Kay Warren (author)

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.

Kay Warren
Kay Warren speaking in 2015.
Born
Elizabeth Kay Lewis

(1954-02-09) February 9, 1954
San Diego, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationAuthor and speaker[1][2]
Years active1980 - present
Spouse(s)Rick Warren (m.1975)
Children3
Websitekaywarren.com

Early life and education

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

Kay 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 (July 18, 1985 - April 5, 2013).

Ministry
Kay and Rick Warren (left of picture), President George W. Bush, with Laura Bush at his side, with the International Medal of Peace at the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health in Washington, D.C.

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, Kay 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, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John McCain,[12] Bono,[13] Ambassador Mark Dybul, United States Global AIDS coordinator, and Dr. Peter Piot, Director of UNAIDS.[14]

Warren became an advocate for people living with mental illness and suicide prevention when her son, Matthew, took his life in 2013.[15] Kay 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
  • Say Yes to God: A Call to Courageous Surrender. 2010. ISBN 978-0310328360.
  • Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough. 2012. ISBN 978-0800722135.[2]
  • Sacred Privilege: Your Life and Ministry as a Pastor’s Wife. 2017. ISBN 978-0800729677.

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]

See also

References
  1. Church Where Pastor Jarrid Wilson Preached Before His Suicide Death Hosts Service in His Honor at People.com; by Robyn Merrett; published September 14, 2019; retrieved October 23, 2019
  2. Christian author whose son died by suicide to discuss 'Life after Loss' in Colorado Springs at Colorado Springs Gazette; by Debbie Kelley; published April 23, 2019; retrieved 2019
  3. Top 100 Largest Churches in America at Sermon Central; published 2017; retrieved 2019
  4. Inspired With Kay Warren at NBC News; published June 9, 2014; retrieved 2019
  5. The Birth of Elizabeth Lewis at California Birth Index; retrieved 2019
  6. U.S. evangelicals strive to change attitudes on AIDS at Reuters.com; published November 28, 2007; retrieved 2019
  7. Rick Warren Reports Double Rise in Saddleback Easter Attendance, Hundreds Turning to Christ in Tears at Christian Post; published April 17, 2017; retrieved 2019
  8. Kay Warren on God: ‘There are times that I feel it’s all a big cosmic joke’ at The Washington Post; by Sally Quinn; published August 7, 2012; retrieved 2019
  9. Global Summit on AIDS kicks off in Lake Forest at Orange County Register; published November 30, 2006; retrieved 2019
  10. President and Mrs. Bush Participate in Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health at The White House Archives; published December 1, 2008; retrieved January 5, 2020
  11. Rick Warren's 'Long-Term Relationship' with Rwanda at ABC News; by Cynthia McFadden; published August 21, 2008; retrieved January 5, 2020
  12. Pastor Rick Warren Brings McCain, Obama Together at NPR; by Scott Simon; published August 16, 2008; retrieved January 5, 2020
  13. A Natural Alliance at New York Times; by David Brooks; published May 26, 2005; retrieved January 5, 2020
  14. UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot praises religious groups’ action on AIDS at Saddleback Church Global AIDS Summit at UNAIDS; retrieved January 5, 2020
  15. Mom finds new calling after son's suicide at CNN Health; by Meron Moges-Gerbi; published May 13, 2016; retrieved 2019
  16. Most Influential 2016: Kay Warren at The Orange County Register; by Erika Ritchie; published December 23, 2016; retrieved 2019
  17. Catholic leaders take up mental health mantle at LA Times; by Greg Hardesty; published May 3, 2018; retrieved 2019
  18. Knott’s closes Halloween attraction ‘Fear VR’ after complaint from Saddleback Pastor Rick Warren at Los Angeles Daily News; by Deepa Bharath; published September 28, 2016; retrieved 2019
  19. Another young pastor advocating for mental health dies by suicide at LA Times; by Hailey Branson-Potts; published September 12, 2019; retrieved October 23, 2019
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