FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — D. James Kennedy, the Presbyterian pastor whose Coral Ridge Ministries television and radio programs were broadcast worldwide and whose Evangelism Explosion lay-witnessing method led to the salvation of millions, died Sept. 5. He was 76.
Kennedy died following complications from a heart attack suffered Dec. 28. He had been in poor health since then and retired in August as pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a congregation he planted in 1959. He preached his last sermon at the church on Christmas eve.
Kennedy also had a passion for equipping other believers to share their faith and founded Evangelism Explosion in the 1960s as a method for doing just that. Now taught in many Southern Baptist churches and in more than 200 countries, EE, as it is known, uses a conversational, outline-based presentation as a method of witnessing. His 1970 book, simply titled “Evangelism Explosion,” helped popularize the program.
In 1974, Kennedy started the south Florida Christian radio station WAFG (90.3 FM) and in 1978, saw his first worship service broadcast in a television program known today as the “The Coral Ridge Hour.”
Kennedy also founded two schools: Knox Theological Seminary for training pastors and Westminster Academy, a prekindergarten through 12th grade Christian school, both in Fort Lauderdale.
Kennedy is survived by his wife of 51 years, Anne, and his daughter, Jennifer. A public funeral service was scheduled to be held at the church Sept. 13.
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