Saddleback Church

My amazing husband and I were married there a year and a half ago and I’m still over the moon about our experience! The catering coordinator left a bit to be desired, hence only three stars but the onsite coordinator, Julie Burke was fantastic! The food was awesome, the grounds are stunning, the tree we were married under was breathtaking, the courtyard where our reception was gorgeous, the bride and grooms villas to get ready in were spacious and beautiful… it was a truly blessed and magical evening. My only real complaint was that our pricing was quoted sans rentals and shot WAY up after we’d committed to the location. Saddleback Lake Forest is our home church campus so the church is dear to us and we decided to stay and make the budget increase work somehow. Overall, it was a great experience.

5 stars for the message, 1 star for the patrons, 4 stars for the mostly helpful staff
This location is a lot closer to us than Lake Forest and the Childcare process is faster and closer to the main worship center. We love the old mission style architecture and close parking. I’ve always loved the messages from Saddleback Church! Growing up Catholic, myself and husband, it’s always hard to get used to loud music and non-​traditional ways. Plus, you hardly ever see the same people twice. I go for the message ONLY. I’ve probably encountered more rude people than kind Christians here and at the Lake Forest location.
I really want to share my odd experience with this location, San Juan. This was really the weirdest day. So yesterday they were having an end of summer BBQ. There was food and bounce houses, and lots of activities going on. We don’t usually stay for these types of event but the baby was sleeping in my husband’s arms and we thought we’d let our 2 yr old and 9 yr old play.
By the time we got our food, most of the shaded tables were taken. There were two tables under a pop up shade with a backpack on it. We asked one if the pastors if my husband can sit there with our baby. I was standing while eating watching the kids play. What happened next was so crazy. A family came up, the owners of the backpack, and my husband said,“oh was this your table?” Mind you, he was the only one sitting while holding our sleeping baby. The husband told my husband he had to MOVE!!! What!!! The wife came back with,“yeah, sorry.” Um, if that were us we’d make room! Didn’t we all just hear a message about faith and good deeds to change the world?
So he got up and we sat in the sun in the grass with our food. Our baby ended up waking up too during the whole move. 15 minutes later, the wife puts a chair behind us and says,“we don’t need this.” I say,“we’re good.” I’ve never encountered a more un-​Christian experience at a church. Very sad. I told my husband that we’ll just attend for the message and not engage with the people ever again. He blames it on the American-​white culture. I’m Mex-​American and he’s Salvadorian. We make room for people! The more the merrier! We for sure never kick anyone out!
The other situation that happened is bazaar! Within the first few minutes of being at the BBQ the main paster for this location gave us a very enthusiastic «hey guys, how are you?!» It was like he knew us personally and was happy to see us again? Beside last week I’ve never seen him in my life. 15 minutes later as we’re eating on the grass, remember we were kicked out of the tables, he starts waiving and saying «hey guys how are you, nice to see you!» My husband and I did the whole are you talking to us — looking around us and seeing there’s no one around he comes back back with a «ya you!» Ok, what? We just said hi a few minutes ago. Then another 10 minutes pass and he starts asking us questions about our daughter. His twins were there and we were just making small talk because he obviously knows us??? So confused. Then, I kid you not, when we were leaving he starts waiving again and this time saying,“hey guys how are you? I haven’t seen you in forever.” My husband was stumped and came back with,“um yeah, see you next week.” It was like a scene from Steve Martin’s Leap of Faith. Was he filled with the Holy Spirit or filled with something else?
You can guarantee our car ride was some interesting conversation.
I don’t judge Rick by his church or the people who attend. Rick has changed so many lives around the world and I’ve never left without feeling moved by the message.

Awesome church! My child loved the child care and it was such a great service, can’t wait to go back!

Awesome message. I love saddleback. The Daniel plan is a weight loss program that the church is embracing Points for the apples and tangerines at the coffee station
Points taken away for the donuts and other poison foods (muffins.,)
I can’t tell my kids they can’t have one. It is a big battle that turns em off church. They do like fruit though and it would be great if they could have 2 tables. One for people that aren’t concerned about their kids health, or theirs for that matter. Then about 50 feet away the healthy table.
I watched a dozen overweight men fall prey to the addictive carb fest. The temptation was too great. These men will suffer from health problems and the financial hardships that come with em. They will have less energy to play with their kids and do other good works. They will set bad examples and increase the risks of diabetes for themselves and others. Oh and their self esteem will drop, making them lousy husbands, neighbors and managers.
Lose the donuts, it’s 2014 and the research is conclusive. They are bad for you!

This church changed me. #1 church IMO.