Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren’s 27 Year Old Son, Matthew Warren, Has Passed Away … Commits Suicide, RIP

27 year old Matthew Warren, the youngest son of Saddlebrook Church pastor and the author of  ‘The Purpose Driven Life’, Rick Warren, has passed away from an apparent suicide.  In a statement from the Saddleback Church, “Matthew was an incredibly kind, gentle and compassionate young man whose sweet spirit was encouragement and comfort to many.”  However, it appears Mathew struggled with extreme mental illness and depression.  The statement went on to say that, “Unfortunately, he also suffered from mental illness resulting in deep depression and suicidal thoughts.” Sadly, Matthew Warren succumbed to his demons and took his life. According to police, Matthew Warren was found dead of what appeared to be suicide by gunshot in his home in Mission Viejo, CA.  An autopsy is scheduled for this coming Tuesday.

Matthew Warren … Rest in Peace 

The youngest son of Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” has committed suicide, the evangelical pastor said in a letter to members of his church on Saturday.

Matthew Warren, the youngest son of Warren and his wife Kay, died after a long struggle with mental illness, according to the statement from Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif. The church asked for “everyone to join us in praying for the entire Warren family” on Saturday.

“At 27 years of age, Matthew was an incredibly kind, gentle and compassionate young man whose sweet spirit was encouragement and comfort to many,” Saddleback Church said in the statement. “Unfortunately, he also suffered from mental illness resulting in deep depression and suicidal thoughts.”

Pastor Rick Warren wrote about his son’s death in an emotional letter to his church:

“No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now.” He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He’d then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them.”

“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.”

As reported at CBS News, Pastor Rick Waren recalled his son’s past struggles with mental illness and depression.

“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 recalled.

Despite that, he said, his son lived for another decade, during which he often reached out to help others.

“You who watched Matthew grow up knew he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man,” Warren wrote. “He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He’d then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them.”