By  Leonardo Blair, Christian Post Press Reporter|Monday, January 28, 2019.

Jim Howard, lead pastor of the Valencia school of the more than 6,000 member Real Life Church in California fatally shot himself in the head in the house Wednesday after a lengthy fight with mental disease.” It is with a heaviness of heart that I can confirm we suffered a terrible loss on our church staff today. On Wednesday, January 23, 2019, Jim Howard– a cherished pastor here at RLC– took his own life,” Rusty George, lead pastor of Real Life Church started in a statement released on Facebook last Thursday.” As everybody who knew Jim can testify, he was a terrific guy with a deep love for Jesus and a passion for sharing the grace of God with anybody he satisfied. He was likewise a tornado of energy, always looking for new difficulties and opportunities to minister to others,” George said.

Detectives informed The Signal that they began examining the death of an individual they suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the backyard of a Valencia house on Wednesday.

Quickly prior to 3:40 p.m., paramedics with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were dispatched to the home on North Sunny Creek Drive and police were called in to investigate a gunshot wound to the head.

In his declaration on Thursday, George kept in mind that Howard had actually been coping mental health problem for a while and had even spoken publicly about his struggle with the illness. Howard had reportedly likewise served at Real Life Church for more than 3 years.

“Regretfully, Jim suffered in personal with psychological health obstacles– a few of which he fearlessly discussed in public– and was battling with some individual issues in recent months. Today he made the tragic decision to end his pain. He will be deeply missed out on by his family, good friends, the RLC family and all those who were blessed to know him,” George said.

He further urged church members who are having a hard time and need assistance to call the church.

The Jared Monroe Foundation a California nonprofit dedicated to promoting awareness, understanding and support for Bipolar affective disorder also prompted those experiencing mental illness to connect for help in the wake of the pastor’s suicide.

“Our deepest acknowledgements to Pastor Jim Howard’s family, friends and RLC household. Mental health challenges impact EVERYONE. Don’t suffer alone. Reach out if you need to talk. You do not need to suffer alone,” the foundation said in a statement on Friday. Other members of the Valencia neighborhood who knew Howard likewise shared their grief at his passing

“Jim Howard was a class act,” KHTS owner Carl Goldman told the outlet. “He was enthusiastic about our valley. We worked closely on the candlelight vigil for the Santa Clarita victims of the Las Vegas shootings, along with numerous Halloween events at Reality Church. Our ideas and prayers head out to his household and everyone he touched. He will be missed out on.”

“There are no words anyone can say that will make the griever feel much better,” Sharon Brubaker, a local innovative certified sorrow recovery expert said. “The most significant thing we can do is exist and assistance. Do not attempt to fix it, we can’t fix it.”

“Some people are going to wish to talk today, and the most fantastic thing is that we are actually discussing suicide and death by suicide,” said Brubaker. “It’s not a preconception any longer and we need to speak about it day in and day out.”