Rick Warren and Wife 'Overwhelmed' by Outpouring Condolences After Son’s Suicide

By Joshua Cheng
matthew-warren.jpg
Matthew Warren, son of Saddleback Valley Community Church Pastor Rick Warren, committed suicide, the Southern California church announced Saturday, April 6, 2013. Courtesy Saddleback Valley Community Church

Pastor Rick Warren posted a tweet Sunday morning, saying that he and his wife are "overwhelmed" by the outpouring condolences from the global Christian community and the public.

Rick Warren’s youngest son Matthew died Friday after an apparent suicide caused by lifelong struggle with "deep depression" and "suicidal thoughts", according to a letter written to church staff Yesterday by the Southern California megachurch pastor.

“Kay and I are overwhelmed by your love, prayers, and kind words. You are all encouraging our #brokenhearts,” tweeted Rick Warren to his 949,162 followers.

Since the news broke of this tragedy, Christian leaders and followers poured messages of condolences and support through social media despite some vitriol aimed at him personally and at his biblical teachings.

About 30,000 people "liked" the message on Pastor Warren's Facebook page, where the church wrote, "We appreciate all of your prayer and support for Pastor Rick and Kay during this difficult situation. Show your support through prayer, commenting, liking, or sharing this post."

Limbless Australian evangelist Nick Vujicic, who appeared on Oprah Winfrey Network with Rick Warren last month and preached at Saddleback Church, tweeted, "@RickWarren Love you and your family. Praying for you all Brothers."

Israel Houghton, Grammy Award-winning Christian singer, tweeted, “Weeping and mourning with my friends @RickWarren and @KayWarren1 at the tragic loss of their son. At a loss for words. Just pray...”

Geoff Tunnicliff, CEO of World Evangelical Alliance, tweeted, “My heart goes out to my dear friends Rick and Kay at the loss of their son. Please join me in prayer for the Warren family....”

Annie Lobert, founder of Hookers for Jesus, tweeted, “@SirOzFox and I are praying for you.”

Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Church, tweeted, “At times like these, there really are no words, but there is the Word. There is no manual, but there is Emmanuel,” and “Their son Matthew has gone to be with the Lord.”

Moreover, members of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., gathered on Saturday for its first weekend service to pray and worship, and to face the reality of death of 27-year-old son of their pastor, Rick Warren.

  • [Exclusive Interview] A revelation within the brink of life and death — Meg Leung’s mission in Christian art

    Meg Leung (梁麗橋), an artist with a lifelong love for watercolor painting, sees her art as more than a means of expressing her inner world; it is a bridge connecting her to God. Her artistic journey has revealed God’s perfect plan and inspired her to communicate the power of faith through her wor

  • Transgenderism a fundamental human right? Hong Kong public disagrees, survey finds

    A 2024 survey from the Society for Truth and Light (明光社)'s Center for Life and Ethics Research reveals that respondents from various backgrounds prioritize personal safety and fairness when it comes to transgender issues. When laws involve moral judgments, most respondents believe courts should not make the decisions. The study also indicates that religious believers share similar views with non-religious respondents, reflecting that many churches may rarely address gender topics in depth.

  • Discipleship and Evangelism: Walking the Path of the Great Commission

    Like an ever-flowing spring, the gospel refreshes dry, parched lands and needs our unwavering passion and steadfast faith to transform lives and bring renewal. The "flame in our hearts" calls Christians to keep their faith and love for the Lord ablaze, representing the work and power of the Holy Spirit, driving us to proclaim God's glory boldly.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo

Top Stories