Beth Moore urges church leaders to be transparent after the sudden death of Pastor Jarrid Wilson, calling these days “tumultuous times”.

The tragic death by suicide of Jarrid Wilson has left the Church heartbroken. Another life lost to depression. Another family grieving. Jarrid Wilson, an associate pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in California, under Pastor Greg Laurie, was just 30 years old.  He was open about his struggles with depression and addressed mental health from the pulpit and through the organization he co-founded, Anthem of Hope. He is survived by wife, Julianne, and two sons, Finch and Denham.

Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, Greg Laurie shared his grief in a memoriam to Jarrid.

“At a time like this, there are just no words. The Bible says, ‘There is a time to mourn.’ This is certainly that time.”

“Jarrid loved the Lord and had a servant’s heart,” Pastor Laurie continued. “He was vibrant, positive, and was always serving and helping others…He wanted to especially help those who were dealing with suicidal thoughts.”

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In the hours after learning of Jarrid’s death, Beth Moore tweeted, imploring church leaders to be authentic about their own struggles in order to de-stigmatize depression.

“Fellow leaders, I cannot stress enough how vital it is in these tumultuous days that we drop all the BS and trade our self promotion & protection for serving authentically from our real live journeys with Christ. People are dying to know we’ve been where they are. They need hope.”

There are millions struggling with depression today and many of them love Jesus, have families, and serve the church. Jarrid wrote recently on this subject calling on the Church and her leaders to be the frontrunners of mental health.

“We NEED the church to step up in its efforts to be more vocal in regards to mental illness. Whether that be through a sermon series, free resources, supporting other non-profits or even a cultivating a designated yearlong ministry,” he wrote. “Regardless, the church should be at the frontlines of this battle. People need a safe place where they can be honest and transparent with what they are going through.”

We lift up Jarrid’s family and loved ones today and ask that the peace of the Lord be with them. As Pastor Laurie said, there are no words; just mourning. Lord, we need Your comfort.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at tel:1-800-273-TALK (8255).

 

Source: Foxnews.com | Twitter