Pastor Rick Warren’s Son, Matthew, Commits Suicide

The 27-year-old son of Pastor Rick Warren and wife Kay, died today. Their youngest son took his own life after tragically losing a lifelong battle with mental illness and depression.

Shortly after lunch today, Pastor Greg Laurie posted on his Facebook “I too have had a son die, so I have a sense of the pain Rick and Kay are facing. But their circumstances are different and my heart goes out to them. At times like these, there really are no words, but there is the Word.

There is no manual, but there is Emmanuel.God is with us.

I know the Lord will be there for all of the Warren family and Saddleback Church as they grieve together. Looking forward to that day when God will “Restore all things”.(Acts 3:21)”

Earlier today Pastor Warren reached out for intercessory prayer from his church staff and distributed the following email to his church ~

Matthew Warren, Son of Pastor Rick and Kay Warren

To my dear Saddleback Family,

Over the past 33 years we’ve been together through every kind of crisis. Kay and I’ve been priviledged to hold your hands as you faced a crisis or loss, stand with you at your gravesides, and prayed for you when ill. Today we need your prayer for us.

No words can expres the anguished grief we feel right now. Our youngest son, Matthew, age 27, and a lifelong member of Saddleback, died today.

You who watched Matthew grow up knew he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man. He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was in pain or most uncomfrortable in a room. He’s then make a beeline to that person to engage and encourage them.

But only those closest knew tht 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.

Kay and I often marveled at his courage to keep moving in spite of 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.

Thank y ou for your love and prayers. We love you back.

Pastor Rick

Pastor Rick Warren earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Baptist University, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary, and Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Pastor Warren founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest in 1980 with one other family. Today, it is one of America’s most influential churches, and offers more than 200 community ministries and support groups. He is the author of The Purpose Driven Life, the bestselling hardback in American history, with over 30 million copies sold worldwide.

We ask that you would join us in lifting up Pastor Rick, his wife Kay and their entire family in prayer during this time of immeasurable grief and loss.

To learn more about the ministry of Rick Warren please visit Saddleback Church