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.
A poster on Townhall (braveheart) summed up my feelings very well:
“Kennedy A Courageous, Fearless Patriot
D. James Kennedy was one of the greatest men America has ever produced. He was a fearless warrior for Christ, and a tireless defender of traditional Christian moral values - the bedrock of our nation and society. He was a man of towering intellect, boundless creativity, and unwavering courage. He was smart enough to institutionlize his wonderful attributes in the structure of many effective organizations.
Dr. Kennedy was a scholar who used his vast intellectual prowess to produce timeless video productions that boldly confront “the enemies of Christ” headon. He was a shining inspirational example for all Christians, but particularly for other ministers and those who aspire to be “men of the cloth”. Though he is now present with The Lord, he has left behind literally thousands of mentees who are already carrying on his mission. God bless you Dr.Kennedy, we people of Jesus Christ who are left in the vineyard shall sorely miss you.”
Now that's a homecoming!!!!!
very well known, very watchable telecasts
Very disappointed to hear this...I very much enjoyed his radio broadcasts...he was an awesome defender of truth. I suppose our loss is Heaven’s gain, though...
Wow - prayers for his family.
He was a good man. God bless the family. He has gone to a better place.
I hope a thousand like him spring up.
Dr. Kennedy will be sorely missed. Such a warrior for the Kingdom of Christ and a defender of righteousness. We desperately need more like him. God bless you, Dr. Kennedy.
He was a fearless voice for what is right just like his Christian brother Jerry Falwell.
Posted three times yesterday.
As a direct beneficiary of his “Evangelism Explosion” outreach, I offer my sincere thanks to this humble servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and I know for sure he will hear the words “Well done!” when he gives an account of his life.
Thanks for the additional details about this wonderful man.
D. James Kennedy did more for American than a million secularists ever could.
This one today does justice to a mighty man of God.
D.James Kennedy dies, but Creflo Dollar lives on? How is that fair?
May he RIP. Hopefully his legacy will live on because this country needs more men like him today. I’m assuming they’ll be rejoicing in DUmmieland and Kommieland. However, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, it has hated me first.” It’s an honor to be disliked by people such as them.
A true and faithful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. He Loved America and was a wonderful teacher of her history. We have lost a Christian Patriot. May God bless his lovely family and grieving church.
The best memorial I believe we could giveDr.Kennedy-would be to let America know-he is not forgotten—and those who
learned how to be better Americans having learned from him
our history— now must teach others what we know.God willing I will never stop telling the world this truth—
I am a better American because I learned from Dr.D.James Kennedy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.