Center Closed to Make Way for Expanded Media Ministry

Email Letter from D. James Kennedy's Coral Ridge Ministries, Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, June 08, 2007

Dear XXX,

I am writing to let you know that the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ was closed on April 26. This unanimous action by the members of the Board of Coral Ridge Ministries -- each one a close friend or associate of Dr. D. James Kennedy, who continues to recover from a cardiac arrest suffered in December -- came after a lengthy period of review. It was taken as part of a larger ministry restructuring designed to redirect Coral Ridge Ministries back to its core mission -- doing media ministry.

We at Coral Ridge Ministries have now embraced a very aggressive goal to expand our media audience tenfold over the next five years -- from three million to 30 million people by 2012. To reach that goal, we will need to be focused laser-like on the production of print, audio, and video programming for use on television, radio, the Internet, and other new media channels.

It is this requirement for single-minded ministry that led to the hard decision to close the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ.

The decision to close the Center was also made for practical reasons. While the Center provided wonderful ministry to the culture, it took significant resources to operate. Because we have a duty as stewards to use the financial resources entrusted to us in the most effective way possible, the often sacrificial gifts we receive will now be put to use where Coral Ridge Ministries sees the largest opportunity for impact.

Please understand that this difficult action to close the Center does not mean that Coral Ridge Ministries is departing from its biblical responsibility to be salt and light in the culture. We will seek to achieve the purpose of the Center, both by providing biblical teaching and by continuing to address cultural concerns from a biblical perspective. One example of our undiminished commitment to remain a voice for righteousness in American culture is our May-June campaign in opposition to federal "hate crimes" legislation.

XXX, we are very grateful for the friendship and support of thousands of people, such as yourself, who have participated in the work of the Center and the outreach of Coral Ridge Ministries. We want to continue that friendship as we embark on an exciting and aggressive plan to significantly grow this ministry outreach over the next five years.

We’d also like to continue the conversation by sending you occasional ministry updates, special resource offers, and opportunities to partner with Coral Ridge Ministries in touching the nation with the life-transforming truths of God’s Word.

Our goal, by God’s grace, is to be an innovative and aggressive media ministry able soon to reach millions more with Dr. Kennedy’s articulate presentation of the Gospel and biblical teaching.

We also want you to know that Coral Ridge Ministries has established a collaborative relationship with the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. Along with our normal Coral Ridge Ministries updates and e-newsletters, consider signing up for their excellent Washington Update at www.frc.org .

In addition, Coral Ridge Ministries is already planning its 2008 Annual Conference in the spirit of Reclaiming America for Christ. Watch www.coralridge.org for details on next year’s vibrant event!

Finally, while the Center’s website, www.reclaimamerica.org, will be retired, watch for a brand new look to our main ministry site, www.coralridge.org , to be unveiled on July 2.

As always, we invite you to send us an e-mail with your comments, questions, or concerns, at letters@coralridge.org.

In His Grace,

Brian E. Fisher
Executive Vice President
Coral Ridge Ministries

P.S. "Hate crimes" legislation in Congress threatens our free speech and religious liberty rights. Learn more when you obtain the new video, Hate Crimes Laws: Censoring the Church and Silencing Christians, which we produced in partnership with the Family Research Council. To request the video, please click here .