Today we lost a giant of the faith.  James Kennedy was the pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale for 48 years.  He is best known for the creation of the Evangelism Explosion, a witnessing program that has been used all around the world.  Almost every evangelism strategy today uses some elements that have been a part of this ministry.

Dr. Kennedy had a tremendous passion for personal evangelism.  He had a heart for reaching the world with the gospel, one person at a time.  There are literally millions of people around the world that have learned to share their faith through Evangelism Explosion.

Not only was he passionate about evangelism, but he also was a great leader in speaking to the American culture.  In recent years, he was known for challenging the liberal shift of American society and encouraging Christians to be instruments of salt and light with the gospel.

He was very gracious, but had a clear sense of purpose.  When you see the passing of such a leader, it makes you wonder who is going to step up and take his place.  I do not know who that will be, but I believe I know what Dr. Kennedy would say.  He would say that the responsibility belongs to all of us.

I can remember hearing him speak for the first time.  He was talking about Evangelism Explosion and how it grew out of his own experience in witnessing.  He focused on the fact that it is every believer’s responsibility to be able to share the gospel.  It is a message we must continue to hear and incorporate in our lives now more than ever.

As we focus on missions this weekend, we must be looking for ways to be personally involved.  With the passing of such a leader, I am always reminded of the responsibility that is now ours to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.