![]() The church says it now offers more than 200 community ministries and support groups for parents, families, children, couples, prisoners, addicts, and people living with HIV, depression and other illnesses. ![]() Matthew Warren was the youngest of their three children.Īs Saddleback grew over the years, it spread out from its Lake Forest headquarters, 65 miles southeast of Los Angeles, adding several other campuses and ministries around Southern California. LAKE FOREST (AP) A year after his sons suicide, popular evangelical pastor Rick Warren is taking on a new mental health ministry inspired by his personal tragedy. He and his wife, Kay, began by holding Bible studies for people who weren't regular churchgoers. The elder Warren founded Saddleback Church in 1980, according to his biography on the church website, and over the years watched it grow to 20,000 members. He'd then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them." "He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. "You who watched Matthew grow up knew he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man," Warren wrote. Why can't I just die and end this pain?"' Warren recalled.ĭespite that, he said, his son lived for another decade, during which he often reached out to help others. Warren is also author of "The Purpose Driven Life," which has sold more than 50 million copies, and gave the invocation at President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration."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. In this file photo from 2008, Warren speaks at the Clinton Global Initiative. The megachurch now claims more than 20,000 members and has multiple satellite campuses around Southern California. Pastor Rick Warrens son has committed suicide, according to a statement issued by Saddleback Valley Community Church. Warren founded Saddleback Church in 1980 in his house. "And we'd love to see a movement started where people actually begin to say, 'We need to see this element added to our local ministry.'" If the diocese is doing this, if Saddleback's doing this, we can do this,'" Warren said. ![]() "Our goal is, as we say, we crack the door open and then churches go, 'OK. The conference will put an emphasis on providing resources to churches so that people in need can get the help they need immediately - and so faith workers can get insight into the challenges confronting the mentally ill and their families. Attendees can choose from among 20 interactive workshops within the conference. The conference will address a range of mental health issues, from bipolar disorder to suicide to more easily hidden issues such as anxiety, eating disorders and addiction. Pastor Rick Warren sent a letter of appreciation via his newsletter over the weekend to everyone that prayed for his family in the aftershock of the suicide of his 27-year-old son Matthew a little more than a week ago. "I remember writing in my journal that in God's garden of grace even broken trees bear fruit."Īfter Matthew's suicide, more than 10,000 people wrote to Warren and his wife, Kay, to share their own struggles with mental illness, he said. One of the things I believe is that God never wastes a hurt and that oftentimes your greatest ministry comes out of your deepest pain," Warren said Monday as he met with Vann to discuss the March 28 event. "I'm certainly not going to waste this pain. Matthew Warren, 27, committed suicide last April after struggling with severe depression and suicidal thoughts for years. The Gathering on Mental Health and the Church grew out of private conversations Warren had with the local Catholic bishop, Bishop Kevin Vann, after his son's death and his own writings in his journal as he processed his grief. Warren, founder of Saddleback Church and a best-selling author, will team with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and the National Alliance on Mental Illness to host a daylong event next month focused on helping church leaders reach parishioners who are struggling with mental illness. LAKE FOREST (AP) - A year after his son's suicide, popular evangelical pastor Rick Warren is taking on a new mental health ministry inspired by his personal tragedy.
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