Obituaries

Mental Illness Fund, Private Memorial Planned for Pastor's Son

Rick Warren announces how he'll honor his son's memory.

Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren and his family said Tuesday they would hold a private memorial for the mega-church leader's son, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"Your kind words and sensitive notes to Kay and me have been such a blessing and encouragement," Warren said. "Many are asking about a funeral, and our family decided on a simple private memorial. Please continue to pray for the entire family."

In related news, the church has set up a place on its website for donations to a Matthew Warren Fund for Mental Illness.

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Matthew Warren, who was 27, was found dead in his home in the 25000 block of Pradera Drive in Mission Viejo. He died at about 10 a.m. Friday, according to Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff's deputies were notified at about 5:30 p.m. that day.

Rick Warren is a major figure in the American evangelical movement. He hosted a discussion between President Barack Obama and his 2008 Republican challenger, Sen. John McCain, and said the invocation at Obama's first inauguration. Warren founded Saddleback, which is one of the top 10 largest Protestant churches in the country. He rose to fame with his bestselling book, The Purpose Driven Life.

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Evangelist Greg Laurie, an organizer of the Harvest Crusades, said he also "had a son die, so I have a sense of the pain Rick and Kay are facing." The Newport Beach resident's son, Christopher, died in a traffic crash in 2008.

Matthew Warren was the youngest son in Warren's family.

- City News Service


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