako katika ufalme wa Mungu, ndio kutakufanya uwe mtumishi wa Mungu kutokana na kile ambacho Mungu amekuita kukifanya kwenye ufalme wake.

Kujua nafasi yako kutakuwezesha kuwa na mamlaka juu ya vitu ambavyo kitaingilia utaratibu wako wa maisha. Kwa mfano, Ukijua kwamba una mamlaka juu ya magonjwa yote ambayo unaweza kutaja, utakua na uwezo wa kuamuru yatoweke kwako. Ukijua kuwa una mamlaka juu ya umaskini na ujinga, utakuwa na uwezo wa kuamuru viondoke kwako kwa kutumia ufahamu ulionao kufanya vitu ambavyo vitaondoa umaskini na ujinga kwako.

Tambua nafasi yako uweze kutumia mamlaka uliyo nayo!

Dr.Rick Warren

Dr.Rick Warren


Dr. Rick Warren is passionate about attacking what he calls the five “Global Goliaths” – spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease, and illiteracy/poor education. His goal is a second Reformation by restoring responsibility in people, credibility in churches, and civility in culture. He is a pastor, global strategist, theologian, and philanthropist. He’s been often named "America's most influential spiritual leader" and “America’s Pastor.”


As a pastor, he founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., in 1980 with one family. Today, it is an evangelical congregation averaging 22,000 weekly attendees, a 120-acre campus, and has more than 300 community ministries to groups such as prisoners, CEOs, addicts, single parents, and those with HIV/AIDS. Recently, the church fed 42,000 homeless people – three meals a day – for 40 days.


He also leads the Purpose Driven Network of churches, a global coalition of congregations in 162 countries. More than 400,000 ministers and priests have been trained worldwide, and almost 157,000 church leaders subscribe to the Ministry ToolBox, his weekly newsletter. 

                                                          Pastor. Rick Warren

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 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 25 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 more than 50 languages. Dr. Warren says he teaches theology without using theological terms and telling people it is theology. His latest book, The Purpose Driven Life, has sold 25 million copies and is the best-selling hardback book in American history, according to Publisher’s Weekly.


As philanthropists, Rick and Kay Warren give away 90 percent 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.


Early life and education

Warren was born in San Jose, California, the son of Jimmy and Dot Warren. His father was a Baptist minister, his mother a high school librarian. He was raised in Ukiah, California, and graduated from Ukiah High School in 1972, where he founded the first Christian club on the school's campus, The Fishers of Men Club. His sister Chaundel is married to Saddleback pastor Tom Holladay. His brother Jim C. Warren died in 2007.


Warren received a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Baptist University in Riverside, California; a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1979) in Fort Worth, Texas; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. 

His Mentors 

He considers Billy Graham, Peter Drucker and his own father to be among his mentors.

Due to the success of his book sales, in 2005 Warren returned his 25 years of salary to the church and discontinued taking a salary. He says he and his wife became "reverse tithers", giving away 90% of their income and living off 10%.[11

Marriage 


Warren has been married to Elizabeth K. Warren (Kay) for 32 years in 2011. They have three adult children (Amy, Josh, and Matthew) and four grandchildren. 

Career 
Warren says he was called to full-time ministry when he was a 19-year-old student at California Baptist University. In November 1973, he and a friend skipped classes and drove 350 miles to hear W.A. Criswell preach at the Jack Tar Hotel, in San Francisco. Warren waited afterwards to shake hands with Criswell who focused on Warren stating "I feel led to lay hands on you and pray for you!"


During his time at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Warren worked at the Texas Ranch for Christ, a ministry facility of Billie Hanks, Jr., where he began writing books. He co-wrote two books, The Victory Scripture Memory Series and the Twelve Dynamic Bible Study Methods for Laity, with Billi Hanks, Jr. and Wayne Watts.

Saddleback Church 

In April 1980 Warren held Saddleback Church's first public service on Easter Sunday at the Laguna Hills High School Theater with 200 people in attendance. Warren's church growth methods led to rapid expansion, with the church using nearly 80 different facilities in its 28-year history.

                                                        Saddleback Church.




Saddleback did not build its first permanent building until it had 10,000 weekly attenders. When the current Lake Forest campus was purchased in the early 1990s, a 2,300-seat plastic tent was used for worship services for several years, with four services each weekend. In 1995 the current Worship Center was completed, with a seating capacity of 3,500. A multi-million dollar children's ministry building and a staff office building were completed over the next few years. In June 2008, a $20 million student ministry facility called the "Refinery" was completed, housing the "Wildside" middle school and "HSM" high school ministries, consisting of 1,500 students. Saddleback Church averages nearly 20,000 people in attendance each week, and is currently the eighth-largest church in the United States.


Warren has been invited to speak at national and international forums, including the United Nations, the World Economic Forum in Davos, the African Union, the Council on Foreign Relations, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, TED, and Time’s Global Health Summit. He was an elected member of the Council on Foreign Relations between 2005 and 2006, and  was named one of "America's Top 25 Leaders" in the October 31, 2005, issue of U.S. News and World Report.


In August 2008, Warren drew greater national attention by hosting the Civil Forum on the Presidency that featured senators John McCain and Barack Obama at Saddleback Church. Warren said the goal of the forum was to “restore civility in our civil discourse.” The forum marked McCain and Obama's first joint appearance as the presumptive Republican and Democratic presidential nominees, and was broadcast live on national television. During the two-hour event, each candidate took the stage separately for about an hour to respond to Warren’s questions about faith and moral issues including abortion and human rights.



In January 2009, Warren and the Readers Digest Association partnered in the launch of the Purpose Driven Connection, a quarterly publication sold as part of a bundle of multimedia products.In November 2009, the partners announced that the magazine had not drawn enough paying members and would cease after publication of the fourth issue that month.


Ministries

Warren and his wife are directors of the following non-profit organizations:

Acts of Mercy
RKW Legacy Partners
Equipping the Church
Purpose Driven

Purpose Driven comes from the teaching of Warren, and came into use as a paradigm taught to pastors and other Christian leaders worldwide to help them be more effective in leading their churches. The teaching is embodied in Warren’s best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Church, first published in 1995. Over 400,000 pastors and church leaders from around the world have attended a seminar or conference led by Warren and other pastors who seek to be more effective in fulfilling the Biblical Great Commission and Great Commandment. Purpose Driven refers to these pastors' attempts to balance the five "purposes"; worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism in their churches.

Christian leaders in 162 countries have used materials which stem from this movement. Warren says his organizations have trained 400,000 pastors worldwide. Some 189,000 church leaders subscribe to Ministry Toolbox, the weekly newsletter.


Others express concern over what is described as the divisive nature of Warren's techniques. Wall Street Journal writer Suzanne Sataline cited examples of congregations who have split over the growth strategies and congregations that have expelled members who fought changes. She wrote, "Warren acknowledges that splits occur in congregations that adopt his ideas, though he says he opposes efforts to expel church members."

Author:

In addiction to The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren has written several popular Christian books which have been translated into some 50 languages.

• The Purpose Driven Church (1995)
• Answers to Life's Difficult Questions (1999)
• The Purpose Driven Life (2002)
• What on Earth Am I Here For? (2004)
• God's Answers to Life's Difficult Questions (2006)
• God's Power To Change Your Life (2006)
• Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods (2006)
• The Purpose of Christmas (2008)

http://www.saddleback.com/aboutsaddleback/ourpastor/