D. James Kennedy Dies
Author, theologian, pastor, founder of Coral Ridge Ministries
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
D. James Kennedy
D. James Kennedy, author, theologian, biblical scholar, pastor of the 10,000-member "Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church" in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and founder of the highly influential Coral Ridge Ministries, died early this morning in his sleep. Brian Fisher, Coral Ridge's executive vice president, said Kennedy died at about 3 a.m. Kennedy launched his weekly one-hour television show, "The Coral Ridge Hour," in 1978. It has been broadcast nationally every Sunday morning on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and syndicated on other networks. Available to 81 percent of the nation's television households, "The Coral Ridge Hour" has the greatest number of TV station affiliates of any religious program in the U.S.
Kennedy suffered a major heart attack in December, and just last week Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church announced his retirement, prompting a flood of accolades from leaders and ministries across the country.
"Dr. Kennedy is one of the nation's most respected Christian leaders," said Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America. "His teachings on the positive influence of Christianity on Western Civilization and America have motivated modern-day Christians to impact our culture and country."
Alliance Defense Fund President and CEO Alan Sears called him "a man of great moral courage and vision." "Dr. Kennedy is one of my personal heroes," Sears said. "He is a man of unquestioned integrity, great moral courage and vision. As a co-founder of ADF, he has been a constant source of godly wisdom and service to me. His life and testimony have had an incredible impact upon so many people for the Kingdom of God, and he is an example to us all of a good and faithful servant." Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said Kennedy fulfilled his mission to help change the world. "I commend Dr. Kennedy, for his stalwart leadership in defending faith, family and freedom," Perkins said. "Most of all, I am grateful for his godly example, his integrity and his unwavering dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Along with his leadership at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and Coral Ridge Ministries, Kennedy founded Evangelism Explosion International, Knox Theological Seminary and Westminster Academy.
Evangelism Explosion is a lay-witnessing training program first developed in 1962 that has been used to spark growth in churches around the world.
