American author and Bible teacher
Kay Warren
Kay Warren speaking in 2015.
Born Elizabeth Kay Lewis
(1954-02-09 ) February 9, 1954 (age 70) Occupation(s) Author and speaker[ 1] [ 2] Years active 1980–present Spouse Rick Warren (m. 1975)Children 3 Website kaywarren .com
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
Warren 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, 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 ,[citation needed ] 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]
References
^ 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
^ a b 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
^ Top 100 Largest Churches in America at Sermon Central; published 2017; retrieved 2019
^ Inspired With Kay Warren at NBC News; published June 9, 2014; retrieved 2019
^ The Birth of Elizabeth Lewis at California Birth Index; retrieved 2019
^ U.S. evangelicals strive to change attitudes on AIDS at Reuters.com; published November 28, 2007; retrieved 2019
^ Rick Warren Reports Double Rise in Saddleback Easter Attendance, Hundreds Turning to Christ in Tears at Christian Post; published April 17, 2017; retrieved 2019
^ 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
^ Global Summit on AIDS kicks off in Lake Forest at Orange County Register; published November 30, 2006; retrieved 2019
^ 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
^ Rick Warren's 'Long-Term Relationship' with Rwanda at ABC News; by Cynthia McFadden; published August 21, 2008; retrieved January 5, 2020
^ Pastor Rick Warren Brings McCain, Obama Together at NPR; by Scott Simon; published August 16, 2008; retrieved January 5, 2020
^ A Natural Alliance at New York Times; by David Brooks; published May 26, 2005; retrieved January 5, 2020
^ UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot praises religious groups’ action on AIDS at Saddleback Church Global AIDS Summit at UNAIDS; retrieved January 5, 2020
^ Mom finds new calling after son's suicide at CNN Health; by Meron Moges-Gerbi; published May 13, 2016; retrieved 2019
^ Most Influential 2016: Kay Warren at The Orange County Register; by Erika Ritchie; published December 23, 2016; retrieved 2019
^ Catholic leaders take up mental health mantle at LA Times; by Greg Hardesty; published May 3, 2018; retrieved 2019
^ 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
^ 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
External links