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Technorati"He was an unwavering defender of the faith, a passionate advocate for truth, a visionary committed to advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a good friend," Chambers also stated.
Beyond politics, what has impacted more churches and Christian leaders was Kennedy's commitment to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"He practiced what he preached," said the Rev. John Sorensen, executive vice president of Evangelism Explosion International – an organization Kennedy founded and which propelled his impact powerfully across churches worldwide. "He loved sharing Christ with people."
Evangelism Explosion trained Christians to be active in sharing their faith with others. That vision and passion of witnessing helped grow Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church from a small group of 17 people to 10,000 members today. Moreover, Evangelism Explosion claims to have become the first Christian organization in history to establish its ministry in all 211 nations of the world.
"No one in our time has probably understood with greater depth, conveyed with greater passion, or equipped the church with greater skill to fulfill its twofold mission – the Cultural Mandate (belief that Christians are to bring God's truth to bear upon every area of human society) and the Great Commission – than Dr. Kennedy," commented the Rev. Mark H. Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina.
And according to Frank Wright, president and CEO of National Religious Broadcasters, there were not very many pastors who were preaching both, or what Wright called "the full counsel of God."
Before his death on Wednesday, Kennedy commented on what life would be like after the end of his life.
"I will be more alive than I have ever been in my life," he said, according to Kennedy's tribute website (www.djameskennedy.org), "and I will be looking down upon you poor people who are still in the land of dying and have not yet joined me in the land of the living. And I will be alive forevermore, in greater health and vitality and joy than ever, ever, I or anyone has known before.”
Kennedy will lie in repose in the Grand Narthex in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 12, which will be followed by a public funeral service at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church on Sept. 13.
A private, family-only interment will take place Sept. 14.
"Dr. Kennedy's work will live on long past his earthly body," said CWA's Wendy Wright. "We honor his legacy of faithfulness to Christ and commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission."
Kennedy is survived by his wife Anne and daughter Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy.
