Beloved Pastor, Mental Health Advocate Tragically Takes His Own Life - CBN News
Beloved Pastor, Mental Health Advocate Tragically Takes His Own Life - CBN News |
| Beloved Pastor, Mental Health Advocate Tragically Takes His Own Life - CBN News Posted: 10 Sep 2019 12:00 AM PDT  Jarrid Wilson, author, pastor, and founder of Anthem of Hope, tragically took his life Monday night, on the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day. Harvest Christian Fellowship Pastor Greg Laurie announced news of Wilson's passing on his Facebook page Tuesday evening.
"Jarrid loved the Lord and had a servant's heart," Laurie wrote. "He was vibrant, positive, and was always serving and helping others." Jarrid's wife, Julianne Wilson, posted this tribute on Instagram:
On Monday evening, Wilson, who struggled with suicidal ideation and clinical depression in his own life, penned a tweet in which he wrote: "Loving Jesus doesn't always cure suicidal thoughts."
Wilson was an associate pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, the church founded in 1973 by Laurie, who played a pivotal role in Wilson's own salvation experience. Last year, Wilson explained to Faithwire that he went to hear Laurie preach during his annual Harvest Crusade in Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, in the summer of 2002. That sermon, he recalled, was the first time he "truly heard the message of the Gospel" in a way that made sense to him. It was that encounter at the Harvest Crusade that resulted in Wilson ultimately becoming a Christian in 2007. "I was sitting in my car, as I've shared many times before, Googling painless ways to commit suicide, and this flood of emotions and wisdom and guidance and God's presence just began to infiltrate my life," he recalled. "And I started remembering the things I'd heard from the crusades and the passages of Scripture I had memorized, the Bible studies I had been to, devotionals I had read and the conversations I had with my family." Serving as a pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship just a handful of years later, Wilson added, was a "humbling" experience. The husband and father-of-two recently garnered national attention for his #GreatJoys movement, encouraging those who chose life for their children instead of abortion to share photos of their kids on social media.
His campaign was a response to a statement from actor and activist Alyssa Milano, who claimed her life would be "lacking all its great joys" if she hadn't terminated two of her pregnancies in her early 20s. The young pastor was also the co-founder of Anthem of Hope, which he established alongside his wife in 2016. The non-profit organization is centered on offering "hope for those battling brokenness, depression, anxiety, self-harm, addiction, and suicide."
In addition to offering an online chat feature, Anthem of Hope features access to free, downloadable e-books regarding mental health, and can assist in helping connect people to qualified faith-based counselors in their areas. Wilson, who was only 30 years old, leaves behind his wife, Juli, as well as their two young sons, Finch and Denham. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts, or you just need someone to talk to, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. If you're looking for counseling services in your area, consult the Christian Counselors Network. If you'd like to help Jarrid's wife Julianne financially, you can do so HERE.  |
| Posted: 12 Sep 2019 12:00 AM PDT  Pastor Greg Laurie speaks at Harvest Christian Fellowship church in Riverside, Calif., on Sept. 11, 2019. RNS photo by Alejandra Molina RIVERSIDE, Calif. (RNS) — Pastor Greg Laurie urged his grieving congregants at Harvest Christian Fellowship on Wednesday (Sept. 11) to have compassion for people dealing with mental health issues as the church copes with the news that one of its pastors died by suicide. "Sometimes we want to just say, 'They're just not spiritual or they don't love the Lord,' and that's just a ridiculous thing to say because they may have a struggle you know nothing about," Laurie said. RELATED: Pastor, author and mental health advocate Jarrid Wilson dies by suicide Hundreds filled the pews at the church's midweek service, two days after the death of preacher and mental health activist Jarrid Wilson. Wilson, co-founder of the mental health nonprofit Anthem of Hope, was open about his own depression. He often posted on social media about his battles with mental illness.  Julie and Jarrid Wilson. Photo via @jarridwilson/Instagram Just hours before his passing, Wilson had posted a series of tweets that dealt with suicide, including one encouraging followers to remember that loving Jesus doesn't always cure illnesses such as depression, PTSD or anxiety. "But that doesn't mean Jesus doesn't offer us companionship and comfort," he wrote. Citing Scripture, Laurie preached about the tendency to hold certain people to elevated standards, "expecting them to be everything for us." He advised to instead "look to Jesus Christ. … He's the only one who will sustain you." Laurie said Wilson "knew that suicide was the wrong decision." "He knew it was not the answer. He was doing what he could to prevent it and to bring this issue to our attention," Laurie said. "We need to remember what he told us on his best days, not his worst. "He made a wrong decision, but he was forgiven by God," he added. Laurie also stressed the importance of seeking help when feeling depressed or experiencing suicidal thoughts. "We don't need to do life alone. We have each other. We have the church," Laurie said. In his sermon, he aimed to normalize mental health. "We would not say of someone who died of cancer, 'Why didn't they overcome their cancer? Why didn't they get the upper hand on it?' … Just as there are issues like that, there are also mental issues that can be medical," Laurie said.  Pastor Jarrid Wilson preaches at Harvest Christian Fellowship in 2018 in Riverside, Calif. Video screengrab Kay Warren, whose husband, Rick Warren, is head pastor for Saddleback Church, was a special guest Wednesday. The Warrens lost their son to suicide in 2013. She described Wilson's death as a "catastrophic loss." "In the face of a loss like this, we can't put any pretty little bows on it," Warren said. She urged church members to "be gentle with each other" as they grieve Wilson's death. She acknowledged that some may feel confused after the suicide, while others may feel anger toward Wilson and God. "That one moment of deep darkness and despair (does) not negate what he believed, it doesn't negate his life and it doesn't negate his ministry," Warren said. Rolaundra Coleman, 38, of Riverside, attended the service and said she was surprised when she learned of Wilson's passing, but she added, "Mental illness doesn't take any prejudices against who you are. "I think that the church needs to do more talking about mental health," Coleman said. "We act like, you know, if you have mental health problems then that means your relationship with the Lord isn't what it should be. That doesn't coincide. "It's good to go to church, but just church alone, you need to accompany it with more action," Coleman said.  |
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