After 40 Days of Purpose: The Next Step

Twenty thousand churches in America and 40 other nations have participated in “40 Days of Purpose,” the spiritual growth campaign launched by one of America’s largest churches, Saddleback Church and Pastor Rick Warren, two years ago.

This Spring, hundreds of those churches will take step two, designed to move churches into implementing God’s five purposes in the world.  “Many churches have reported that 40 Days of Purpose was the most transforming event in their congregation’s history,” Pastor Warren says. “Thousands of church leaders have written us saying, ‘Our church will never be the same,’ and ‘This is the greatest thing that has ever happened in our church.’ One pastor wrote, ‘I've seen more growth in our members and our church in 40 days than in the previous 13 years.’ But the biggest response by far has been ‘What’s next? Our church is growing; our people are excited. Everyone is on the same page and moving in the same direction. We have more energy and enthusiasm than we know what to do with. Now what? Where do we go from here?’”

40 Days of Community moves people from focusing on God’s purposes in their personal lives — “What on earth am I here for?” — to focusing on God’s purposes in their church and community — “What on earth are WE here for?”

Our primary focus in participating in this campaign is to fulfill God’s five purposes (worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and mission) together by deepening the sense of community within the church and reaching out to the community around the church.

We will begin our 40 Days of Community campaign with our Kick Off on April 9th, and continuing through to Celebration Sunday on May 22nd.  Each Sunday message during this time will introduce one of the areas of focus, and these topics will be expanded on in the weekly small group studies. 

The Small Groups for the 40 Days of Community are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!

This is where true community begins – with the fellowship, communication, support and prayer of others!  Sunday message topics will be further developed, and there will be lots of opportunity for discussion.  We strongly encourage you to join a small group for the duration of this study.  The small groups listed below are specifically formed just for this campaign, and while the group may choose to continue after the study is over, there is no obligation to do so.  If you currently attend a small group that isn’t participating in this study, we aren’t asking you to leave that group.  Rather, we ask that you find an additional time that you can participate in a different group during the 40 Days of Community.

We look forward to having you join us!