Remembering Author Tim LaHaye 5 Years After His Death

Five years ago on July 25th, Christian author and pastor Tim LaHaye passed away at the age of 90. LaHaye wrote 85 books, both fiction and non-fiction, including the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-authored with Jerry B. Jenkins. 

As a pastor, LaHaye served in Pumpkintown, South Carolina, and after that he pastored a congregation in Minneapolis until 1956. After that, the LaHaye family moved to San Diego, California, where he served as pastor of the Scott Memorial Baptist Church (now called Shadow Mountain Community Church) for nearly 25 years.. In 1971, he founded Christian Heritage College, now known as San Diego Christian College. 

LaHaye was best known for the apocalytic fiction Left Behind series. The set of books depicts the Earth after the pretribulation rapture which Premillennial Dispensationalists believe the Bible states, multiple times, will occur. The books were LaHaye's idea, though Jerry B. Jenkins, a former sportswriter with numerous other works of fiction to his name, wrote the books from LaHaye's notes.

At the time of LaHaye's death, Jenkins wrote: "Thrilled as I am that he is where he has always wanted to be, his departure leaves a void in my soul I don't expect to fill until I see him again.

"If Tim was missing from the autograph table or the green room of a network television show, he was likely in a corner praying with someone he'd just met - from a reader to a part-time bookstore stock clerk to a TV network anchorman."

LaHaye died oin San Diego, California, after suffering from a stroke. In addition to his wife, Beverly, he was survived by four children, nine grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, a brother (Richard LaHaye), and a sister. His funeral service took place at Shadow Mountain Community Church on August 12, 2016, with David Jeremiah, who succeeded LaHaye as pastor at what was then Scott Memorial Baptist Church, led the service. LaHaye is interred at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, California.

 

 

 

 

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