Contact: Mei Ling Nazar, Saddleback Church, 858-254-6019
 
SAN DIEGO, Calif., Oct. 17, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Saddleback Church founded by Pastor Rick and Kay Warren will launch its newest campus in San Diego on Sunday, October 23, 2016 at Canyon Crest Academy. Warren, Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life, will be on location for the launch. The book topped the Wall Street Journal best seller charts as well as Publishers Weekly charts with over 30 million copies sold by 2007.
 
The weekly services will feature live Saddleback Worship an inspiring message of hope and programs for all ages. The San Diego campus will move toward providing a full range of services for the local community as it grows, including a food pantry, small groups, Celebrate RecoveryⓇ, and various other support groups and events. 
 
"Saddleback San Diego is one we've been wanting to do for a long time," says Pastor Rick Warren. "We have members who drive every week from San Diego to our other campuses, but there's no reason for that in the future, because we're starting Saddleback San Diego! We've been waiting for the right pastor, and I'm happy to say that Jeff Gonzalez is coming back on our staff to become the new campus pastor at Saddleback San Diego."

The San Diego Campus will be lead by Pastor Jeff Gonzalez. Jeff is a former Marine that previously served as a volunteer at Saddleback San Clemente. He also led services in Afghanistan while deployed. Between Camp Pendleton Marine Base in Oceanside, and the Naval Base at Point Loma, Jeff's experience will resonate with the spiritual needs of retired military and those in active service. He served over 20 years in and then retired with four combat tours two in Iraq and two in Afghanistan.

Jeff Gonzalez, campus pastor of Saddleback San Diego, shares, "We have been praying for the San Diego community for nearly a decade and this is a prayer come true. The launch of this Saddleback church family will provide an epicenter of hope and resources for our San Diego community."

San Diego is the seventeenth Saddleback Church campus, including four international campuses. Each campus offers a relaxed, friendly environment with contemporary music, inspiring messages, and age-appropriate programs for children.

Saddleback Church San Diego will meet at Canyon Crest Academy, 5951 Village Center Loop Rd, San Diego, CA 92130. Sunday services are 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. For information, visit saddleback.com/sandiego.