Help the Boatright Family Get a Fresh Start

As many of you know, Larry, Annette and their family have navigated through quite a difficult journey the last decade or so. I’d like to share some context with you about their current situation and ask you to consider jumping in to help as you are able.

About nine years ago, Annette developed severe PTSD as a result of working as a suicide prevention specialist, and it rattled their family for a number of years and led to many very expensive treatment situations (including multiple hospitalizations), racking up a mountain of debt they are still paying on.

In addition, in the middle of that season, Connie, Annette’s mother, lost her husband to a tragic accident. They ended up moving Connie in to live with them.

Last year, a month after making a move from Colorado to California, they became aware that their youngest child was depressed, and then suicidal. This led to five inpatient stays since November of last year, multiple outpatient/partial hospitalizations, and a mountain of medical debt, again. He also was formally diagnosed as autistic, which has been a challenge in itself.

Just a few weeks ago, Larry began what has been a very painful transition out of his role at the church in California. It has been yet another painful season, stacked on top of multiple other painful seasons. It’s also led to the Boatright family finding themselves in the worst financial place they’ve ever been - living in a very expensive state, and Larry unemployed.

Yet, in the middle of it all Larry and Annette have felt the presence of God, and a deep sense that this may be an opportunity to hit the pause button in some ways and reset, truly… the still, small voice of the Creator saying “pause, and create a safe place for your family.”

As a friend of Larry’s said, “You need to find a safe place for you and your family, a place to be yourselves and let a community just love you.”

Over the coming weeks, Larry and his family will need to pack up and move to a new place, and are considering options as to where they will go. One option is to move back to Texas, to be closer to family and friends.

Regardless of the specific direction they head, there are a few hurdles - many of them financial - they will need to address in order to move forward with health and stability:

In addition, they will need the support of family and friends from various places of connection to support them with prayer and help them re-create a healthy and stable future.

Another one of Larry’s long-time friends said to him the other day, “It’s time to stop being the one trying to hold everyone else up, and to let your community hold you guys up.”

I’m honored to call Larry one of my closest friends, and know there are many of us who have been inspired by and impacted by their family. I invite you to join me in rallying around the Boatright family during this season.