Believers and faith leaders share tributes on social media following the death of renowned pastor Tim Keller. Keller passed away peacefully at his home in Manhattan on May 19 after a three-year fight with pancreatic cancer. He was 72.
Church leaders lauded his work and life as a man of God that had a great impact on their faith and ministries, reports Premier Christian News.
Harvest Christian Fellowship pastor Greg Laurie wrote on Twitter: “Very sad to hear of the passing of Tim Keller today. He is now with the Lord. Cathe and I had the privilege of hearing him speak at his home Church in NYC a number of times and met him briefly as well. Tim Keller was a very gifted communicator of God’s word. He made the teaching of Scripture understandable and was a real gift to the Church,” Laurie wrote. “He will be missed. Let’s be praying for his wife, Kathy, and members of his family as they deal with this tremendous loss.”
Southern Baptists Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler wrote: “Praying for the family of Tim Keller and for the congregation he so dearly loved.” He added, “His confident hope in Christ endured to the end.” Mohler urged his followers to pray for Keller’s family and congregation.
Keller founded Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York in 1989. The church ranked #16 in The Church Report’s 2006 Fifty Most Influential Churches in the country. His “thoughtful preaching, deep social engagement and holistic understanding of vocation” attracted young members of the public such as artists, doctors, and bankers mostly in their 20s and 30s.
Christian rapper Lecrae tweeted: “True story I’ve only been star-struck by Michael Jordan, Jay-Z, and Tim Keller.” He added, “There are things he’s shared that have changed me forever.” He recently mentioned Keller in one of his songs, “Deconstruction.”
Collin Hansen, vice president of content and Editor-in-Chief of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, said Keller’s death is “not only felt as our leader but especially as our friend and example.”
Keller was not only a highly-influential evangelical preacher, he was also a best-selling author writing several books on Christian spirituality, communication, and ministry in a secular culture. Many church leaders credited Keller’s books in influencing their leadership, their personal lives and ministries.
In a blog post, pastor David Platt paid a tribute to Keller, saying the late preacher’s books had an immense impact on his life. “I constantly use and recommend The Reason For God in my interaction with people far from Jesus who have humble, sincere, honest questions about faith in God and the gospel,” he wrote in Radical.
Meantime, church leader and author Ben Lindsay said, “What a mighty man of God we have just lost. The modern day CS Lewis. His writing and preaching has shaped my theology for the past 20 years. Rest well @timkellernyc and ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’.”
