Rick Warren's Son Commits Suicide
Apr 6, 2013 21:06:56 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Apr 6, 2013 21:06:56 GMT -5
We may not think much of Mr. Warren, but his family could use prayer right now.
Pastor Rick Warren's Son Matthew Commits Suicide After Lifelong Battle With Mental Illness
By ALYSSA NEWCOMB (@alyssanewcomb)
April 6, 2013
Megachurch Pastor Rick Warren said today that his 27-year-old son had commited suicide after a lifelong battle with mental illness.
Warren, in an emotional email to the congregation of his Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., shared his son Matthew's struggles and asked for prayers.
"No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now," Warren wrote. "Our youngest son, Matthew, age 27, and a lifelong member of Saddleback, died today."
READ: Rick Warren: 'Coarsening of Our Culture' Concerns Me
Warren, who gained international fame for his bestseller, "The Purpose Driven Life," remembered his son as "an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man."
"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," Warren wrote in the letter to the Saddleback congregation.
After a "fun evening" as a family, Warren said his son took his life "in a momentary wave of despair at his home."
Warren said he marveled at his son's courage to keep on living in his darkest moments despite his pain.
"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. Why can't I just die and end this pain?'" Warren wrote. "But he kept going for another decade."
The Warrens kept their son's battle with depression private, however when Rick and Kay Warren appeared on "This Week" last year to promote Kay's book, "Choose Joy," she mentioned knowing someone who struggled.
"We have close family with some mental illness, for us it has been challenging," she said.
abcnews.go.com/US/pastor-rick-warrens-son-matthew-commits-suicide-lifelong/story?id=18897249#.UWDJo9dEvgo
Pastor Rick Warren's Son Matthew Commits Suicide After Lifelong Battle With Mental Illness
By ALYSSA NEWCOMB (@alyssanewcomb)
April 6, 2013
Megachurch Pastor Rick Warren said today that his 27-year-old son had commited suicide after a lifelong battle with mental illness.
Warren, in an emotional email to the congregation of his Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., shared his son Matthew's struggles and asked for prayers.
"No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now," Warren wrote. "Our youngest son, Matthew, age 27, and a lifelong member of Saddleback, died today."
READ: Rick Warren: 'Coarsening of Our Culture' Concerns Me
Warren, who gained international fame for his bestseller, "The Purpose Driven Life," remembered his son as "an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man."
"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," Warren wrote in the letter to the Saddleback congregation.
After a "fun evening" as a family, Warren said his son took his life "in a momentary wave of despair at his home."
Warren said he marveled at his son's courage to keep on living in his darkest moments despite his pain.
"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. Why can't I just die and end this pain?'" Warren wrote. "But he kept going for another decade."
The Warrens kept their son's battle with depression private, however when Rick and Kay Warren appeared on "This Week" last year to promote Kay's book, "Choose Joy," she mentioned knowing someone who struggled.
"We have close family with some mental illness, for us it has been challenging," she said.
abcnews.go.com/US/pastor-rick-warrens-son-matthew-commits-suicide-lifelong/story?id=18897249#.UWDJo9dEvgo
