Good News - October 2020

COVER STORY 24 OCTOBER 2020 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church marks 60 years of min- istry in 2020 with a rich history of evangelism and global out- reach under its founding pastor for 48 years, the late Rev. Dr. D. James Kennedy and now forging ahead under the leadership of Pastor Rob Pacienza, who grew up in the church and met his wife, Jen, at Westminster Academy. “Endeavoring to be a church that eagerly ministers in the present and expectantly looks toward the future,” Pacienza said, “we like to say we’re old-fashioned in a brand new way.” Kennedy was well-known in both the church and political realms, becoming the most listened to Presbyterian minister in the world through weekly television and radio programs, and was recognized as one of the leading Christian statesmen of his day. In an early letter, Dr. Kennedy wrote, “May it be that fu- ture generations will find here a citadel of faith and the church built solidly upon the Rock which is Christ Jesus.” The early years In its beginning, Coral Ridge became the fastest growing Presbyterian congregation in the country and held that title for 15 years. Although they originally met in the McNab School cafetorium, the first church structure was built on Commercial Boulevard with a maximum capacity of 800 and was quickly out- grown. This led to construction of the current sanctuary, located at 5555 N. Federal Hwy. At 303 feet tall, the church steeple can be seen for miles in any direction, lifting the cross of Jesus high over Fort Lauderdale and pointing thoughts and eyes heaven- ward. “It would draw thousands to hear God’s life-giving gospel each week and serve as a beacon to ships and aircraft.” The iconic steeple was fitted with a radio antenna and broadcast the gospel and Sunday services through station WAFG radio for many years. Eighteen thousand pieces of faceted glass make up the windows for the sanctuary and tower, and a 6,600-pipe organ, made by Fratelli Ruffatti of Italy, is installed inside. Today, Coral Ridge is the 5th tallest church in America and seats about 2,500. The building was dedicated on February 3, 1974 when the late Evangelist Billy Graham addressed an overflow crowd of 11,000 people. Not long after, Coral Ridge began airing it’s nationwide tel- evision broadcast on Sunday mornings entitled The Coral Ridge Hour. The show would eventually expand to over three million viewers per week in 165 countries on 675 stations. By the 1980s, Coral Ridge not only provided a place for worship, but also had a day-care, a K-12 school, radio station, television pro- gram, concert series, global ministries, social programs and dozens of activities. In a 1983 article about Coral Ridge entitled “Like A Mighty Army Moves the Church of God,” The Miami Herald, discussing the thousands who would appear at the “mega-church” that Easter Sunday, helped define the term “mega-church.” Pacienza explained, “The Miami Herald was the local in- fluence and then when Time Magazine did a story on Dr. Kennedy and Coral Ridge, they picked up ‘mega-church’ from The Miami Herald and that’s when it became kind of a popular way to identify a large church.” Culture-shaping Christians Holding that Christians should not only be involved in spiritual matters, but also active and knowledgeable as citizens, Dr. Kennedy was an outspoken leader in conservative politics. Asked about his view on civic involvement, Pa- cienza said, “I always tell our congregation here at Coral Ridge, yes, your faith is deeply personal, but it’s never private. Your deeply personal faith is supposed to be manifested in a public manner. It’s supposed to manifest itself in your workplace, in your community, and that includes government and politics.” This is evident in their efforts to encourage congregants to register and vote as well as in developing a Biblical worldview that filters all of life through the lens of Scripture. “Coral Ridge is partnering with a non-partisan nonprofit called Vote Your Marking 60 Years of Ministry, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Looks to the Future Shelly Pond Editor Coral Ridge Pastor Rob Pacienza stands in the D. James Kennedy Memorial Library, which contains Dr. Kennedy’s personal collection. Photo Credit: Justus Martin