Rick Warren, founder and pastor of the Saddleback church, announced today his 27-year old son Matthew died by suicide Saturday, after a lifelong battle with mental illness. Our thoughts are with Pastor Warren, his family, and his church.
Warren, 59, (image, above) and his wife Kay have been married over 30 years, and have two older children, Amy and Josh.
“Today, we need your prayer for us,” Warren said via a statement announcing the tragedy.
“No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now,” the statement reads, describing their youngest son as “an incredibly kind, gentle and compassionate man.
He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room.”
Â
Â
“But only those closest knew that he struggled from birth with mental illness, dark holes of depression, and even suicidal thoughts. In spite of America’s best doctors, meds, counselors, and prayers for healing, the torture of mental illness never subsided. Today, after a fun evening together with Kay and me, in a momentary wave of despair at his home, he took his life.”
“Despite the best healthcare available, this was an illness that was never fully controlled and the emotional pain resulted in his decision to take his life,†the statement said.
“We ask everyone to 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,†the statement continued.
http://videos.mediaite.com/embed/player/?content=HXZ75L0ZB6M9KT3G&content_type=content_item&layout=&playlist_cid=&widget_type_cid=svp&read_more=1