The Story of Saddleback Church
Letting Go Letting God

b y RaeAnn Slaybaugh

FOR THE THIRD IN a series of field-trip seminars conducted by the education committee of the National Association of Church Design Builders, the Church Solutions team recently traveled to Lake Forest, Calif., to tour the campus of world-renowned Saddleback Church.

Along with the other “tourists,” we took a rare historical look at the church’s facilities from a design and construction perspective. We also learned a lot about what the next generation of facility developers should emulate – and avoid – based on Saddleback’s experience.

What we know now about this megachurch’s master plan (or lack thereof) is sure to surprise you.

The Saddleback Church story begins on Easter 1980. It’s the first service. Pastor Rick Warren leads 200 people in worship at a high school in Laguna Hills, Calif.

Fast-forward 12 years. It’s 1992, and Saddleback is welcoming 5,100 worshippers every weekend – but the church still doesn’t have a home. Instead, they meet at 70 different locations for worship and small groups.

“For many years, we were the largest church in America without a permanent home,” explains Director of Facility Development Karen Kelly, a 20-year Saddleback employee. When the church did start building, it was Kelly who acted as the owner’s rep, interacting with architects, engineers, subcontractors and designers to oversee design and construction. And that’s a big job.

Since 1992, the church has spent nearly $27 million to acquire 120 acres. Today, the facilities they’ve built accommodate 20,000 attendees every weekend – a figure that’s ever-growing.

It’s hard to believe all this was accomplished without a master plan.

Yes, you heard right: no master plan. But if the reactions of the “tourists” who trekked all over Saddleback’s campus with us recently are any indication, this missing link hasn’t hurt Saddleback a bit.

“[A master plan] is always a difficult design criteria; one never knows just how large or how fast a congregation might grow,” explains Mark Johnson, senior project manager for Derrick Commercial Contracting in New Richmond, Wis. “Given the information and resources Saddleback had at various times, I’d say their master plan is coming together quite well.”

But don’t throw down your pencils just yet! Just because it has worked out for Saddleback doesn’t mean foregoing a master plan is a good idea.

“It’s a great story of God’s plan coming together without human forethought, and I think God has pulled the look of the campus together in spite of not having one,” says another tourist, Mark MacDonald, president of PinPoint Creative in Winston-Salem, N.C. “But I also sense [Saddleback] wouldn’t do it this way again.”

Worship services at Saddleback began humbly in a 2,000-seat tent. It took longer than anyone expected, but a 35,000- square-foot, 3,000-seat concrete tilt-up building – built for $7.5 million – eventually took its place. Although the new worship center had large windows, a Scripture wall and rear-projection video screens, retractable bleachers and a flat floor made it just right for weekday use, too.

The sanctuary’s emphasis on natural light and reasonable sound – not cuttingedge audio-video technology – was surprising to Victor Erwin, vice president of the church division of G.L. Barron Co. in Fort Worth, Texas.

This simplicity also resonated with Tobey Van Wormer, executive director of the NACDB, who calls the space “a pretty humble facility.”

But it’s not that surprising, given how often a church building mirrors the ministry inside. “Everyone [on the staff] seemed so real, and they all have the gentle spirit of doing God’s work,” recalls Mark MacDonald. “The worship center has the same feel. It’s not glitzy; it’s multipurpose and functional.”

NACDB Administrator Sheila Skelton couldn’t agree more. “For such a prominent pastor and church, living in such an affluent area, the sanctuary is so … understated,” she says. “It’s obvious that church’s passion is people.”

But Saddleback didn’t forget its trusty tents – not by a long shot. Today, they remain defining architectural elements of the campus and are still put to good use. After all, these aren’t “tear-down” structures; they’re fully insulated, equipped with full HVAC, and can be relocated or expanded. Three tents still grace the property, seating up to 700 and guaranteeing as much as 9,600 square feet of fellowship space inside.

Tobey Van Wormer, for one, sees the genius in keeping the tents, citing their energy-efficiency – a real money-saver. He does, however, wonder how the tents passed muster with the neighbors in the first place.

“Remember: this is an affluent area in Southern California,” he explains. “You wouldn’t think they could ‘sell’ the tent concept here.”

Of course, sentimentality might also play a part. “I think the tents are there to remind Saddleback of its past and where it’s come from,” suggests Mark MacDonald.

One of the most jaw-dropping projects Saddleback leaders have ever undertaken is The Jimmy Warren Bridge. Completed on Easter 1999, this $5-million bridge is six lanes wide and 300 feet long.

While that price tag might sound exorbitant, it’s money well spent. Before the bridge was finished, visitors and staff had only one way to get on and off of the property, resulting in agonizing delays of 25 minutes or more. Construction of the bridge gave the church a second entrance/exit and decreased exit time to five minutes.

Additionally, Purpose Drive – also under construction – will facilitate a third entrance. This five-lane road will lead to two additional parking lots.

A third project, the pedestrian bridge, is also in the works. It will feature a fourstory tower that connects two future parking structures. This bridge will move people from the parking levels to the center of the campus.

Another project underway is a $20-million Student Zone. When it opens next summer, students will enjoy seating for 600, basketball courts, an upstairs game area, a snack bar/ coffee shop, outdoor sports area and theater, baptism pool, and dining deck. The theme will be “Southern California beach.”

Ironically, the real beach – and Disneyland – are both nearby, posing the greatest competition for kids’ free time. Armed with this knowledge, Saddleback has proposed its new student center will capitalize on the lure of the water without sacrificing the spiritual. Mark MacDonald, who toured the facility, gives a big thumbsup in this respect.

“Each area provides the amenities required to capture and hold the kids’ attention,” he says. “I believe that’s required to show you can have fun and be a believer. They aren’t mutually exclusive.”

With a campus this size, combined with the staff’s best intentions for the Earth’s resources, “green” building is a priority at Saddleback. Photovoltaic panels were recently installed on the worship center roof at the cost of $1 million. Southern California Edison rebated the church $500,000 of that money.

Also, in the children’s ministry center, a chiller plant generates ice during off-peak times, and then uses the ice to cool the buildings during the on-peak hours of the day.

The landscaping of Saddleback is something to behold. True to Rick Warren’s vision, the grounds are a “peaceful, inspiring garden landscape” achieved with a balance of hardscape and softscape. Cactus, tropical palms trees and flowers are meticulously kept and planted.

Mark MacDonald describes the grounds as a “blend between Downtown Disney and a lush California park.”

“As you walk on their sidewalks, you’re reminded of the intervention of God throughout history,” he says. “It’s the creek that gives way to dry land, like the Red Sea did for the Israelites; the three crosses in the center of campus that emphasize the central message of our salvation; and the tombstones that can become a teaching aid to demonstrate Christ’s healing (Lazarus) and His gift of life through the reality of Resurrection.”

When you mix tents with tilt-up structures, pedestrian bridges and lush gardens, the potential for the campus to feel visually disjointed is great. But at Saddleback, the effect is surprisingly harmonious.

No doubt Divine inspiration plays a big part; another driving force surely is the staff’s unified devotion to Rick Warren’s vision for the campus. As Tobey Van Wormer notes, everyone on staff seems proud to be a part of it.

“They always make sure to reiterate that it’s God’s vision through Rick,” he says. “This is a humble church that has accomplished great things.”

If history is any indicator, Saddleback is just getting started.