This Week in Christian History: Billy Graham's First Sermon, Saddleback Church Founding, Black Church Leader Dies

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Twitter

Saddleback Church holds first worship service — March 30, 1980

Pastor Rick Warren delivers an Easter sermon at Saddleback Church.
Pastor Rick Warren delivers an Easter sermon at Saddleback Church. | (Photo: Saddleback Church/Screengrab)

This week marks the anniversary of when Saddleback Church, the influential megachurch headed by pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren, held its first worship service.

Starting out as a small group that met in the Warren family's apartment living room, the church held its first worship service on Palm Sunday in 1980.

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The service was held at the Laguna Hills High School Theater and had approximately 40 attendees, according to a 2015 article by Baptist News Global. The following week, Easter Sunday, attendance was around 240.

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