On the Death of Dr. Kennedy
Posted on Wednesday, September 5th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
My pastor died today. I have worked with Dr. D. James Kennedy since 1997 and have known him (in the sense of having entertained at his church and attended his seminary) since 1990. His passing is a great loss in the evangelical church and in Christianity. He was a very kind and gracious man who taught me a lot about being a pastor and being a person. I would like to share a few of the things that I learned from Dr. Kennedy with you today.
Kings and Pawns go back in the bag
First, I just yesterday read an old Italian proverb that says: Kings and Pawns all go back into the bag at the end of the game. All of our lives will come to an end and we should be spending our time doing the things that are valuable and lasting. Dr. Kennedy’s legacy will live on because his work was not based on making money or gaining power. It was based on enlarging the Kingdom of God.
You will no doubt read, at some point about the “mansion” that Dr. Kennedy lived in. That is a lie. He lived in a modest house near the church. He drove a modest car and insisted that all his ministers do the same. He was a man who simply was not interested in money, but was interested in the more important things in life. That which lasts.
When we come to the end of our lives, and we all will, we will need to take stock what we have done. There are thousands of people who have heard the gospel because of Dr. Kennedy. That lasts, that matters, that makes a real difference.
Never be too tired to speak to someone about Christ
Second, I learned that I should never be too tired to speak to someone about Christ. Dr. Kennedy was always out on Thursday nights with an Evangelism Explosion team. There were many (including myself) who sometimes stayed at home because we were too tired or our schedules were so full. I don’t know of anyone who had a schedule like Dr. Kennedy, yet every Thursday night he was out sharing the Gospel with a visitor to the church. Even at seventy-five years old he was not to busy or too tired to go out with the rest of the faithful and share the good news.
Make your enemy your friend
Third, I learned to make my enemy my friend. You will read some who will speak of the hate of my pastor. This is simply not true. It seems that anyone who is willing to draw a line between wrong and right is called hateful. Dr. Kennedy was willing to draw the line, but was always willing to step across it to share the gospel.
A few years ago, there was a young man who was picketing on the sidewalk out in front of the church. He held up a sign that said “Dr. Kennedy is Hitler” and on the other side “Matthew Sheperd (sic) Died Because of Dr. Kennedy.” I remember being so amazed when I saw Dr. K out speaking to the young man. I was even more amazed to see that the conversation lasted more than two hours in the hot Florida sun. After that conversation Dr. Kennedy took the young man to lunch.
That is the way that one deals with an enemy. You look deep inside and see a soul that so desperately needs Christ; a soul that without Christ is in slavery to sin. Dr. Kennedy did all that he could to turn that young man to the gospel. Whether or not the young man ever became a Christian is unknown to me, but it is not for lack of effort on Dr. Kennedy’s part.
Trust God to do great things
Fourth, I learned to trust God to do great things. I saw in Dr. Kennedy a man who knew that God could do things that were so great that we could not even imagine them. He stood up with his vision and told the small group of people that his church could reach the world. They did. He told them that his church could make a difference in the history of Christianity. They did. He told that small group that if they believed God the things that God would do thorough them would be so great that they could not even imagine them. They were.
Dr. Kennedy, like all of us was not without his faults; though as I saw him they were far, far, fewer than mine. Yet he trusted not in himself, but in Christ almighty. May all of us learn a lesson from this man who only wanted to glorify the Lord. If we be able to do only a small part of what he was able to do, the Kingdom will be much better for it.
Soli Deo Gloria
Pastor Sam
Subscribe in RSS reader
Comments
1Ray Fowler:Wednesday, September 5th, 2006 at 1:51 pm
Wonderful tribute - thank you for sharing. We will all miss Dr. Kennedy.
2Ernie:Wednesday, September 5th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
All I can say is “WOW”! This man truly is a son of God. What a wonderful example of how we should the live.
Thanks pastor Sam!
