When you hear the name Rick Warren, you probably think of the guy who wrote that blue book everyone had on their nightstand in the early 2000s. Or maybe you think of the massive Saddleback Church campus in Lake Forest. But lately, the conversation around the rick warren prayer request has shifted from church growth to something much more personal and, frankly, a bit more urgent.
Life hasn't exactly been a "purpose-driven" walk in the park for him lately.
People are searching for updates because they care. They've followed his family through the heartbreaking loss of his son, Matthew, years ago. They’ve watched him navigate a very public exit from the Southern Baptist Convention over the ordination of women. But right now, in early 2026, the prayer requests coming out of his camp are focused on two very specific things: his physical health and a massive global deadline he's trying to hit by 2033.
The Health Battle No One Saw Coming
Honestly, the biggest thing people get wrong about Rick Warren is thinking he retired because he was just "done." That's not the case. One of the most frequent reasons behind a rick warren prayer request these days is his struggle with spinal myoclonus.
It sounds like a mouthful, but basically, it’s a neurological condition that causes involuntary muscle spasms and tremors.
Imagine trying to give a sermon or lead a global coalition when your body is literally twitching against your will. He’s been dealing with this for years, but it got significantly worse toward the end of his tenure at Saddleback. He’s mentioned before that the tremors can even affect his vision.
When you pray for him, you're not just praying for "general health." You're praying for:
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- Stability: Specifically in his nervous system so he can continue to speak.
- Vision clarity: Because the myoclonus makes it hard to read or focus for long periods.
- Pain management: Nerve issues aren't just annoying; they're exhausting.
He’s 71 now. He isn’t slowing down by choice; he’s trying to manage a body that is fighting him while he tries to finish what he calls his "final assignment."
Finishing the Task by 2033
If you follow his recent updates, you'll see he's moved from the local church to the "Finishing the Task" coalition. This isn't some small side project. The goal is to ensure that every person on earth has access to the Bible, a believer, and a church body by the 2000th anniversary of the Resurrection—which they’ve pegged at 2033.
The rick warren prayer request often centers on this 10-year countdown.
It’s an massive logistical nightmare. He’s trying to coordinate thousands of denominations and organizations. In 2026, the focus has shifted heavily toward the "110 Gateway Cities." These are places where the gospel has basically no footprint.
He recently launched a 365-day Breakthrough Prayer Guide for 2026. He isn’t just asking for prayer; he’s trying to systematize it. He wants people to pray for frontline workers by name. It’s a lot of pressure for a guy who technically "retired" four years ago.
The SBC Fallout and "The New Normal"
You can't talk about a rick warren prayer request without mentioning the elephant in the room: the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
After Saddleback was ousted in 2023 for ordaining women (including Stacie Wood, the wife of his successor Andy Wood), things got messy. Warren didn't just walk away quietly. He went to the floor of the convention. He made his case. He lost.
Today, his prayer requests often lean into the idea of unity. He’s been very vocal about the church being "too small" when it’s divided by labels. If you’re looking for a way to support him, he’s frequently asked for prayer regarding the "global bride of Christ"—meaning he wants the bickering to stop so the mission can move forward.
What He’s Teaching Right Now
If you listen to his Daily Hope broadcasts in January 2026, the tone is surprisingly personal. He’s been doing a series called "Live Your Calling."
One thing that stands out? He talks a lot about "suffering well."
He doesn't pretend like everything is perfect. He’s very open about the fact that God doesn't always give an explanation, but He does give His presence. This is a guy who has buried a son and is dealing with a chronic illness. When he asks for prayer, it’s coming from a place of real, lived-in faith, not just platitudes.
How to Actually Support the Mission
If you're looking for actionable ways to respond to a rick warren prayer request, here is what the ministry is actually asking for right now:
- The 2026 Breakthrough Prayer Coalition: They are looking for people to commit to the 365-day guide on the YouVersion app. It’s specifically focused on unreached people groups.
- Health for the 2033 Push: Pray specifically for the spinal myoclonus. He needs his voice and his steadiness for the next seven years.
- The Peace Plan: This is his strategy for tackling the "five global giants": spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy. He’s still pushing this hard through the Finishing the Task network.
- Family Protection: Kay Warren is still incredibly active in the mental health space. Their family remains a target for a lot of online vitriol because of their stances on various issues. They always ask for "hedge of protection" type prayers.
Basically, Rick Warren isn't looking for fans; he’s looking for partners. Whether you agree with his move toward ordaining women or his specific eschatology, his focus is singular: the Great Commission.
The next step for anyone following this story is to move past just reading the updates. You can jump into the 2026 Breakthrough Prayer Guide or check out the "Finish the Task" initiatives. It’s clear that for Warren, the clock is ticking, and he’s determined to use whatever health he has left to cross the finish line.
The current focus for 2026 is the mobilization of "Great Commission Allies." This involves small groups and local churches taking ownership of specific "unreached" areas. Rather than just a general prayer for the world, the request is now for specific adoption of regions that have zero Christian presence. You can find the list of these gateway cities on the Finishing the Task website to make your intercession more targeted and effective.