FOX News Channel to Broadcast Saddleback Church Christmas Service: Pastor Rick Warren Delivers Message of Hope for Changing Times

FOX News Channel to Broadcast Saddleback Church Christmas Service: Pastor Rick Warren Delivers Message of Hope for Changing Times

LAKE FOREST, Calif., Dec. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- FOX News Channel will broadcast four special airings on Dec. 24 and 25 of Saddleback Church's Christmas service featuring an inspirational message titled "When God Changes Your Plans" from Dr. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in southern California and author of "The Purpose Driven Life" and "The Purpose of Christmas."

"What do you do when your plans don't go the way you want them to, like the economy drops out of the bottom?" Warren asks in his timely sermon. "What do you do when all of a sudden your future seems uncertain and you don't know which way to turn or what to do? When things don't go the way you plan you need to remember three things -- God is trying to get your attention; God has a better plan; and God wants you to trust Him."

During the current economic state, many Americans are looking for a sense of peace amidst troubled times. Warren observes that people have been on a similar quest since the first Christmas day more than 2,000 years ago, when one man sought a place for his young fiancee to give birth; shepherds searched for a baby in a manger; and wise men traveled from afar to find a newborn King. Warren's message brings hope by looking past the commercialization of the Season to recognize the true meaning of Christmas.

Saddleback Church will hold a total of 16 Christmas services for the 2008 holiday. The church began services Dec. 20 and will conclude with six on Christmas Eve at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. PST. FOX News Channel recorded one of the earlier programs that will be broadcast nationwide in real time on Dec. 24 at 10 p.m. EST, repeating overnight into Christmas on Dec. 25 at 1 a.m., 4 a.m. and 2 p.m. EST. Check local listings, as all times are subject to change.

"God's plan is bigger than your plan and God's plan is often harder than your plan but God's plan is also better than your plan," Warren continued. "Whenever you cooperate with God's plan and purpose for your life, you get something that you can't get any other way -- significance and meaning."

This is the third year FOX has chosen to broadcast the Saddleback Christmas services, which in previous years have drawn more than 40,000 people. Various musical selections from the Saddleback orchestra, choir and congregants will be interspersed throughout Warren's inspirational message focusing on the "unexpected change" surrounding Christ's birth and the lessons God teaches through it to help us cope with change in today's society.

"Some of you, since September, have lost a lot of income," Warren added. "Some people have been laid off. Some of you have seen your retirement income, your savings, your investments just go way, way down and all you can do is trust. And God is saying that's exactly what I want you to do."

Founded in 1980 by the Warrens, Saddleback Church is located in Orange County, Calif. With an average weekly attendance of 22,000, it is one of the five largest churches in America. For more information about the Saddleback Christmas services, visit http://christmas.saddleback.com/.

Note to Editors: For more information about Dr. Rick Warren, please visit http://www.rickwarrennews.com/.

    FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:    A. Larry Ross  972.267.1111    Kristin Cole   615.289.6701    media@rickwarrennews.com  

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Source: Saddleback Church

CONTACT: A. Larry Ross, +1-972-267-1111, or Kristin Cole,
+1-615-289-6701, media@rickwarrennews.com, both for Saddleback Church

Web site: http://christmas.saddleback.com/
http://www.rickwarrennews.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment