FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., August 26 /Christian Newswire/ -- The retirement of Dr. D. James Kennedy as Senior Minister of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church was announced today at the church's Sunday morning worship service. The announcement follows a cardiac event suffered by Dr. Kennedy in December 2006 and his extended convalescence. Details about Dr. Kennedy's retirement from Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, where he has served since 1959, may be found at www.DJamesKennedy.org.

"Dr. Kennedy's retirement from the church is a very significant event in the life of this local congregation," said Brian E. Fisher, Executive Vice President of Coral Ridge Ministries, which is a separate and distinct organization from the church. "Our prayers are with him, his family, and Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church as it seeks a Senior Minister to fill the pastoral leadership role held with such distinction and impact by Dr. Kennedy."

"At the same time, the retirement of Dr. Kennedy from the church does not directly affect Coral Ridge Ministries," said Fisher. "Across the street here at CRM, we are amazed at how, by God's grace, He is opening new doors for the growth of this ministry."

"Prior to his absence, Dr. Kennedy and our Board of Directors were intimately involved in the building and approval of an aggressive Five Year Plan for this ministry.  Dr. Kennedy's vision for CRM has always been to reach as many people as possible for the Gospel through media, and our long range plan embodies that vision. Our beloved pastor and teacher has laid an incredible foundation for us to carry on his work of taking the Gospel to all nations and peoples." 

Coral Ridge Ministries has initiated a five-year strategic plan to increase its outreach from 3 million to 30 million people by 2012 via television, radio, print, and the Internet using the teachings and inspirations of Dr. Kennedy. That plan includes a media library containing nearly all of Dr. Kennedy's print, audio, and video messages over the last four decades. Coral Ridge Ministries is also harnessing new media, including video on demand, mobile phone delivery, curriculum development, and innovative short-form convergent presentations on topics such as abortion, America's Christian history, and biblical authority.

"Our prayers and thoughts are with Dr. Kennedy, his wife, Anne, and daughter Jennifer, as he enters retirement. He is much loved and we sorely miss him. We are grateful to God for his moral and spiritual leadership and his legacy of in-depth biblical teaching on a wide range of matters. He has left us a rich storehouse of biblical truth that will serve as the foundation for this ministry's growth in the years to come."

INTERVIEW REQUESTS: To request an interview with Brian E. Fisher, Executive Vice President, Coral Ridge Ministries, please contact either Andrew Scott at a.scott@crministries.org / (954) 334-5332, or John Aman at j.aman@crministries.org / (954) 334-5330.

Coral Ridge Ministries is the radio and television outreach of Dr. D. James Kennedy. Its programming reaches more than three million people weekly through more than 750 radio outlets, more than 600 TV stations, and its website, www.coralridge.org