Rick Warren: The Most Important Interview I’ve Ever Done

Rick Warren:

After teaching How to Get Through What You’re Going Through” for the past eight weeks, Kay and I felt it was time to grant the first media interview since Matthew’s death. We chose CNN’s Piers Morgan Live because it offered a full-hour for us to share our thoughts, rather than just short sound bites. 

What happened in the taping surprised us all. Several members of the tech/camera crew were in tears, hugged us, and told us that their lives had been profoundly impacted by the experience. Piers Morgan was unusually sensitive to the moment, allowing us all the time we needed without interruption. At lunch, Piers shared that it was the most moving interview he’s ever done. 

In kindness, the CNN team came to us, taping the interview at our Acts of Mercy family foundation office. In our conversation, we discussed:

• What it was like to parent a child who battled mental illness all his life.

• What it has been like to grieve our son’s suicide as public figures.

• Mental illness, depression, guns, grief, and God.

• What needs to change in our culture, including removing the stigma from mental illness.

• How to support the mentally ill and the families who care for them.

• How our faith has been tested and has grown stronger.

• How we get our sins forgiven, purpose for living, and home in heaven through Jesus.

• The overwhelming love we’ve received from our church family and others.

• How God gives us HOPE in our darkest days.

The interview was raw and real. The CNN crew and our staff watched almost breathlessly. For an entire hour, you could’ve heard a pin drop, everyone was so riveted by what God was doing through the conversation. 

I wanted to take an opportunity to pass along some of the most significant things we were privileged to say, and I would welcome your feedback on the interview.

Read the rest for interview highlights.