To my dear staff,<\/p>\n
Over the past 33 years we\u2019ve been together through every kind of crisis. Kay and I\u2019ve been privileged to hold your hands as you faced a crisis or loss, stand with you at gravesides, and prayed for you when ill. Today, we need your prayer for us.<\/p>\n
No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now. Our youngest son, Matthew, age 27, and a lifelong member of Saddleback, died today.<\/p>\n
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 most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He\u2019d then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them.<\/p>\n
But only those closest knew that he struggled from birth with mental illness, dark holes of depression, and even suicidal thoughts. In spite of America\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Kay and I often marveled at his courage to keep moving in spite of relentless pain. I\u2019ll never forget how, many years ago, after another approach had failed to give relief, Matthew said \u201c Dad, I know I\u2019m going to heaven. Why can\u2019t I just die and end this pain?\u201d\u009d but he kept going for another decade.<\/p>\n
Thank you for your love and prayers. We love you back.<\/p>\n
Pastor Rick<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
To my dear staff, Over the past 33 years we\u2019ve been together through every kind of crisis. Kay and I\u2019ve been privileged to hold your hands as you faced a crisis or loss, stand with you at gravesides, and prayed…<\/span><\/p>\n