Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Community Church wrote a heartbreaking request for prayer as their family remembers the death of his son Matthew on April 5 two years ago.

"I'm asking for your prayers as I am sure you will understand the reason I need it," he wrote on his Facebook page. "On this Easter week two years ago, my son Matthew ended his life, and his 27 year battle with mental illness."

Warren said that the day Matthew ended his life was the worst day of his life, and he called that week "The Battle for Hope."

"Each day that week we launched a different hope initiative, and then on Friday Matthew died," he sadly recalled.

Last year, Easter came late and the Warren family was grateful that they were able to quietly remember Matthew, then celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ weeks later when Easter finally came. But this year, April 5 falls directly over Easter.

"On a day where everything in me wants to be quiet and low key, be alone at home with my Lord and my wife and kids, and just get through the day without having to interact or be 'on' or celebrate anything.... instead I will be leading multiple Easter services on the biggest Christian day of the year," he said.

Warren added that he will undoubtedly celebrate Easter, because the resurrection of Jesus is a "steadfast reality" that gives him hope and comfort. But while he would rather celebrate the hope of Jesus rising from the dead quietly with his family, he has to fulfil his responsibilities in the church.

"So I ask for your prayers. Pray that out of my family's pain, Jesus Christ will be honoured. Pray that the Holy Spirit will tell me what to say. And pray that He will then give me the strength to say it over and over and over with winsome passion," he said.