Born and raised in New York City, Pastor Gregg Farah knew even before the tragedy of 9/11 that he would someday be leaving his job as a youth ministry leader at a Southern California megachurch to plant a church in his hometown.

Farah, along with his wife, just didn’t know when.

His stay in California was originally just about going to college, Farah said. However, he and his wife ended up attending and becoming leaders at Saddleback Church in Orange County. Farah became a youth ministry leader in 1999 and was under the guidance of the church’s well-known lead pastor, Rick Warren, and highly-regarded youth ministry pastor, Doug Fields. more >>

A church located two blocks from New York City’s ground zero, which was planted in Manhattan shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S., will be part of the live webcast memorial services led by Orange County, Calif., megachurch pastor Rick Warren.

The services will be at least partially broadcast from Lower Manhattan Community Church, one of Saddleback’s “daughter churches,” on the weekend of the 10th anniversary of the tragedy.

The full details of the "Hope & Freedom" services have not been disclosed and are still being formulated, said a Saddleback Church spokesperson. Lower Manhattan Community Church is led by Ryan Holladay, the son of Saddleback Church’s associate pastor Tom Holladay. more >>

Coming from a family of four generations of California farmers, ministry leader Gene Archibek said he was “done with farming” as a child.

However, late last year, the 40-year-old member of Saddleback Church in Orange County, Calif., said he was inexplicably drawn to the church’s recently acquired ranch land in San Juan Capistrano.

Archibek became one of several volunteers who helped the church prepare the 175-acre property previously owned by Crystal Cathedral to become a satellite campus and retreat center. It was clear to him that the tasks at hand had nothing to do with farming. more >>

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – Hoping to inspire a new youth movement among college-age Christians, Saddleback Church held its first three-day outdoor festival featuring music, art, and teaching, at its 170-acre conference center in San Juan Capistrano.

More than 500 people from churches and colleges in Southern California attended the event called “Radicalis Festival,” which ended Saturday morning. Many of those attending the festival slept in tents set up on the conference center’s soccer field.

Saddleback Church lead pastor Rick Warren developed the “Radicalis” concept with church and ministry leaders from around the United States in mind. Two previous conferences held in the last two years included renowned speakers teaching on Christian leadership concepts to no specific age group. more >>

Two Christian leaders are attempting to squelch a persistent rumor that Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren “embraces Chrislam.”

Pastors Geoff Surratt and Brandon Cox have posted their defense online. Warren recognized the posts late last week on Facebook and Twitter where he stated, “The stupid Chrislam lie wont die. Here are 2 true articles quoting me.”

Televangelist Jack Van Impe, who recently left Trinity Broadcasting Network as a result of his accusations aimed at Warren and Robert Schuller, has been suggesting that Warren is pushing Chrislam. He points to an Islamic conference in which Warren was a speaker at two years ago as evidence. Others in the Christian community and beyond have perpetuated the claim. more >>

A growing number of U.S. pastors are embracing Twitter as a way of spreading the Good News of the Bible, even if they might begin the 140-character adventure a bit reluctantly.

Evangelist Will Graham, grandson to world renowned Billy Graham, sent his first tweet less than two months ago. Graham’s Twitter name is @TellaGraham.

“Hello Twitter. I feel like a possum in headlights about to get squished trying to write my first tweet. My first tweet is so lame,” Graham tweeted. more >>