James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of depression and suicidal thoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
A California megachurch pastor committed suicide last week after a long battle with mental illness.
Jim Howard was a pastor of the Valencia campus of the 7,000-member Real Life Church. Paramedics with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were dispatched to Howard’s home after a report of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“It is with a heavy heart that I can confirm we suffered a tragic loss on our church staff this week. On Wednesday, January 23, 2019, Jim Howard — a beloved pastor here at RLC — took his own life,” RLC Lead Pastor Rusty George wrote in a Facebook post.
“Sadly, Jim suffered in private with mental health challenges — some of which he bravely discussed in public — and was wrestling with some personal issues in recent months. This week, he made the tragic decision to end his pain,” he said.
Church officials say he will be deeply missed by his family, friends, the RLC family and all those who were blessed to know him.?
Church members and community leaders are mourning Howard’s untimely death.
“Jim Howard was a class act,” KHTS radio owner Carl Goldman shared on the station. “He was passionate about our valley. We worked closely on the candlelight vigil for the Santa Clarita victims of the Las Vegas shootings, as well as many Halloween events at Real Life Church. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and everyone he touched. He will be missed.”
Others urged the entire body of Christ to pray for Real Life Church.
“The Apostle Paul wrote, ‘If one member suffers, all suffer together’ – 1 Corinthians 12:26. This tragedy is not simply a Real Life Church heartache, but a shared grief for the Body of Christ in our city. As the broader body of Christ, let’s lavish our prayers on the brothers and sisters at Real Life Church,'” Tracy Weaver wrote on Facebook.
Howard isn’t the first megachurch pastor in California to commit suicide in recent months.
Last year, Inland Hills Lead Pastor Andrew Stoecklein took his life, leaving behind his wife and three young children.
Regent University professor and RED Church pastor Dr. Jayce O’Neal told CBN Newspastors are not immune to mental illness.
“Pastors are humans and have issues just like everybody else,” he said. “They struggle with insecurities; they struggle with their own mistakes. I think one of the issues that we see is like what Martin Buber used to say, is that we often treat people, not as people, but as objects. And we treat them as tools. And pastors, people come to them for help, but who does the pastor go to when they’re struggling?”
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States’ suicide rate went up by 33 percent between 1999 and 2017. Americans are killing themselves so much, suicide is contributing to the overall decline in US life expectancy.
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in America and some call it a national health crisis.\
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
