Generals of the faith who went home in 2023

Marion Gordon “Pat” Robertson—religious broadcasting pioneer, philanthropist, educator, Christian leader, businessman, and author—died on June 8, 2023 in his home, surrounded by his family. He was 93. His death was announced by The Christian Broadcasting Network.

Dr. Robertson served as the founder and chairman of The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. (CBN); co-founder, chancellor, and chief executive officer of Regent University; founder of Operation Blessing Relief and Development Corporation (OB); founder and president of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ); founder and co-chairman of International Family Entertainment, Inc.; and a leading force behind several other influential organizations and broadcast entities. His greatest treasure in life was knowing Jesus Christ and having the privilege of proclaiming Him and His power to others. His life was lived to the glory of God.

Missionary and Youth With A Mission (YWAM) founder, Loren Cunningham went on to be with the Lord this year at age 88, after a battle with cancer. 

A pioneer of global missions and responsible for leading the largest Christian missions organization in the world, YWAM, Loren was the first person in history to travel to every sovereign nation on earth, all dependent countries, and more than 100 territories and islands for the sake of Christ and the Great Commission (Mark 16:15).

Known to audiences around the world through his wide-reaching TV and radio broadcasts, Dr. Charles Stanley, founder of In Touch Ministries and pastor emeritus of First Baptist Atlanta after serving 50 years as senior pastor. Stanley modeled his 65 years of ministry after the apostle Paul’s message in Acts 20:24: “Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s mighty kindness and love.”

Esteemed pastor, author, theologian, and speaker Rev. Dr. Timothy Keller, surrounded by family, passed away this morning at 72 years of age. The founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan has battled pancreatic cancer since being diagnosed in May 2020. 

Keller authored over 30 books, including Prodigal God, The Reason for God, and The Meaning of Marriage, among many other top sellers.

Pastor Jack Hayford, founder of The King’s University and Seminary (TKU) and founding pastor of Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California passed away on Sunday, January 8, in his home in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California. Hayford was 88. His family said he died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of the morning, having eaten dinner with his wife, Valarie, and having spoken to one of his grandkids the evening before.

George Verwer, founder of Operation Mobilisation (OM) and Christian missions pioneer passed away at the age of 84 in 2023. Verwer was saved under Billy Graham's ministry and became a popular Christian author with over one million books he authored distributed worldwide. His ministry was worldwide in nature, with his most recent work in India.