Considering their stories, Pastor Sapp said his own story might have turned out differently after the Sept. 2010 death of his wife, MaLinda Sapp, who passed away due to colon cancer.
As Sapp explained, “One of the greatest blessings of being married to MaLinda Sapp is that my wife was a licensed psychologist who was also a college professor in psychology. She was a major advocate for mental health and was on the board of a mental health hospital here in our city.”
After his wife’s death, it was “a natural progression,” for the Grand Rapids, Mich., minister and his children (currently ages 19, 16 and 14) to seek counseling.
Sapp, who this year marked the 10-year anniversary of founding the Lighthouse Full Life Center Church, said he understood all too well the kinds of pressures pastors in active ministry face.
“Being a pastor is pressure because we have to counsel people,” he said. “But the fact of the matter is that many people don’t understand that we don’t’ have S’s on our chests. But that we’re just as weak and fallible, if not, even more because of the hyped attack of the enemy against us. He wants to bring us down because he knows that if he hits the head the (body) will follow.”
Sapp added that thanks to his late wife’s influence, he is “an advocate for counseling of pastors, talking to people who are trained in that area.”
“Honestly,” he added, “that’s probably the only reason why I didn’t take my life, was because from day one, and even now when it’s necessary, I make sure I go and sit and have a conversation with my doctor.”
While making it clear that he believes strongly in the power of prayer, Sapp said, “I also believe that you need to have somebody tangible to talk to so that they can help you process and think through what life is doing and what life is all about in that moment in time.”
Marvin Sapp: Life After Death was originally published on blackdoctor.org
