The tragedy of the 27-year-old son of Pastor Rick Warren taking his own life after a lifelong struggle with mental illness calls for a commitment by Christians to help create space for and minister to those with mental illnesses, says the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

"Our collective heart stands broken as a result of Pastor Rick Warren's loss; the passing of his son Matthew. We pray for healing and strength for the Warren and Saddleback family," said one of the most influential evangelical Hispanics in America in a statement Saturday.

"Yet, this tragedy facilitates an opportunity if not an obligation for the Christian community to address mental illness," said Rodriguez on the day Warren, an internationally known Christian leader at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., made the announcement about his son. more >>

The 27-year-old son of Pastor Rick Warren has taken his own life after a lifelong struggle with mental illness. The internationally known Christian leader at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., made the announcement about his son early Saturday morning in an email sent to his staff.

"No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now. Our youngest son, Matthew, age 27, and a lifelong member of Saddleback, died today," wrote Warren.

"Over the past 33 years we've been together through every kind of crisis. Kay and I've been privileged to hold your hands as you faced a crisis or loss, stand with you at gravesides, and prayed for you when ill. Today, we need your prayer for us," began the staff email from him. more >>

The Gospel music divisions of Motown and EMI record companies are merging together, The Christian Post learned in an exclusive interview with Pastor Touré Roberts of One Church International in Los Angeles. Although an official announcement was still pending at press time, Robert's church plans to host a concert event featuring artists from both labels Tuesday evening.

"It's awesome to get two big entertainment companies in music who are taking their Gospel divisions and bringing them together," Roberts told CP. "First of all, that's huge. It communicates that just from a corporate perspective the desire for Gospel music and the sense of profitability from labels. There's going to be a lot of resource, backing up music that we all believe in – it's God centered.

"I think it's an exciting time for music and people, and in particular, Gospel artists," he said. more >>

Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., has finally decided to launch a daily radio program after three decades in ministry, citing as motivation "three deep convictions" he feels God has "burned" into his heart.

As the megachurch pastor and The Purpose Driven Life author shares in an explanatory video, the reasons for starting the daily radio program primarily are about equipping Christians all over the world to spread the Gospel and drawing attention to issues of religious freedom and moral malaise in the U.S.

"I am deeply concerned about the direction of our nation and the decay of our culture. If we don't have a spiritual awakening in our nation, I fear for the future of our country," Warrens says in the video on the "Daily Hope" Web page. more >>

Members of the Rock Church in San Diego, Calif., are sharing the message of Jesus Christ by taking Good Friday service to the masses at Petco Park for a day filled with family activities centered around Christian ministry and service.

Christians who regularly attend church services might not consider that a large number of people, who want to learn about God's message of salvation, might not feel comfortable entering a church to hear the life-saving message of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for all of humanity.

For this reason, the Rev. Miles McPherson, senior pastor of Rock Church, and his congregation will, for the first time, host Good Friday service at the Padres' ballpark. more >>

An expert in creationism has recently announced that he will reward $10,000 of his own money to anyone who can scientifically disprove the literal account of the Bible's book of Genesis in an informal trial in front of a judge.

Dr. Joseph Mastropaolo, an avid creationist who holds a Ph.D. in kinesiology, is offering $10,000 for his Literal Genesis Trial, which, given a contender comes forward, would be held in a courthouse in Santa Ana, Calif., in front of a superior court judge, a court reporter, and a bailiff.

The contender attempting to scientifically disprove the book of Genesis must also put $10,000 of his own money in an escrow account along with Mastropaolo's money, and the winner of the debate will receive $20,000 total. more >>