Kay Warren (author)

{{short description|American author and Bible teacher}}
{{Infobox person
| image       = File:Kay_Warren_(cropped).jpg
| caption     = Kay Warren speaking in 2015.
| name        = Kay Warren
| birth_name  = Elizabeth Kay Lewis
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1954|02|09}}
| birth_place = [[San Diego, California]], U.S.
| nationality = American
| spouse      = [[Rick Warren]] (m. 1975)
| children    = 3
| occupation  = Author and speaker<ref>[https://people.com/human-interest/pastor-jarrid-wilsons-church-hosts-service-in-his-honor/ 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</ref><ref name = "gazette">[https://gazette.com/news/christian-author-whose-son-died-by-suicide-to-discuss-life/article_e84d140c-65e5-11e9-8a07-ff7a20499745.html 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</ref>
| years_active = 1980–present
| website     = {{URL|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]].<ref>[https://www.sermoncentral.com/content/Top-100-Largest-Churches Top 100 Largest Churches in America] at Sermon Central; published 2017; retrieved 2019</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/maria-shriver/inspired-kay-warren-n126201 Inspired With Kay Warren] at NBC News; published June 9, 2014; retrieved 2019</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/elizabeth_kay_lewis_born_1954_5278403 The Birth of Elizabeth Lewis] at California Birth Index; retrieved 2019</ref> 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==
[[File:President George and Laura Bush with Rick and Kay Warren.jpg|thumb|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 the Presidency|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.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-aids-evangelicals/u-s-evangelicals-strive-to-change-attitudes-on-aids-idUSN2751659320071128 U.S. evangelicals strive to change attitudes on AIDS] at Reuters.com; published November 28, 2007; retrieved 2019</ref><ref>[https://www.christianpost.com/news/rick-warren-reports-double-rise-saddleback-easter-attendance-hundreds-turning-to-christ-180712/ Rick Warren Reports Double Rise in Saddleback Easter Attendance, Hundreds Turning to Christ in Tears] at Christian Post; published April 17, 2017; retrieved 2019</ref>

In 2004, Warren founded both the [[HIV/AIDS]] and [[orphan]] care initiatives at Saddleback Church.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/local/kay-warren-on-god-there-are-times-that-i-feel-its-all-a-big-cosmic-joke/2012/08/07/00436f3e-ddd0-11e1-9ff9-1dcd8858ad02_video.html 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</ref> 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 [[Prevention of HIV/AIDS|HIV prevention]], treatment and care, as well as advocating for orphaned children. Guest speakers at these events included President [[Barack Obama]] (then senator),<ref>[https://www.ocregister.com/2006/11/30/global-summit-on-aids-kicks-off-in-lake-forest/ Global Summit on AIDS kicks off in Lake Forest] at Orange County Register; published November 30, 2006; retrieved 2019</ref> President [[George W. Bush]] and First Lady [[Laura Bush]],<ref>[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/12/20081201-3.html 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</ref> President [[Paul Kagame]] of Rwanda,<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=5479972&page=1 Rick Warren's 'Long-Term Relationship' with Rwanda] at ABC News; by Cynthia McFadden; published August 21, 2008; retrieved January 5, 2020</ref>  First Daughter [[Jenna Bush|Jenna Bush Hager]], Senator [[Hillary Clinton]],{{cn|date=January 2020}} Senator [[John McCain]],<ref>[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93661788 Pastor Rick Warren Brings McCain, Obama Together] at NPR; by Scott Simon; published August 16, 2008; retrieved January 5, 2020</ref> [[Bono]],<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/26/opinion/a-natural-alliance.html A Natural Alliance] at New York Times; by David Brooks; published May 26, 2005; retrieved January 5, 2020</ref> Ambassador [[Mark Dybul|Mark R. Dybul]], [[United States Global AIDS Coordinator]], and Dr. [[Peter Piot]], director of the [[Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS]].<ref>[https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2007/november/2007-11-29unaidsexecutivedirectorpeterpiotpraisesreli UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot praises religious groups’ action on AIDS at Saddleback Church Global AIDS Summit] at UNAIDS; retrieved January 5, 2020</ref>

Warren became an advocate for people living with mental illness and suicide prevention when her son, Matthew, took his life in 2013.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/13/health/iyw-kay-warren-mental-health/index.html Mom finds new calling after son's suicide] at CNN Health; by Meron Moges-Gerbi; published May 13, 2016; retrieved 2019</ref> 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|''The Orange County Register''<nowiki/>'s]] ''100 Most Influential People List'' in 2016.<ref>[https://www.ocregister.com/2016/12/23/most-influential-2016-kay-warren/ Most Influential 2016: Kay Warren] at The Orange County Register; by Erika Ritchie; published December 23, 2016; retrieved 2019</ref> 

===Selected bibliography===
*{{cite book | title=Say Yes to God: A Call to Courageous Surrender |year=2010 |isbn=978-0310328360<!-- | author=Warren, Kay-->}}
*{{cite book | title=Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn't Enough| year=2012 | isbn=978-0800722135<!-- | author=Warren, Kay-->}}<ref name = "gazette"/>
*{{cite book | title=Sacred Privilege: Your Life and Ministry as a Pastor's Wife | year=2017 | isbn=978-0800729677<!-- | author=Warren, Kay-->}}

==Son’s illness and death==
Matthew Warren lived with [[mental illness]] and suicidal ideation from a young age. His diagnoses included [[depression (mood)|depression]], [[obsessive compulsive disorder|obsessive–compulsive disorder]], [[bipolar disorder]] and near the end of his life, [[borderline personality disorder]].  Matthew took his life on April 5, 2013.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-wknd-et-mental-health-20180503-story.html Catholic leaders take up mental health mantle] at LA Times; by Greg Hardesty; published May 3, 2018; retrieved 2019</ref><ref>[https://www.dailynews.com/2016/09/28/knotts-closes-halloween-attraction-fear-vr-after-complaint-from-saddleback-pastor-rick-warren/ 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</ref><ref>[https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-12/california-megachurch-pastor-mental-health-suicide 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</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://kaywarren.com/ Kay Warren website]
*[http://saddleback.com/ Saddleback Church website]

{{Portal bar|Biography|Evangelical Christianity|}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Warren, Kay}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Baptists]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Baptists]]
[[Category:American evangelicals]]
[[Category:American evangelists]]
[[Category:American religious writers]]
[[Category:American self-help writers]]
[[Category:American women non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Baptist writers]]
[[Category:California Baptist University alumni]]