30-Year-Old Pastor Who Was Open About Battle With Depression Takes His Own Life

Jarrid Wilson, a megachurch pastor and mental health advocate, took his own life Monday. 

Wilson, 30, was the pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship Church in California and had founded Anthem of Hope, an organization for those coping with depression and other mental health issues.

His wife, Julianne Wilson, took to Instagram to share the news, alongside a video of Jarrid playing with his son just hours before his death. 

“Can’t sleep, so I’m watching this video over and over again,” Julianne wrote Tuesday. “I took this Monday evening around 7:30 p.m. at our son’s baseball practice. By 11:45 that night, my sweet husband was in the presence of Jesus.”

Hours before his death, Jarrid also posted to social media about suicide and depression. 

“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,” he wrote on Twitter. “But that doesn’t mean Jesus doesn’t offer us companionship and comfort. He ALWAYS does that.”

Jarrid previously shared that he’d struggled with depression for most of his life. He leaves behind his two young sons.

“Suicide doesn’t get the last word. I won’t let it,” Julianne continued on her post. “You always said ‘Hope gets the last word. Jesus gets the last word.’

"Your life’s work has lead thousands to the feet of Jesus and your boldness to tell other about your struggle with anxiety and depression has helped so many other people feel like they weren’t alone," she wrote. "YOU WERE an ANTHEM OF HOPE to everyone, baby."

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