Rick Warren, born Richard Duane Warren on January 28, 1954, in San Jose, California, is a prominent American evangelical Christian pastor and bestselling author.
He grew up in Ukiah, California, in a devout Christian family, with his father, Jimmy Warren, serving as a Baptist minister who built over 150 churches during his career, and his mother, Dot Warren, working as a high-school librarian.
Warren earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Baptist University, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.
He has been married to Kay Warren since June 21, 1975, and the couple has three adult children and four grandchildren.
Siblings
Rick has one sibling, his younger sister Chaundel, with whom he grew up in Ukiah during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Their childhood in the rural setting of Redwood Valley included simple pleasures like exploring ponds and railroad tracks, which Chaundel later reflected on fondly after the family moved to Southern California.
Chaundel went on to marry Tom Holladay, a fellow Ukiah native who now serves as an assistant pastor at Saddleback Church, the megachurch founded by her brother.
Career
Warren’s career began early when he became a practicing minister at the age of 19, drawing from his father’s legacy in Baptist ministry.
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In 1980, at the age of 26, he and his wife Kay founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, starting with a small Bible study group that grew into one of America’s largest and most influential evangelical congregations, with multiple campuses worldwide and over 30,000 members.
Warren served as the senior pastor for 42 years until his retirement in 2022, after which he transitioned to the role of executive director for the Finishing the Task mission coalition, focusing on global evangelism.
As an author, he gained international acclaim with books like “The Purpose Driven Church” in 1995 and “The Purpose Driven Life” in 2002, which sold over 30 million copies and guided readers on finding spiritual purpose.
Warren also launched initiatives such as the PEACE Plan for global poverty alleviation, the Hope for Mental Health program, and co-founded Celebrate Recovery, a faith-based recovery ministry that has helped millions worldwide.
Accolades
Warren has received numerous accolades throughout his career, reflecting his impact on faith, literature, and global outreach.
His book “The Purpose Driven Church” earned the Gold Medallion Ministry Book of the Year award, while “The Purpose Driven Life” was named Book of the Year by the Christian Booksellers Association and recognized among the 100 Christian Books That Changed the Twentieth Century.
Warren has been honored with several honorary degrees and the Biblical Preaching Award for his contributions to ministry.
Time magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2005, and he has been recognized as America’s most influential spiritual leader by various publications.
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