Hilliker is the oldest of the three Warren children and the only one born prior to the family's move to Orange County, Calif., in December of 1979 to start Saddleback Church. "My protective nature kicked in early and, in my own way, I joined my parents in rallying around our weakest link." "Early on I had an idea that Matthew was different in some vulnerable way," Hilliker said. 8 - 9 at Saddleback's Lake Forest, Calif., campus. The Warrens launched the first mental health conference at Saddleback the following year in an effort to mobilize the Christian community to minister to the needs of the mentally ill and to end the stigma often associated with such illnesses. Matthew Warren, the youngest child of the Warrens, committed suicide in 2013 after years of struggling with mental illness. Hilliker opened up about her own story during the third plenary session of the conference on Thursday afternoon. Rick and Kay Warren's daughter, Amy Hilliker, told those at Saddleback's second Gathering on Mental Health and the Church her brother's mental illness and her own battles with anxiety and panic attacks have shaped her life. He gained attention that year with his invocation at Obama’s inauguration, as well as with comments he made in the aftermath of California’s Proposition 8, which overturned gay marriage.LAKE FOREST, Calif. Warren was named the top newsmaker of the year for 2009 by the Religion Newswriters Association. Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney were invited to a similar forum last fall, but Warren canceled it several days beforehand, saying the campaign had become too uncivil. In 2008, the church sponsored a presidential forum with Barack Obama and John McCain.
The church says it now offers more than 200 community ministries and support groups for parents, families, children, couples, prisoners, addicts, and people living with HIV, depression and other illnesses. He and his wife, Kay, began by holding Bible studies for people who weren’t regular churchgoers.Īs Saddleback grew over the years, it spread out from its Lake Forest headquarters, 65 miles southeast of Los Angeles, adding several other campuses and ministries around Southern California. The elder Warren founded Saddleback Church in 1980, according to his biography on the church website, and over the years watched it grow to 20,000 members. He’d then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them." "He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. "You who watched Matthew grow up knew he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man," Warren wrote.
Why can’t I just die and end this pain?’" Warren recalled.ĭespite that, he said, his son lived for another decade, during which he often reached out to help others. "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. Over the years, Matthew Warren had been treated by America’s best doctors, had received counseling and medication and been the recipient of numerous prayers from others, his father said. But their son then returned home to take his life in "a momentary wave of despair." Rick Warren, the author of the multimillion-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life," said in an email to church staff that he and his wife had enjoyed a fun Friday evening with their son. "Despite the best health care available, this was an illness that was never fully controlled and the emotional pain resulted in his decision to take his life," the church statement said. Saddleback Valley Community Church spokeswoman Kristin Cole said he died Friday night. Matthew Warren struggled with mental illness, deep depression and suicidal thoughts throughout his life. The 27-year-old son of popular evangelical Pastor Rick Warren has committed suicide at his Southern California home, Warren’s church said in a statement Saturday.
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