Tribute to D. James Kennedy
Time Line
November 3, 1930 – Dennis James Kennedy is born to George and Ermine Kennedy in
1936 – The Kennedy family moves to
1945 – The family relocates once more to
1952 – Arthur Murray Dance instructor Jim Kennedy meets Anne Lewis and signs her up for six months of dance instructions.
1953 – Sleeping late on a Sunday morning, Jim Kennedy hears the Gospel for the very first time from a radio preacher. Shortly thereafter he professes faith in Christ.
December 3, 1955 – After fighting God’s call to full-time ministry for nearly a year, Jim Kennedy, with great trepidation, quits his job as a dance studio manager.
December 3, 1955 – Jim Kennedy and Anne Lewis become engaged.
December 4, 1955 – Jim is given the chance to preach at a local Presbyterian church and, to his surprise, is employed as the interim minister the same day.
August 25, 1956 – Jim and Anne are married at First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, Florida.
Fall 1956 – Jim Kennedy begins seminary training at Columbia Theological Seminary in
May 11, 1959 – Days before his seminary graduation, Jim receives a letter from the Home Missions Committee of the Everglades Presbytery inviting him to consider pastoring a new church to be started in
June 21, 1959 – The first Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church worship service is held at
July 21, 1959 –Rev. D. James Kennedy is ordained.
1960 – Rev. Kennedy tells his fledgling congregation: “You know what? I believe we can change the world!”
July 31, 1960 – Rev. D. James Kennedy is installed as minister of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church.
1962 – Rev. Kennedy begins to train church members to share Christ using the techniques learned from Rev. Kennedy Smartt.
March 16, 1962 – Jennifer is born and adopted into the Kennedy family.
March 18, 1962 – A new church building seating 500 on
February 20, 1967 – The first Evangelism Explosion clinic is held with 36 people in attendance.
Summer 1967 – Tragedy strikes when Anne undergoes cancer surgery. Rev. Kennedy later describes God’s provision during that dark time in his message, “Songs in the Night.”
1970 – Evangelism Explosion, the first of more than 65 books by Dr. Kennedy is published by Tyndale. More than 1.5 million copies have been sold.
1970 – Like A Mighty Army, a dramatic motion picture depicting the story of Evangelism Explosion, is produced by Gospel Films.
August 28, 1970 – Lay Evangelism, Inc., later changed to Evangelism Explosion III International, Inc., is organized.
April 11, 1971 (Easter Sunday) – Groundbreaking for new church on
August 1971 – Classes begin at
February 3, 1974 – The new church building on
October 1, 1974 – Radio station WAFG (90.3 FM) is licensed as a non-commercial educational station.
October 3, 1976 – Church membership reaches 5,000 people.
January 8, 1978 – Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church votes to leave the Presbyterian Church (U.S.) and unites with the Presbyterian Church in America (P.C.A.).
September 17, 1978 – First television broadcast of worship service.
February 1979 – Dr. Kennedy receives his Ph.D. from
November 30, 1980 – Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church celebrates its 20th anniversary.
May 29, 1990 – George Kennedy, Dr. Kennedy’s brother, dies. Dr. Kennedy learns after his death that George, who had long resisted the Gospel, was led to Christ on his death bed by a young hospital chaplain.
1984 – Truths That Transform, Dr. Kennedy’s daily radio program begins.
November 24, 1985 – Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church celebrates its 25th anniversary.
1988 - With Evangelism Explosion in only 66 nations, Dr. Kennedy challenged the organization’s vice presidents to take the lay-evangelism training program to every nation by 1995.
March 14, 1989 – The Session of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church establishes Knox Theological Seminary and appoints Dr. Kennedy Chancellor.
March 30-April 1, 1990 –
September 1990 – Knox Theological Seminary begins classes to train pastors and laymen in a graduate school of theology.
1992 – The Kennedy Commentary, a daily 90-second radio commentary, is launched.
May 21, 1994 – Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church celebrates Dr. Kennedy’s 35th year in Gospel ministry.
September 14, 1995 – Dr. Kennedy dedicates the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship in
February 23, 1996 – Evangelism Explosion International becomes the first Christian organization in history to establish its ministry in all 211 nations of the world.
March 7, 1999 – Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church celebrates its 40th anniversary.
June 10, 2000 – Daughter Jennifer marries Charles D. “Chip” Cassidy in
December 2000 – Along with Dean Jones, Dr. Kennedy co-hosts Who Is This Jesus, a one-hour documentary viewed by some 12 million people nationwide.
February 15, 2005 – Dr. Kennedy is inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
October 2005 – After Hurricane Wilma rips off the church roof and drenches the sanctuary, Dr. Kennedy encourages the congregation, telling them this is “our finest hour.”
December 9, 2005 – Dr. Kennedy is feted at a surprise 75th birthday celebration.
August 25, 2006 – Dr. and Mrs. Kennedy celebrate 50 years of marriage.
2006 – Nearly five million people profess faith in Jesus Christ through Evangelism Explosion.
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