I've met, and talked, with Jerry Falwell on several ocassions, and I've been to Liberty University and have seen the student body that admires him. They would rise to their feet and cheer wildly every time he took the stage. But I remember some other things about Dr. Falwell.
I remember that he started in his hometown of Lynchburg and went door-to-door sharing the gospel with every single person in town. That's a lot of praying, a lot of shoe leather, and a lot of hard work. He was just trying to win his neighbors to Christ when he founded a small church on Thomas Road. If the media and secularists had a clue they would see that soul-winning was where Falwell started and it was always the heart of his ministry.
I also remember that he started sending out a Bible correspondence course to anyone wanting to study and prepare for ministry. That turned into Liberty University where lawyers, pastors, missionaries, politicians and business administrators are trained to impact the world for the Kingdom of God.
The media and secular commentators only remember his days with the Moral Majority and what they call political activism -- taking a Biblical stand on abortion, homosexuality, and religious freedom. They say he brought evangelicals into the mainstream of American politics and off the sidelines. There's some truth to that. But more importantly he was willing to take a stand -- he took a lot of bullets and barbs for the rest of us.
No one deserves to go home as much as Jerry Falwell. He looked forward to it all his life. Now it's up to use to carry on with the battle.
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