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Kay Warren:
Kay Warren – wife of Rick Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Church and author of “The Purpose Driven Life” – is using her far-reaching influence as a voice for those who might otherwise have none in the world’s HIV/AIDS pandemic. In 2002, Warren became, in her words, “seriously disturbed” by the suffering of the millions infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. “You and I must choose to be disturbed,” Warren said. “God puts horrific and startling images in front of us daily through the newspaper, the television and eyewitness accounts. You can do what I did for years – choose to ignore it all – or you can become disturbed, seriously, dangerously disturbed, so disturbed that you are compelled to do something. “Christians are just as guilty as non-Christians of wanting to look the other way when it comes to the problems confronting our world – the topics that make us uncomfortable,” she said. “But we need to be seriously disturbed about things like homelessness, child prostitution, rape, poverty, injustice and AIDS.” God has taken Warren from her own fears to a passionate place on the world’s stage. She is challenging the worldwide church to take on the global giants of spiritual darkness, lack of servant leaders, poverty, disease and ignorance through the P E A C E Plan, an initiative to Promote reconciliation, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick and Educate the next generation. Her recent experience overcoming breast cancer has made her more determined than ever to bring relief to hurting people in Jesus’ name. Warren has traveled to many parts of the globe to see firsthand how AIDS is destroying men, women and vulnerable children, and today she is a powerful advocate on their behalf. She launched the HIV/AIDS Initiative at Saddleback Church in 2003 and hosts Saddleback’s annual HIV/AIDS conference, called The Global Summit on AIDS and The Church. She has been a voice for suffering individuals as a speaker around the globe. She has urged audiences to respond to the urgency of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the needs of people infected and affected on every continent. Whether via live simulcast in South Africa, a national HIV/AIDS conference, a church-sponsored event, government-coordinated venue, small village or a packed stadium, Warren challenges the audience to listen to the disturbing voices of those living and dying with the disease. She has become a student of HIV and has attended the International AIDS conferences in Bangkok, Thailand and Toronto, Canada. She and Rick spoke at the 2006 Ecumenical Pre-Conference in Toronto. Warren has come face-to-face with the hurting as a volunteer at Mother Teresa’s Home for the Dying in Calcutta, India; at the leper colony and AIDS hospice in Manila, Philippines; and with World Vision and International Justice Mission in Thailand and Cambodia. In Africa, she has ministered to those suffering from HIV/AIDS through local churches. Warren is also an accomplished writer. Her doctrinal study, “Foundations,” co-authored with Tom Holladay, won a Gold Medallion Award in 2004 and her first solo work as an author, “Dangerous Surrender” released in November 2007. She has written for CNN.com and has been featured numerous publications such as People, Newsweek, POZ, Guideposts, Today’s Christian Woman, Missions Mosaic, Sojourner’s, Seed, Good, and OC Metro. In addition, Warren has appeared on national television shows including “Good Morning America,” “Nightline,” “FOX & Friends,” “Hannity & Colmes” and “The Live Desk with Martha MacCallum.” Raised in the rich heritage of a Christian home, Warren attended California Baptist College and earned her Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Los Angeles. She is mother to Amy, Josh and Matthew, and grandmother to Kaylie, Cassidy and Caleb. The Warrens reside in Southern California.
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