What is "40 Days" All About?

By Tom Cox

It's not a secret anymore. Central is getting ready for Rick Warren's "40 Days of Purpose." So, who is Rick Warren, and what is 40 Days of Purpose?

Rick Warren is the energetic Senior Pastor of the 15,000 member Saddleback Community Church in Southern California. He is well-known as the author of The Purpose-Driven Church, recognized as one of the 100 Most Important Christian Books of the 20th Century. He has also developed an impressive national mentoring ministry that has brought thousands of other churches into spiritual renewal through 40 Days of Purpose.

Last week's News & Views article by Pastor George outlined the basic concept of 40 Days, and explained why the Leadership Team at Central has decided to engage the entire congregation in this remarkable program. Simply put, 40 Days of Purpose promises to UNIFY our members, ACCELERATE our spiritual growth, and PREPARE us for our next stage of church life.

But 40 Days also will have a dramatic personal impact in the life of everyone who participates. The most important objective of the program is to take us together on a six-week spiritual journey to remind us of our faith, strengthen our commitment, and renew our energy to serve Jesus Christ and one another as brothers and sisters.

Beginning Saturday, April 12th, 40 Days will claim almost all our attention. First, there will be an exciting kickoff meeting that includes the participation of hundreds of other churches in a national TV simulcast. Rick Warren will preach and teach his Purpose message, and introduce the multiple programs that start -appropriately enough - on Easter Sunday, April 20th. To gain the maximum benefit of this occasion, we are calling everyone in the congregation together at Grace Fellowship from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm on Saturday, April 12th. Of course food and childcare is planned.

As part of this event, all members will be invited to join a 40 Days of Purpose small group, specially formed to meet weekly six times during the 40 Days. Warren's newest book, The Purpose-Driven Life, will be distributed to everyone participating. Daily devotional readings from this book form a key element of the 40 Days program. Each Sunday thereafter, Pastor George will be delivering 6 messages that tie together the devotionals and the important 40 Days themes: Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and Mission.

Two other events will highlight the campaign. On Sunday, May 18th, "Grand Central Station" will open for a day, to give everyone an opportunity to apply their gifts to work inside and outside the church. Finally, our 40 Days journey will end with a major Celebration Event on June 1st. This will be another "all hands" activity that no one will want to miss!

Supported by a team of prayer warriors led by Mary Magan, and uplifted by the energy and enthusiasm of more than a hundred volunteers, 40 Days of Purpose is going to be the biggest thing to happen at Central in years. But our hope is that 40 Days is just the beginning of major spiritual renewal in the life of each individual member, as well. Stay tuned for more information on 40 Days of Purpose as our Kickoff day draws near.