Dennis James Kennedy (November 3, 1930-September 5, 2007) Ph.D. A.B., M.Div., M.Th., D.D., D.Sac.Lit., Ph.D., Litt.D., D.Sac.Theol., D.Humane Let., was an author, lecturer and pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida.
Dr. D. James Kennedy is one of the most listened-to Christian ministers in the world today. His forthright and rational presentation of the Gospel is heard via television, radio, and the Internet throughout America and the world.
Dr. Kennedy, who entered the presence of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 5, 2007, began his Christian life in 1953 after he was startled awake one Sunday morning by a preacher's stern question on his clock radio.
"Suppose you were to die today and stand before God," the voice boomed, "and He were to ask you, 'What right do you have to enter into My heaven?' - what would you say?"
Dr. Kennedy soon discovered the answer, was converted to Christ, and shortly thereafter was called into the Gospel ministry.
Today, Dr. Kennedy's broadcast messages are televised to an audience of some three million people across the United States and into some 200 nations.
Dr. Kennedy served for 48 years as Senior Minister of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A modest mission church of 45 people when Dr. Kennedy arrived in 1959, the rocketing growth of the church made it, for 15 years, the fastest growing Presbyterian church in America.
Decision magazine named the church one of the "Five Great Churches of North America." In 2005, Dr. Kennedy was inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Dr. Kennedy's energetic commitment to both evangelism and cultural renewal is demonstrated by four organizations he founded: Coral Ridge Ministries, Evangelism Explosion International, Knox Theological Seminary, and Westminster Academy.
Coral Ridge Ministries - The media outreach of Dr. Kennedy, Coral Ridge Ministries began in 1974 with the mission of bringing the Gospel via broadcast media to America and the world. Its programs are The Coral Ridge Hour, a weekly half-hour television program; and Truths That Transform, a daily half-hour radio program.
Evangelism Explosion International - A lay-witnessing training program first developed in 1962 by Dr. Kennedy, Evangelism Explosion is now used in every nation and territory. EE has been used by God to spark explosive growth in congregations around the world.
Knox Theological Seminary - Dr. Kennedy launched Knox Theological Seminary in 1989 to prepare and equip Christians for ministry. Knox offers an education grounded in the historic Reformed faith and shaped by commitments to the sovereignty of God, the inerrancy of the Bible, and obedience to the Great Commission and the Cultural Mandate.
Westminster Academy - Dr. Kennedy founded Westminster Academy in 1971 to help meet Fort Lauderdale's need for quality Christian education. It is a fully accredited Pre-K to 12th grade academy with more than 1,270 students.
Dr. Kennedy earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tampa, a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary (cum laude), a Master of Theology from Chicago Graduate School of Theology (summa cum laude), and a Ph.D. from New York University.
Born in Augusta, Georgia, Dr. Kennedy was raised in Chicago and moved to Florida while in high school. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mrs. Anne Kennedy, and his daughter, Mrs. Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy.
On the evening of December 28, 2006, Kennedy experienced prolonged ventricular tachycardia at his Ft. Lauderdale home, leading to cardiac arrest which deprived his brain of adequate oxygen for six to eight minutes. As a result, he sustained a loss of short-term memory and speech impairment. Despite several months of rehabilitation and convalescence, he was unable to resume preaching and his retirement was announced on Sunday, August 26, 2007, at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church by his daughter, Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy.
In a statement following news of Kennedy's retirement, the church announced the development of the D. James Kennedy Legacy website in tribute to the life of the Christian evangelist.
Kennedy died in his sleep at home in the early morning hours of September 5, 2007. The White House issued a statement the following day, saying that U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush were "deeply saddened" by Kennedy's death, calling the Florida-based televangelist and author "a man of great vision, faith, and integrity... Dr. Kennedy's message of love and hope inspired millions through the institutions he founded...".
Kennedy is buried at Lauderdale Memorial Park Cemetery in Ft. Lauderdale.
Dr. D. James Kennedy has written 65 books, 12 of which he co-authored with Dr. Jerry Newcombe, including: The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail: The Attack on Christianity and What You Need To Know To Combat It; What If the Bible Had Never Been Written?; Christ's Passion-The Power and the Promise; What If Jesus Had Never Been Born-The Positive Impact of Christianity in History; New Every Morning-A Daily Devotional; Lord of All-Developing a Christian World-and-Life View; As the Family Goes; Cross Purposes; What If America Were A Christian Nation Again; The DaVinci Myth Versus the Gospel Truth; Led By The Carpenter-Finding God's Purpose; How Would Jesus Vote-A Christian Perspective On The Issues; The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail-The Attack on Christianity; What's Wrong With Same-Sex Marriage; Why I Believe; The Presence of a Hidden God-Evidence for the God of the Bible; Quoted in Dr. Tim LaHaye's book, Faith of Our Founding Fathers, 1987, Dr. D. James Kennedy, stated in a message titled "Church and State":
<In reading over the Constitutions of all fifty of our states, I discovered something which some of you may not know: there is in all fifty, without exception, an appeal or a prayer to the Almighty God of the universe....
