(CP) – Pastor Darrin Patrick, who founded The Journey megachurch in Missouri and served as a teaching pastor at the South Caroline-based multi-site Seacoast Church, died at the age of 49, the church said Friday.
“Darrin was target shooting with a friend at the time of his death. An official cause of death has not been released but it appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. No foul play is suspected,” Seacoast Church shared in an update Friday evening after announcing his death earlier in the day.
The police investigation into the incident is ongoing and it’s unknown whether the self-inflicted gunshot wound was “intentional or unintentional,” a representative from the church told The Christian Post on Saturday.
Pastors Greg and Josh Surratt said in a message on the church’s website that they first learned of his death Thursday night. “Pastor Greg has traveled to St. Louis to be with Amie and the kids. We are going to walk with them every step of the way through this – they are family,” they added.
After learning about Patrick’s death, J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina, and president of the Southern Baptist Convention, shared a message on Twitter, saying:
“Mourning today the loss of my friend and fellow pastor @darrinpatrick. Darrin was such an encourager to me over the years. Sat at my table. Preached at our church. We know the grief of Amie and family must seem unbearable. We love you and are praying for you.” FULL STORY
Very sad. Prayers go out to the family. Again, not sure what this has to do with ETH.