Jarrid Wilson, a Southern California megachurch pastor, killed himself on the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day after years of struggling with depression and seeking to help others with the same affliction.
“At a time like this, there are just no words,” said Greg Laurie, senior pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, where Wilson, 30, was an associate pastor for 18 months. “Jarrid loved the Lord and had a servant’s heart,” Laurie continued.
One of Wilson’s friends, Jason Powell, tweeted, “It’s with the deepest sadness of heart that I found out that my good friend [Jarrid] went home to be with the Lord last night. Jarrid was not just a brother in the Lord but a dear and trusted friend.”
It’s with the deepest sadness of heart that I found out that my good friend @jarridwilson went home to be with the Lord last night.Jarrid was not just a brother in the Lord but a dear and trusted friend.
In Christ… “We have a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul…”Heb 6:19 pic.twitter.com/8YPOY10RXn
— Jason Powell (@jasontpowell) September 10, 2019
Wilson authored several books and advocated for mental health, having co-founded the mental health nonprofit Anthem of Hope.
Wilson would regularly post about mental health on social media, encouraging others not to be ashamed about their struggles with depression.
In one of his last tweets, Wilson wrote, “Loving Jesus doesn’t always cure suicidal thoughts…But that doesn’t mean Jesus doesn’t offer us companionship and comfort.”
Loving Jesus doesn’t always cure suicidal thoughts.
Loving Jesus doesn’t always cure depression.
Loving Jesus doesn’t always cure PTSD.
Loving Jesus doesn’t always cure anxiety.
But that doesn’t mean Jesus doesn’t offer us companionship and comfort.
He ALWAYS does that.
— Jarrid Wilson (@JarridWilson) September 9, 2019
“Sometimes people may think that as pastors or spiritual leaders we are somehow above the pain and struggles of everyday people. We are the ones who are supposed to have all the answers. But we do not,” Laurie said. “At the end of the day, pastors are just people who need to reach out to God for His help and strength, each and every day.”
Wilson is survived by his wife, Juli, and his two sons, as well as his parents and siblings. In a Tuesday Instagram post, Juli wrote, “I love you forever, Thomas jarrid Wilson, but I have to say that you being gone has completely ripped my heart out of my chest…Suicide doesn’t get the last word. I won’t let it. You always said ‘Hope Gets the last word. Jesus gets the last word’.”
