Family, friends and members of the Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, California, mourned the loss of Matthew Warren – youngest son of The Purpose Driven Life author, Pastor Rick Warren, and his wife Kay at a service on Sunday.
Tom Holladay, teaching pastor at the church, reportedly opened the 9am worship service by saying the congregation would face the tragedy together as a “church family.” Holladay, who is married to Rick Warren’s sister, Chaundel, led a prayer for Warren and his wife, Kay, and their two other children.
Warren, the Saddleback church’s lead pastor and co-founder with his wife Kay, did not attend the service which took place a day after the church announced that the 27-year-old committed suicide.
In an emotional statement released early on Saturday morning, Rick Warren said that Matthew had battled depression for much of his life, and stated, “Today after a fun evening together with Kay and me, in a momentary wave of despair at his home, he took his own life.”
He described Matthew as a “kind, gentle and compassionate man” with a “brilliant intellect” who was sensitive to the needs of others.
“Kay and I often marveled at his courage to keep moving in spite of his relentless 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?’ But he kept going for another decade.”
The pastor added that over the years, his son had been treated by America’s best doctors and received counseling, medication and prayers.
Matthew Warren was well known by many in the Orange County area of southern California, who say that he played a big role in a number of local charities.
Pastor Warren has asked for prayer for his family after this tragedy that has stripped them of their beloved son.
– with DAN WOODING of ASSIST News Service.
~ For support and information about suicide prevention in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
