Departed Christian Leaders

Posted by Brian Tubbs Jan 2, 2008

This past year, 2007, marked the passing of several prominent Christian leaders. Christian Post paid tribute to several of them, including Yolanda King (daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr), Ruth Graham (wife of world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham), Jerry Falwell, D. James Kennedy, and Rex Humbard.

According to the Christian Post, these leaders were "influential and well-respected" in the Christian community and cast a measure of influence even beyond Christian circles.

Writing for the Christian Post, Michelle Vu praised the leaders as follows:

• Yolanda King "urged Americans to be forces of peace and love in the footsteps of her father’s dream for an America where people of all colors are considered equal"
• Ruth Graham was the "anchor of faith" and "ministry partner to her husband, who many consider the greatest evangelist in history"
• Jerry Falwell "organized conservative Christian voters around the issues of abortion, gay rights, pornography and school prayers" and (despite the controversy) cast an "undeniable" influence on American society
• D. James Kennedy "built a Christian media empire with his radio and television ministry that reaches more than 3 million people" and "wrote more than 65 books, created Evangelism Explosion, and was a founding board member of the Moral Majority"
• Rex Humbard was "considered the pioneer of televangelism and hit the television airwaves in 1949 when the medium was largely untapped by evangelists"

Not mentioned in the Christian Post was Lee Roberson, a successful pastor and founder of Tennessee Temple University. Roberson, widely respected and influential in Baptist circles, died in April of 2007 at the age of 97.

Are there others who passed in 2007 that meant something to you? If so, tell us about it in the discussion forum.