There are so many people and organisations that have good cause to mourn the death of US pastor Tim Keller – and to praise God for creating, redeeming, and using him to plant and build up so many churches. The positive impact of his gospel-hearted church leadership, pastoral care, preaching and writing has been felt all around the world.

Here at Living Out we’re so grateful to him for the time and care he took to encourage and advise us in numerous ways, both publicly and privately. He got us and supported us from early on in our history, providing these words of commendation for our website when it was very young:

‘Ironically, we live in a time in which it takes more courage for people to take this position publicly than to embrace homosexual practice as compatible with Christianity. But the people whose stories are on this site are not experiencing their lives as impoverished or sub-human. Their commitment to chastity within the lives God has given them is one of finding fulfilment and identity in their relationship to Christ. They show that the biblical view of homosexuality makes great sense and is even liberating when viewed from within joyful belief of the gospel story.’

Then in 2018 he and Kathy generously made the time to speak at two conferences we organised in London. The first was entitled Identity in Christ and their talks were filmed:

Tim on 'Culture & Identity'

Tim on 'Christ & Identity'

Kathy on 'Church & Identity'

Tim on 'Moving Forward'

Their willingness to come and speak for us (and at a smaller conference just for same-sex attracted Christians) was a massive boost for each member of the Living Out team personally – and for all who benefitted from their biblical wisdom and insight.

Just one person in the audience at that first conference was our very own Andrew Bunt. In the acknowledgements of his recent book Finding Your Best Identity, Andrew shares that:

 ‘The teaching given by Tim Keller on that day sowed the seeds that in time came to help me out of the darkness in which I was living, and they grew and developed into this book.’

Tim Keller spent his life sowing the seed of God’s Word. Andrew’s experience is just one example of what wonderfully resulted, and how that is still bearing fruit.

So do please join us in praising God for Tim, and, of course, praying for Kathy, his family, friends, church and others as they mourn their temporary loss.