Dr. Tim F. LaHaye, who partnered with Christian writer Jerry B. Jenkins to create the “Left Behind” series whose 80 million books possibly had a “greater” impact on modern Christianity that anything other than the Bible, died on Monday, only days after suffering a stroke.
He was 90, and just weeks ago had celebrated his 69th anniversary with Beverly, the creator of Concerned Women for America.
LaHaye, whose work included founding churches, founding schools and supporting the biblical proposition of a Creator and a creation in numerous ways, was the son of a Detroit autoworker who grew up to be a pastor and evangelical leader.
According to a profile on his own website, TimLaHaye.com, he was born in Detroit on April 27, 1926, to Frank and Margaret LaHaye.
He lost is father at age 9.
“In a 2004 interview with the Christian Science Monitor, Dr. LaHaye told the newspaper that he was inconsolable upon his father’s death – until he heard the preacher’s eulogy,” the profile notes. “‘This is not the end of Frank LaHaye,’ he recalled the minister saying. ‘Because he accepted Jesus, the day will come when the Lord will shout from heaven and descend, and the dead in Christ will rise first and then we’ll be caught up together to meet him in the air.'”
LaHaye said, “All of a sudden, there was hope in my heart I’d see my father again.”
He was married in 1947 and his wife created the nation’s largest public-policy organization for women, with some 600,000 members.
On Facebook, he recently noted his anniversary.
“69 years ago today I married the love of my life, Beverly LaHaye,” he wrote. “She has been my faithful partner in marriage, parenthood, ministry, and many things we never dreamed. We are still in love today! God has been faithful to us and we continue to claim as our life verse, Proverbs 3:5 & 6, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.'”
Ken Ham, the evangelical titan who created the Noah’s Ark Encounter replica that opened just recently, told WND he had shared dinner at the location’s opening with LaHaye.
He noted the Christian leaders who have been lost of late, Henry Morris, Adrian Rogers, Jerry Falwell and more.
“One of the sad things is we’ve seen a group of Christian leaders from an era who have been parting to be with the Lord. I really would pray God will raise leaders to take their place,” he said.
He called LaHaye “one of the great men who were incredible Christian leaders.”
Related column: “We’ve lost a spiritual giant,” by Joseph Farah
Penny Nance, of the CWFA, said, “I have so many fond memories of him, including going running together in California and China when we were both younger. He cared about everyone, whether a prisoner or a billionaire, the same. He was a true biblical scholar with a fascinating intellect and a deep love for his wife and children.”
In 2005, Time magazine named then “The Christian Power Couple,” and Joseph Farah, founder and CEO of WND.com, described having LaHaye as a friend for decades.
“There are few men I have known in my life who have been as positive, kind and sincere as Tim LaHaye,” he said. “With all the books he wrote and the millions of copies he sold, he remained as sweet and unassuming as he was the day I met him. He genuinely cared about people. And he served the God He loved with enthusiasm and passion every day of his life.
“There is no higher tribute I can pay to any man than that,” he said.
Dr. LaHaye served in churches in Minnesota and South Carolina early in his career before ending up in California, where he moved into the reins at Scott Memorial Baptist Church.
It grew to three locations, including what now is Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon.
He also founded two Christian high schools, a school system of 10 locations and San Diego Christian College.
Integral in espousing the fundamentals of the Bible for evangelicals, he started, with others, the Institute for Creation Research.
He also reached out through radio ministries and in the 1970s encouraged Jerry Falwell to set up the Moral Majority to support family values.
His work with Jenkins on the “Left Behind” series prompted a whole new level of attention to the Bible’s book of Revelation.
“In terms of its impact on Christianity it’s probably greater than that of any other book in modern times, outside the Bible,” Falwell once told Time.
“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,” Jenkins told the LaHaye website.
“The Tim LaHaye I got to know had a pastor’s heart and lived to share his faith. He listened to and cared about everyone, regardless of age, gender, or social standing. 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,” he said.
He wrote dozens of other books, too, with millions in print on topics including family life, the biblical view of marriage, prophecy, Jesus and secular humanism.
“Tim was one of the most godly men I have ever known,” David Jeremiah said at Christianity Today.
He led the San Diego church following LaHaye’s tenure there.
“Almost every conversation I had with him ended with his praying with me and for me. He wrote me extended letters of appreciation for what God was doing in our church. We shared long lunches together talking about ministry and praying for our nation.”
Tyndale House Publishers Chairman Mark Taylor told the magazine, “His first book, ‘Spirit-Controlled Temperament,’ was published 50 years ago in 1966. It was the very first book published by Tyndale House apart from the Living series of Bible paraphrases. And Tyndale’s highest-selling series of trade titles has been the ‘Left Behind’ series. … Tim was a wonderful Bible teacher and pastor and an inspiration for our entire industry. We will miss him.”
He held a Bachelor’s Degree from Bob Jones University and also was awarded a Doctor of Ministry from Western Theological Seminary as well as a Doctor of Literature from Liberty University.
He is survived by his wife, four children; nine grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; a brother, Richard LaHaye; and a sister, Margaret White.
