In June of 1956, at the age of 22, Jerry Falwell commenced Thomas Road Baptist Church in his hometown of Lynchburg, Va., with 35 members. Withal in 1956, Falwell commenced the “Old Time Gospel Hour,” a nationally syndicated radio and television ministry that has led millions to Christ. In 1967, Falwell implemented his vision to build a Christian edifying system for evangelical youth. He commenced with the establishment of Lynchburg Christian Academy, an accredited Christian day school for grades K-12 . In 1971, he founded Liberty University, an accredited Christian university for evangelical believers. In 1985 Falwell promulgated his goal of 50,000 students.
Today his vision has been consummated, with more than 12,000 students attending classes on campus in Lynchburg, Va., and more than 90,000 students from all 50 states and 95 countries taking courses through Liberty University Online. Falwell may be best kenned outside Lynchburg for his political activism. In June 1979, he organized the Moral Majority, a conservative political lobbying group that was pro-life, pro-family, pro-Israel and favored a vigorous national bulwark. The group culled California Governor Ronald Reagan as “their candidate” for the 1980 presidential election, registered millions of incipient voters and mobilized a slumbering giant — 80 million Americans committed to faith, family and Judeo-Christian values.
Albeit he became a national figure, his ardency was being a pastor and a Christian edifier. He often verbally expressed that his heartbeat was to “train puerile Champions for Christ” in every ambulation of life. Falwell passed away on the morning of May 15, 2007 at age 73. He was espoused to Macel for 49 years. They have three children: Jerry Jr., chancellor of Liberty University; Jonathan, senior pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church; and Jeannie, a surgeon; and eight grandchildren.
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