I live in Lynchburg, Virginia. The town is home to many corporations and notable citizens. Perhaps one of the most famous people is the Reverend Jerry Falwell – pastor of the 22,000 member Thomas Road Baptist Church and Founder/Chancellor of the largest evangelical Christian University in the U.S., Liberty University.
Dr. Falwell was not a stranger to the media. He was seen regularly on CNN, FOX News, other news broadcasts and had has a weekly television program for the last 51 years. His opinions were considered controversial by many. And there were times that he would publicly put his foot in his mouth – there’s no denying that.
Most of the world knew Jerry Falwell solely by the persona generated by the media. Those of us who knew him, knew a very different Jerry Falwell. We knew a man with a great sense of humor, a practical joker and someone who wasn’t afraid to laugh at himself. We knew a man of great compassion, one who always put others ahead of himself regardless of the sacrifice. We knew a man who genuinely loved and cared for individuals – regardless of their political or religious persuasions. Did he disagree with them? Yes. Did he debate them? Yes. Did he love them? Absolutely. I didn’t always agree with everything he said or taught. But we knew a man who was so convinced that God wanted to have a personal relationship with each one of us that he dedicated his life to getting that message out. And that was one message we did believe.
Everyone in my family – especially Cindy and I – has been influenced by his ministry and touched by his generosity. Cindy and I both attended Liberty University on scholarships. Jerry believed so intently in my dream of becoming an entertainer that he gave me a scholarship to Liberty University to study psychology and allowed me to travel 4-5 days of the week performing magic shows in high schools across America, exposing students to the University through rallies. This exposure and experience cannot be underestimated and gave me an amazing foundation on which to build my dream.
Cindy grew up in Lynchburg and has known Dr. Falwell almost her entire life. She can tell stories that will make you laugh so hard you’ll cry. And both of us had the awesome experience of getting to know him on a more personal level. When we married, he officiated our ceremony – proudly pronouncing us “husband and wife.”
In recent years, he said publicly how proud he was of Cindy and I, our accomplishments in the field of the performing arts and “these fine folks are alumni of Liberty University.” I am where I am today because of people like my family, my parents, my friends and Jerry Falwell.
Say what you will – there’s generally not much middle ground when it comes to what people think about him – but he is a man that has left a huge legacy in this nation…a huge impact on this community…and a huge hole in our hearts. Today, Jerry Falwell passed away at the age of 73.