A well-known pastor of a large multi-site church and author of several books on church planting and Christian manhood has died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police say that they are still investigating the death of 49-year-old Darrin Patrick. They say it's not clear if Patrick meant to take his life or if the incident was accidental.

Patrick was a pastor at the multi-site church Seacoast Church in South Carolina. They released a statement on Friday, May 8, saying, "Darrin was target shooting with a friend at the time of his death. An official cause of death has not been released but it appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. No foul play is suspected."

Patrick had also founded the St. Louis, Missouri, megachurch The Journey. His books include Replant: How a Dying Church Can Grow Again, and The Dude's Guide to Manhood: Finding True Manliness in a World of Counterfeits.

The church says they learned of Patrick's death on Thursday, May 8.

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Since then Patrick had shared openly how he was ill-prepared for the money and fame that his books brought him.

"I am utterly horrified by the depth of my sin and devastated by the terrible effects of it on myself, my family and so many others, including all of you," Patrick said at the time, according to The Christian Post. "I am so deeply and terribly sorry for the pain that my sin is causing you, as well as the broken trust that my sin has clearly produced. In short, I am a completely devastated man, utterly broken by my sin and in need of deep healing," he said.

Patrick is survived by his wife and four children.