BREAKING: Here’s How Saddleback Launches a Campaign

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to launch a church-wide campaign from the very best.  I wrote about this last year when Saddleback launched Life’s Healing Choices.  Only the people that read that article in the first 30 days or so got the full effect…because some of what you need to see happens this weekend at Saddleback.  And you can see it online!

First thing you need to take a look at is their website.  Take a look at www.saddleback.com right now.  Notice that although you clicked the link that took you to Saddleback.com, your new window opened on a page that is very specific to their new campaign, Decade of Destiny.  That is a huge piece that most of us miss every year.

Second, notice that SIGN UP TO HOST A GROUP! is very prominently featured dead center on the main thing you’re going to look at when you go there.  While you’re thinking about it, notice that “host a group” is mentioned before “find a group.”  This is very intentional.

Third, notice that in the graphic image on the left (it’s found on the right of Saddleback’s home page) SMALL GROUP STUDIES is listed above WEEKEND MESSAGES.  See that?  That’s very significant.  And don’t think that slipped by Rick Warren.  It’s intentional.  It’s in the design of how to do a spiritual growth campaign.

Fourth, take a look at the message series that led up to launch of the campaign.  You can see it right here.  Trust me…if you go back and listen to the messages leading up the campaign, you’ll hear the drumbeat for host a group.  All of these messages are archived for you to hear right now.  This is another huge key to how Saddleback launches a campaign.

Finally, you’ll be able to hear message one* of Decade of Destiny this weekend (October 9-10, 2010).  I want to really urge you to take the 75 minutes and watch their service online.  There are a bunch of times.  Full Disclosure: I haven’t seen it, but I can tell you already, here’s what you need to watch/listen for:

• Notice how many times being in a group is mentioned.
• Notice that they’re still talking about signing up to host.
• Notice that you could host and not yet be a member.
• Listen for Rick Warren’s explanation of the power of a spiritual growth emphasis near the end of the message

I know you are busy.  If you’re a senior pastor, you need to watch this to begin to get the picture.  If you’re not the pastor, watch it so you’ll be able to explain a few things…then forward the post to your pastor for them to see.

There is a reason for the impact that Saddleback is having.  Andy Stanley says, “Your ministry is perfectly designed to produce the results you are currently experiencing.”  Short answer to all the questions about how Saddleback is doing it?  We are seeing the results of a group life design that works.

*Actually…you can hear message one of the series right now.  Rick gave this message a week early “because there was too much to fit in.”  You can hear it right here.