in memoriam

Stuart Epperson, the co-founder of Salem Media, passed away this week at the age of 86 following a years-long battle with leukemia.

Michael Catt, whose church helped launch the modern Christian movie era and whose ministry impacted millions, has passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 70.

Elizabeth Sherrill, a noted Christian author, editor and publisher, passed away late last month at 95.

Church leaders are responding to the passing of televangelist and Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) founder Pat Robertson, who died on Thursday at 93.

As Christian Headlines previously reported, Robertson died on June 8 in his home in Virginia Beach. He launched CBN in 1960, which has since reached 200 nations and has been translated into 70 languages. He served as the host of the 700 Club from 1966 to 2021.

Robertson was also the founder of Operation Blessing, Regent University, International Family Entertainment, The Flying Hospital, American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) and The Christian Coalition.

Here is what five church leaders had to say amid his passing:

Influential minister, broadcaster, and politician Pat Robertson passed away Thursday at the age of ninety-three. As of this writing, no cause of death has been given, but he is survived by his four children, fourteen grandchildren, and twenty-four great-grandchildren.

Robertson is best known for his roles on The 700 Club and his political involvement, which continues to shape the relationship between evangelical Christians and the Republican party.  In his later years, Robertson tried to focus more on the gospel than other issues, telling Fox News in 2021 that "God is not a Republican" and that he felt led to focus on "eternal matters and not secular politics" at that point in his life. However, politics remain an important part of his legacy.

Given his family history, though, perhaps that should not come as a surprise.

Pat Robertson, the trailblazing television minister who founded the Christian Broadcasting Network and hosted the channel’s flagship show, The 700 Club, died June 8. He was 93.

An Arkansas pastor and his congregation are grieving the deaths of his two daughters, who were killed recently by a train.

Tina Turner, famously known as the "Queen of Rock' n' Roll," has died. She was 83. According to her manager, the iconic singer died peacefully on Wednesday in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, following a "long illness," the Associated Press reports.

Last Friday, May 19, pastor, theologian, and author Tim Keller passed away. The longtime pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and author of books such as The Reason for God was known for his thoughtful sermons, calm demeanor, and a ministry that extended beyond his own denomination and even his fellow Christians to the wider world of elite society. 

It’s rare, especially today, for someone to be called “a giant” by both a top theologian and a New York Times columnist. Rarer still will such a prominent figure be regularly described as unassuming, living out the exhortation of Rudyard Kipling to be someone who can “walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch.” It’s notable that even his critics, which he certainly had, have refrained from doubting his self-effacing grace and kindness for others. 

Like many who mourned pastor Tim Keller's passing, I never met him in person. Also, like many others, he served as a mentor from afar. I could talk for days about the ministry insights I learned from him, but those are not the most important. Through his sermons, books, articles, and interviews, I gleaned an approach to following Jesus and engaging the people around me with the Gospel.

While this list could be much longer, these are the three most important lessons about following Jesus from Dr. Tim Keller.