Posted on 09/06/2007 4:47:40 AM PDT by CitadelArmyJag
Megachurch Leader D. James Kennedy Dies By MATT SEDENSKY Wednesday, September 5, 2007
The Rev. D. James Kennedy, a pioneering Christian broadcaster and megachurch pastor whose fiercely conservative worldview helped fuel the rise of the religious right in American politics, died Wednesday. He was 76.
Kennedy died at his home in Fort Lauderdale, said Kristin Cole, a spokeswoman for Kennedy's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. The cause of death has not been determined, but Kennedy had not been seen publicly he suffered cardiac arrest Dec. 28. His retirement was announced last month.
Kennedy's voice and face were known to millions through radio and television broadcasts, urging Christians to evangelize in their daily lives, while condemning homosexuality and abortion as assaults on the traditional family. His also preached on the major policy issues of the day, rejecting evolution and global warming.
Kennedy was influential in the founding of the religious right, but did so more often from behind the scenes, as attention focused on his allies, the Revs. Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.
"He was never in the front ranks of evangelical leaders that were also political leaders, but he was active at every stage of the Christian right," said John Green, a senior fellow at the Pew Forum for Religion & Public Life who specializes in religion and politics.
Kennedy was a founding board member of the Moral Majority, which Falwell formed in 1979. In 1996, Kennedy created Coral Ridge's political arm, called the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, to mobilize conservative Christians against gay marriage, pornography and what he called "judicial tyranny," among other issues.
Kennedy also founded the Center for Christian Statesmanship, which organized Capitol Hill Bible studies and other events that attracted top government officials. He encouraged them "to embrace God's providential purpose for this nation."
"The Bible says, 'Be fruitful and multiply and have dominion over the earth,'" Kennedy said in a 1996 interview with The Los Angeles Times. "God should be in every sphere of life: economics, business, education, government, art and science."
In 1959, the pastor started his congregation with about 45 members, eventually expanding into a megachurch that claims 10,000 members today.
In the 1960s, when many conservative Christians were still debating how much to engage the broader culture, Kennedy jumped in and created Evangelism Explosion International, which trained Christians to share their beliefs with others.
"That simple goal is now widely adopted in evangelical churches and widely accepted, but at the time he started it, it wasn't," said Frank Wright, president and chief executive officer of the National Religious Broadcasters association.
At the time of his death, Kennedy's influence was beginning to wane, as his congregation aged and new evangelical leaders emerged. Coral Ridge shuttered its Center for Reclaiming America earlier this year.
Still, Kennedy was the author of more than 50 books and founded two schools _ Knox Theological Seminary and Westminster Academy, a K-12 Christian school near his church.
Coral Ridge Ministries, his radio and TV outreach arm, claimed a weekly audience of 3.5 million people for all its broadcasts. Kennedy's TV show, "The Coral Ridge Hour," has been airing reruns on more than 400 stations and is broadcast to more than 150 countries on the Armed Forces Network, his ministry says. Last year, the National Religious Broadcasters group inducted him into its hall of fame.
"He was one of the early visionaries who saw that you could use electronic media to extend the four walls of the church to reach a broader audience," Wright said.
Dennis James Kennedy was born Nov. 3, 1930, in Augusta, Ga., and his family moved in 1936 to Chicago and in 1945 to Tampa. Kennedy's father was a traveling salesman whom he described as "long suffering," and his mother was an alcoholic. They were not churchgoers.
Kennedy dropped out of college to become an Arthur Murray dance instructor, but eventually returned to earn multiple degrees, including a doctorate from New York University. He met his future wife, the former Anne Lewis, while teaching dance.
Besides his wife of 51 years, the pastor is survived by a daughter, Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy. Both were by his bedside when he died.
Thanks for noticing the difference! This article just came out today on Townhall and was not previously posted; nevertheless, at least we know the posting police are paying attention -although not enough to notice that they are different articles and not reposts. :)
God bless this warrior for Christ, and as was said above, may many more like him now spring up!
I love listening to his broadcasts on the radio. Such a wonderful speaker and defender of Truth.
He will be missed.
But he is now where he longed to be. This is one man I am certain will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Blessings to his family.
I deeply respected and supported this incredibly brave Christian...a real loss to the nation and the world.
May he now be blessed in the arms of the Lord Jesus.
A true Christian he was..... he is going to be missed.
I don’t consider his a “ mega church”. A large church, with a emphasis on Christian morality and integrity.
Polly
Loved that too!!!!! What a way to die!!!!!
My father wanted thesame.... the HalleluahChorus!
James Kennedy was a great Christian and a prolific writer. His books are wonderful testaments to his belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and Biblical promises. I am sure he is happy with the Lord now. He was a giant among Christian preachers and he will be sorely missed. God seems to be taking the good ones and leaving the liberal politicians. I guess this society will really be a hell on earth before the Lord returns. Let’s hope it is soon, very soon.
God bless him...he was a great man!
Well, aren't you special.
God bless Dr. Kennedy’s loved ones at this time. Dr. Kennedy himself is now in the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ hearing those words, well done Good and Faithful Servant.....after which am sure Dr. kennedy ls laying all his crowns at Jesus’ feet.
Thanks be to God who gives us the victory throught Jesus Christ!
Dr. Kennedy’s impact and sermons and ministries will continue to reach the world, especially into the minds and hearts of skeptics and those who challenge the Christian faith, for decades.
The giants of the faith are leaving us. May God prepare and bring to the world more fishers of men.
Bookmarked - amen!
Amen yes we do need more, thousands more, like Dr. Kennedy.
I did not know this news until reading this article.
So good to know! And God bless you too! Yes Evangelism Explosion had thunderous effects in the Kingdom of God, yet most have never heard of it. Glad you know first hand about that particular area of Dr. Kennedy’s ministry.
I’m bummed.
I didn’t agree with Kennedy on all points...but over time, I really
grew to respect him and Coral Ridge.
I’m still especially impressed at the “current affairs” segments that
ran during the last 10-15 minutes of The Coral Ridge Hours, as well
as the hour-long specials produced by Coral Ridge.
They almost always seemed to include interviews with “the opposition”
(ACLU, committed materialistic-Darwinists, etc).
I pray someone great fills Kennedy’s spot (even if he
“can’t be replaced”)
AMen Amen!!!
So far 50 pages long - what a testimony to the impact of one man’s life when yielded to His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Any word on the Witness to the Resurrection service that will be held for Dr. Kennedy at his beloved and wonderful church?
This service should be broadcast the world over because it is the WORLD which has been the beneficiary of this man’s dynamic ministry. It has been the Lord Jesus at work in this one man’s life in a way that has affected the lives of millions for the better.
Praise God! Praise God! For the life and ministry of Dr. D. James Kennedy!
I am so saddened and shocked by this announcement. This is the first time I have received this terrible news. Thanks for posting this~~~~~~~~~God Bless His Family!
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