Through all fifty state Constitutions, without exception, there runs this same appeal and reference to God who is the Creator of our liberties and the preserver of our freedoms.> 1930DK001
In his work, "The Bible and the Constitution," Dr. D. James Kennedy referred to an article in the December 1982, issue of Newsweek magazine, titled, "How the Bible made America":
<New historians are discovering that the Bible, perhaps more than the Constitution, is our founding document.> 1930DK002
On October 12, 1999, Dr. D. James Kennedy was honored on the floor of the United States Congress as Representative Walter B. Jones of North Carolina read the following, which was entered into the Congressional Record:
<TRIBUTE TO DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY, A TRUE CHRISTIAN
STATESMAN - HON. WALTER B. JONES (Extensions of Remarks-October 12, 1999), [Page: E2071] GPO's PDF, HON. WALTER B. JONES OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1999:
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, it is clear when reading both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, that our Founding Fathers recognized the important role that God and the Bible would play in guiding our Nation's leaders who governed the world. Today, it is becoming clear that the Judeo-Christian principles this nation was founded upon are as critical to the future progress and stability of this nation as they have been in the past. In fact, the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, emphasized the important relationship between the Bible and the freedom that you and I enjoy today. He said, (and I quote) "Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet anchor of your liberties; write its precepts on your heart and practice them in your lives.
To the influence of this Book we are indebted for the progress made, and to this we must look as our guide in the future."
Mr. Speaker, there is a man of Christian faith, a leader within our society today who is working to remind you and I to keep this same spirit of faith and freedom alive. That man is Dr. D. James Kennedy, a true Christian statesman. Mr. Speaker, when I was elected in 1994 to represent the citizens of Eastern North Carolina, Dr. Kennedy presented every newly elected Member with a copy of the New Geneva study Bible. In the front cover is a note stating his hope that we would read and apply the messages we found in the scripture to our work and our daily lives-just as Ulysses Grant proposed. Mr. Speaker, I begin and end each day on my knees in prayer. I pray for guidance in the decisions I make that affect the American people.
In the last 5 years, I have often reached for the Bible that Dr. Kennedy gave to me for inspiration, encouragement, and a sense of hope.
Mr. Speaker, Dr. Kennedy embodies the ideal of Christian statesmanship. In fact, he has dedicated his life to celebrate and share God's word. In 1959, he became the founding pastor of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida. This year, as the church celebrates its 40th anniversary, Dr. Kennedy is the most widely listened-to Presbyterian minister in the world. His broadcast messages are televised to 35,000 cities and towns across the United States. But Dr. Kennedy's commitment to evangelism and strengthening our nation's communities extends well beyond his role as senior minister to Coral Ridge Church. In 1962, he created a lay-witnessing program called Evangelism Explosion International, which is used in every nation to encourage growth in congregations around the world.
Dr. Kennedy also founded the Westminster Academy in 1971 to provide quality Christian education for the citizens of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In addition, he started Knox Theological Seminary in 1990, which now offers courses in the United States as well as in Seoul, Korea. Mr. Speaker, last fall I had the unique opportunity to participate and see first hand, Dr. Kennedy's efforts to encourage and motivate people of faith. Coral Ridge Ministries is the television and radio outreach of Dr. Kennedy's word, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. One of the television programs his ministry airs is called "The Power of One." The program recognizes individuals in our Nation's communities who are working to promote Christian values. One such person is Rebecca Mason, a 10-year old girl from the Third District of North Carolina, which I am proud to represent.
Rebecca became frustrated with the state of our country after learning some frightening facts about the rate of crime and violence in our Nation's neighborhoods. Rebecca could not understand why more people of faith were not taking action, so she decided to do something about it. She created a petition for Christian values, calling upon all Americans to stand up and take action to promote and preserve the morals and values we learn from the Bible. Rebecca's efforts were featured on Dr. Kennedy's "Power of One" program. As a man of strong religious conviction myself and as Rebecca's Congressman, I was asked to participate in the program. It was an honor for me to be part of a television program that recognizes the citizens who are taking action to make their communities and their nation stronger. In fact, it reminded me of one of my favorite Bible verses from Isaiah book 6, verse 8. It says, "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
Mr. Speaker, Dr. Kennedy, like Rebecca Mason, has answered God's call, and he has devoted his life to serving as a messenger of God's word. Today, I am proud to recognize his efforts during this exciting year of celebration to show my respect for his devotion and his commitment to spread the message of hope to all America. Thank you Dr. Kennedy, for reminding those of us who serve the American people-and all citizens-that faith and freedom go hand in hand. Happy anniversary. May God continue to Bless you and give you the strength to continue sharing His message with the world.> 1930DK002
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
1930DK001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Dr. D. James Kennedy, from the unabridged, printed sermon by D. James Kennedy, Ph.D., "Church and State." Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc., 1987), p. 93.
1930DK002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Dr. D. James Kennedy, "The Bible and the Constitution" (Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Coral Ridge Ministries), p. 6. "How the Bible Made America" (Newsweek, December 1982).
1930DK003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). D. James Kennedy, October 12, 1999, Representative Walter B. Jones of North gave Tribute, Extension of Remarks [Page: E2071-2] on the floor of the United States Congress, which were entered into the Congressional Record. GPO's PDF.