Kay Warren (author) explained

Kay Warren
Birth Name:Elizabeth Kay Lewis
Birth Date:9 February 1954
Birth Place:San Diego, California, U.S.
Spouse:Rick Warren (m. 1975)
Children:3
Occupation:Author and speaker[1] [2]
Years Active:1980–present

Kay Warren (born Elizabeth Kay Lewis; February 9, 1954) is an American author, international speaker, Bible teacher and mental health advocate. She is the co-founder of the sixth-largest evangelical megachurch in the United States, Saddleback Church.[3] [4] Her ministry is headquartered in Lake Forest, California.

Early and personal life and education

Warren was born in San Diego, California, to Reverend B. LaVern and Bobbie Lewis.[5] She attended California Baptist College in Riverside, California, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Los Angeles in 1976.

Warren married Rick Warren on June 21, 1975, and has three children: daughter Amy Warren Hilliker (born 1979), son Joshua Warren (born 1981), and son Matthew Warren (1985–2013).

Ministry

Saddleback Church launched with seven people as a Bible study group in 1980. During that same year, the first service took place in a high school gymnasium on Easter Sunday. In 2017 the church attendance was 22,000 people.[6] [7]

In 2004, Warren founded both the HIV/AIDS and orphan care initiatives at Saddleback Church.[8] Through global summits about HIV/AIDS and civil forums held at the church, Warren and her husband gathered the private and public sectors with the faith community to promote HIV prevention, treatment and care, as well as advocating for orphaned children. Guest speakers at these events included President Barack Obama (then senator),[9] President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush,[10] President Paul Kagame of Rwanda,[11] First Daughter Jenna Bush Hager, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John McCain,[12] Bono,[13] Ambassador Mark R. Dybul, United States Global AIDS Coordinator, and Dr. Peter Piot, director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.[14]

Warren became an advocate for people living with mental illness and suicide prevention when her son, Matthew, took his life in 2013.[15] Warren founded the Hope for Mental Health Initiative at Saddleback Church in 2014 and serves as an executive committee board member for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.

Warren was named on The Orange County Register's 100 Most Influential People List in 2016.[16]

Selected bibliography

Son’s illness and death

Matthew Warren lived with mental illness and suicidal ideation from a young age. His diagnoses included depression, obsessive–compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder and near the end of his life, borderline personality disorder. Matthew took his life on April 5, 2013.[17] [18] [19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://people.com/human-interest/pastor-jarrid-wilsons-church-hosts-service-in-his-honor/ Church Where Pastor Jarrid Wilson Preached Before His Suicide Death Hosts Service in His Honor
  2. https://gazette.com/news/christian-author-whose-son-died-by-suicide-to-discuss-life/article_e84d140c-65e5-11e9-8a07-ff7a20499745.html Christian author whose son died by suicide to discuss 'Life after Loss' in Colorado Springs
  3. https://www.sermoncentral.com/content/Top-100-Largest-Churches Top 100 Largest Churches in America
  4. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/maria-shriver/inspired-kay-warren-n126201 Inspired With Kay Warren
  5. https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/elizabeth_kay_lewis_born_1954_5278403 The Birth of Elizabeth Lewis
  6. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-aids-evangelicals/u-s-evangelicals-strive-to-change-attitudes-on-aids-idUSN2751659320071128 U.S. evangelicals strive to change attitudes on AIDS
  7. https://www.christianpost.com/news/rick-warren-reports-double-rise-saddleback-easter-attendance-hundreds-turning-to-christ-180712/ Rick Warren Reports Double Rise in Saddleback Easter Attendance, Hundreds Turning to Christ in Tears
  8. https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/local/kay-warren-on-god-there-are-times-that-i-feel-its-all-a-big-cosmic-joke/2012/08/07/00436f3e-ddd0-11e1-9ff9-1dcd8858ad02_video.html Kay Warren on God: ‘There are times that I feel it’s all a big cosmic joke’
  9. https://www.ocregister.com/2006/11/30/global-summit-on-aids-kicks-off-in-lake-forest/ Global Summit on AIDS kicks off in Lake Forest
  10. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/12/20081201-3.html President and Mrs. Bush Participate in Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health
  11. https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=5479972&page=1 Rick Warren's 'Long-Term Relationship' with Rwanda
  12. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93661788 Pastor Rick Warren Brings McCain, Obama Together
  13. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/26/opinion/a-natural-alliance.html A Natural Alliance
  14. https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2007/november/2007-11-29unaidsexecutivedirectorpeterpiotpraisesreli UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot praises religious groups’ action on AIDS at Saddleback Church Global AIDS Summit
  15. https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/13/health/iyw-kay-warren-mental-health/index.html Mom finds new calling after son's suicide
  16. https://www.ocregister.com/2016/12/23/most-influential-2016-kay-warren/ Most Influential 2016: Kay Warren
  17. https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-wknd-et-mental-health-20180503-story.html Catholic leaders take up mental health mantle
  18. https://www.dailynews.com/2016/09/28/knotts-closes-halloween-attraction-fear-vr-after-complaint-from-saddleback-pastor-rick-warren/ Knott’s closes Halloween attraction ‘Fear VR’ after complaint from Saddleback Pastor Rick Warren
  19. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-12/california-megachurch-pastor-mental-health-suicide Another young pastor advocating for mental health dies by suicide

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