Ok, I have met some great authors in person before...Bill Hybels, John Eldredge, Jack Eggar, Paul Russesabagina, Randy Frazie, Lee Strobel, James McDonald, but so far...no one like Rick Warren...In his book, PDL, he has these main points...
1. We were planned for God’s pleasure, so your first purpose is to offer real worship.
2. We were formed for God’s family, so your second purpose is to enjoy real fellowship.
3. We were created to become like Christ, so your third purpose is to learn real discipleship.
4. We were shaped for serving God, so your fourth purpose is to practice real ministry.
5. We were made for a mission, so your fifth purpose is to live out real evangelism.
His heart for Rwanda appears to have been touched at the same time as mine...I think I heard him say at a leadership conference at Willow Creek Community Church that God used his wife Kay to wake him up to the issues in Africa... Oh boy is he and his church doing some serious damage for the kingdom! See below
Rick and Kay Warren's efforts have focussed on addressing what he calls the five Global Goliaths:
Spiritual Emptiness.
Egocentric Leadership.
Extreme Poverty.
Pandemic Diseases.
Illiteracy and lack of education.
Sounds a lot like GFR...except on a MUCH BIGGER SCALE!
Rick thinks these problems are so large that every attempt by the public and private sector has failed, and that the only organization big enough to take on these problems is the network of Christian churches around the world.
So, CHURCH, lets jump in together and help take on some of these problems in Rwanda!!!!
On August 22, 2005, Time magazine reported that Warren has been asked by Rwandan President Paul Kagame to help his country become a "Purpose-Driven nation". To implement this, Warren has enlisted over 2,000 Saddleback church members to go to Rwanda in small groups to initiate a national strategy, and the cooperation of 600 Rwandan churches. Business leaders and leaders of parliament in Rwanda are also involved.
It was an honor to meet Rick today. I think God allowed it just to give me a "jump start" to finish strong during our last weeks here in Rwanda. I hope someday I can be an encouragement to a young spiritual entrepeneur by just hugging him and telling him he is doing a great job. That is what Rick did for me today. Thank you Rick.
