11/15/2023 0 Comments Pastor rick warren sons suicideMy Take: How churches can respond to mental illness Just the pain, the excruciating pain, was just too much.” “And there were the days where he just didn’t want to be around people. “There are the days where he was just this bubbly, outgoing, effervescent, reaching out to people,” Constantz said. Despite the best health care available, this was an illness that was never fully controlled, and the emotional pain resulted in his decision to take his life.”įriend Mike Constantz told CNN he had a “playful spirit.” “Unfortunately, he also suffered from mental illness resulting in deep depression and suicidal thoughts. “Matthew was an incredibly kind, gentle and compassionate young man whose sweet spirit was encouragement and comfort to many,” a statement from the church said. Matthew Warren, 27, committed suicide “in a momentary wave of despair” at the end of a lifetime struggle “with mental illness, dark holes of depression and even suicidal thoughts,” the pastor wrote to the staff of his Southern California megachurch. Pastor Warren, 59, author of the Purpose Driven Life, which is the best-selling hardback non-fiction book in history and the second most-translated book in the world, after the Bible, has two other adult children, Amy and Josh, and five grandchildren.The weekend’s sermon at Saddleback Church was “Surviving Tough Times,” a theme Pastor Rick Warren planned before his youngest son killed himself with a gun Friday. READ MORE: CHRISTIAN LEADERS REACT TO TRAGIC NEWS OF THE DEATH OF PASTOR RICK WARREN'S SON In a statement from Saddleback, the church asks that everyone "join us in praying for the entire Warren family and that God's comfort and peace will be with them as they deal with this difficult situation." Looking forward to that day when God will 'Restore all things.' (Acts 3:21)" I know the Lord will be there for all of the Warren family and Saddleback Church as they grieve together. There is no manual, but there is Emmanuel. At times like these, there really are no words, but there is the Word. But their circumstances are different and my heart goes out to them. Why can't I just die and end this pain?' but he kept going for another decade," he wrote.Įvangelist Greg Laurie, whose son, Christopher, was killed in a car accident at the age of 33 nearly five years ago, upon hearing the news, posted in his blog: "I too have had a son die, so I have a sense of the pain Rick and Kay are facing. "I'll never forget how, many years ago, after another approach had failed to give relief, Matthew said, 'Dad, I know I'm going to heaven. Warren said that he and his wife often marveled at Matthew's courage "to keep moving in spite of relentless pain." Today, after a fun evening together with Kay and me, in a momentary wave of despair at his home, he took his life." In spite of America's best doctors, meds, counselors, and prayers for healing, the torture of mental illness never subsided. "But only those closest knew that he struggled from birth with mental illness, dark holes of depression, and even suicidal thoughts. He'd then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them," he continued. "He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. Warren described Matthew as "an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man," as those who grew up with him would also say. Today, we need your prayer for us," began the staff email from him. Kay and I've been privileged to hold your hands as you faced a crisis or loss, stand with you at gravesides, and prayed for you when ill. "Over the past 33 years we've been together through every kind of crisis. ![]() Our youngest son, Matthew, age 27, and a lifelong member of Saddleback, died today," wrote Warren. "No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now. The internationally known Christian leader at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., made the announcement about his son early Saturday morning in an email sent to his staff. The 27-year-old son of Pastor Rick Warren has taken his own life after a lifelong struggle with mental illness.
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