Ernie
3Eric Thomas:Thursday, September 6th, 2006 at 8:59 am
Amen. And Amen.
4Rod Hayes:Thursday, September 6th, 2006 at 10:57 am
Very well put, Pastor Sam. It makes me reflect on how blessed I have been to sit under his teaching for the last 27 years. I pray that God will still use Dr. Kennedy’s words to inspire me to do great things for Him.
5Adam Masterson:Thursday, September 6th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Great post.
6Genevieve:Sunday, September 9th, 2006 at 9:28 am
Thank you Dr. Sam. Thank you for reminding us that life is not what one has, but what one does for the Kingdom of God that matters. What a blessing to us all to have had such an shining example in Dr. Kennedy’s life. We will miss him.
7Mike Ferraguti:Tuesday, September 11th, 2006 at 10:35 am
Thanks Sam! As his daughter Jennifer said when announcing his retirement, he “walked the walk.”
I have worked for EE for 10 years now. I confess that, during these many years, I did not get to know him. I saw him at a glance during Executive Committee meetings here on the 3rd floor and during other EE events. But I always kept my distance. I think it was my sin, a fear, that kept me away. Maybe others felt the same. Maybe not. Here was a man who went toe-to-toe with atheists, was interviewed by Larry King, met with representatives in D.C. “I was too ordinary for him,” I wrongly thought. “He doesn’t even know my name.”
And then, years ago, a very quirky, creative, offbeat EE graphic artist named Gerald came into my office and said, “I’m going to lunch with Dr. Kennedy.” I thought he was just being his unusual self, trying to stir things up. But no. This time he was telling the truth. Ordinary, even odd, Gerald was dining with Dr. Kennedy, one-on-one. How is this possible? “I just called him,” Gerald said rather matter-of-factly. That’s when it hit me—Dr. Kennedy was as available for any of us as we made ourselves available for him.
I’ve heard some say he was distant, removed from his congregation. But it’s not true. He cared for every member of his church and millions of others around the world.
8Shannon:Wednesday, September 12th, 2006 at 8:37 pm
Dr. Lamerson, we had choir rehearsal this evening and your blog was read as part of our devotional. What an incredible man Dr. Kennedy was! How blessed we all are because he followed his Father’s will! Thank you for sharing your memories and thoughts, and thank you for following your Father’s will! Prayers are with you!
9Pat:Thursday, September 13th, 2006 at 4:38 pm
I too, heard your tribute to Dr. Kennedy at choir rehearsal last night. Thank you for posting such a wonderful tribute. After all the hateful comments we’ve been reading about him in the newspaper, it is so great to read an honest commentary from someone who knew him well. I feel honored to have been sitting behind him on Sundays and hearing what that brilliant mind had to say. Thank you for taking on the awesome responsibility of preaching on Sundays. You are doing a great job. God Bless You!
10Karen:Friday, September 14th, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Dr. Sam,
I am yet another person who was blessed by your thoughts as they were shared at choir this week. I was fortunate to have been a part of this church since 1962. Not only was Dr. Kennedy interested in adult ministries but those of the youth as well. I know I am the person I am today because of growing up in this church and the leadership of the youth program and Sunday School classes. He developed a Scripture Memory Program for 3 year olds through at least Jr. High age. We were challenged to memorize scripture and the Westminster Cathecism questions and answers, with increasing difficulty the older we got. I used to be embarassed because I did not have a great testimony to give...no drama, just a homely 6th grader who understood what Jesus did for me in CRPC Vacation Bible School, explained by a great EE teacher, Mrs. Schmidt. What Dr. Kennedy has left is a great legacy in my own family with my husband, six children and two godly son-in-laws who all know Christ as their personal Savior. I will miss Dr. Kennedy but am glad we have someone like you that is carrying on in the preaching and teaching of God’s word. Thanks for all the time and extra work you have taken on this past year. It is appreaciated!