Statement of the Evangelical Church Alliance International on the Death of Matthew Warren
Contact: Rev. Rob Schenck (pronounced SHANK), Office 202-546-8329, Non-business hours 202-656-1252
WASHINGTON, April 7, 2013 /
Christian Newswire/ -- The Evangelical Church Alliance International is one of the oldest associations of independent evangelical clergy. Its chairman, the Reverend Dr. Rob Schenck (pronounced Shank) today released this statement (
alternate audio version available) on the death of Matthew Warren, son to Pastor Rick and Mrs. Kay Warren:
"The leadership and members of the Evangelical Church Alliance send out our heartfelt condolences to Pastor Rick and Kay Warren on the death of their son, Matthew, and to all those affected by this tremendous loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Warrens, their family, and their congregation, as well as with all who know anguished loss to suicide.
"One of the shortest verses in the Bible, John 11:35, reads, 'Jesus wept.' Our Lord's tears came after He received news of the death of Lazarus, a friend He loved very much. Perhaps this description is brief because when a loved one dies, there are very few words that can truly console. At times like these, we must do as Jesus did, and as the Apostle Paul admonishes in Romans 12:15, simply 'Weep with those who weep.'
"The nearly 3000 ministers, missionaries, and military and civilian chaplains of the Evangelical Church Alliance International, throughout the United States and around the world, join our tears with those of the Warren family as they mourn the loss of Matthew."
A leading member of the Evangelical Church Alliance, the Reverend Dr. Bruce Sofia, pastor of the Gloucester County Community Church, a mega-church in Washington Township, New Jersey, recently published a book entitled,
Hope Beyond Suicide. It is available at
www.amazon.com/Hope-Beyond-Suicide-Bruce-Sofia/dp/1936750759
The Reverend Dr. Rob Schenck (pronounced Shank) is Washington, DC based chairman of the board of directors for the Evangelical Church Alliance International (ECA). Information on the ECA may be found at www.ecainternational.org. Dr. Schenck is available for further comment.
