Pastor Rick Warren Shares Story of Father's Final Dying Words: Reach One More for Jesus

By Alex Murashko, CP Contributor Sunday, September 21, 2014

Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, writes about the photo above: 'The photo with this post shows me, at 4 years old, helping my dad build a church. Thanks dad, for modeling what matters most.' [FILE] — Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, writes about the photo above: "The photo with this post shows me, at 4 years old, helping my dad build a church. Thanks dad, for modeling what matters most." [FILE] | (Image: Rick Warren Facebook Page)

Best-selling author and pastor Rick Warren shared on Friday that his dad, Pastor Jimmy Warren, who would have celebrated his 95th birthday this week, helped shape his destiny with his final, dying words.

In a Facebook post that also included a photo of Warren at 4-years-old helping his dad construct a church, the founder of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, stated that to understand why he does everything that he does, one needs to know the story of his father's church planting ministry and final days while dying from cancer.

"He never talked about the books he'd read, the movies he'd seen, or the war he'd been in. Instead, he dreamed aloud about building churches, reliving one building project after another," explained Warren about his dad during the last week of his life.

"The night before my father died, my wife, my niece, and I were in his bedroom by his side. Dad suddenly became very agitated and tried to get out of bed," Warren continued. "Of course, he was too weak to get up so Kay insisted he lay back down. But he kept persisting in trying to get out of bed. Finally, Kay in exasperation said 'Jimmy, you CANNOT get up! You are dying. We will get you whatever you need. What are you trying to do?'

"My dad replied, 'I've got to save one more for Jesus! I've got to save one more for Jesus! One more for Jesus! One more for Jesus!' He began to repeat that phrase over and over and over. It is no exaggeration to say that during the next hour, he repeated the phrase probably a hundred times: 'Got to save one more for Jesus!'"

Warren said that as he sat by his bed with tears flowing down his cheeks, he bowed his head to thank God for the legacy of his father's compassionate faith.

"While my head was bowed, my dad reached out and placed his frail hand on my head and said, as if commissioning me with a sacred calling, 'Reach one more for Jesus! Reach one more for Jesus!' It was a holy moment and I knew what I was supposed to do the rest of my life, regardless of problems, illnesses, conflicts, critics, attacks, delays, difficulties, or any other barriers," he wrote.

Warren's complete post on Facebook can be read by clicking here: Why I Do What I Do – The Theme of My Life.

He founded Saddleback Church in 1980 with one family. Today, it is an evangelical congregation averaging 30,000 weekly attendees, and has more than 300 community ministries to groups such as prisoners, CEOs, addicts, single parents, and those with HIV/AIDS, according to church officials. Recently, the church fed 42,000 homeless people – three meals a day – for 40 days.

He also leads the Purpose Driven Network of churches, a global coalition of congregations in 162 countries. More than 400,000 ministers and priests have been trained worldwide, and almost 157,000 church leaders subscribe to the Ministry ToolBox, his weekly newsletter. His previous book, The Purpose Driven Church, is listed in "100 Christian Books That Changed the 20th Century." Forbes magazine called it "the best book on entrepreneurship, management, and leadership in print."

Warren was named one of "America's Top 25 Leaders" in the October 31, 2005, issue of U.S. News and World Report. Time magazine named him as one of "15 World Leaders Who Mattered Most in 2004" and one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" (2005). In 2006 Newsweek called him one of "15 People Who Make America Great".