10 Evangelical Leaders Who Died in 2023

Remembering Tim Keller, Charles Stanley, Elizabeth Sherrill, and others.

Christianity Today December 20, 2023

When professional soccer player Christian Atsu looked back at his life, he saw a lot of years of hard work. But also evidence of something greater.

“I am working hard, but it is the will of God, the grace of God, that has brought me this far,” he said.

Atsu died at 31 in a devastating earthquake in Turkey in February. His words may, in a sense, speak for all the evangelical leaders we lost in 2023. These were men and women who had a significant impact—planting churches, starting mission organizations, telling stories of faith, helping people pray, and encouraging our faith in a myriad of ways.

And yet perhaps their greatest gift to us is not the things they did, but the times that they pointed us back to what God has done, is doing, and will continue to do. We are grateful for their ministries and labor. But even more for their testimonies to the greater work of divine grace.

Check out the rest of our 2023 year-end lists here.

Also in this series

Our Latest

The Bulletin

No Iran Deal, Russell Brand Reads the Bible, and Ben Sasse’s Public Dying

Clarissa Moll, Russell Moore

Trump insists on nuclear deal with Iran, Brand’s viral Bible faux pas, and Senator Sasse shares his dying and his faith.

News

The Christian Migrants Feeding the Displaced in Lebanon

Ghinwa Akiki and Hunter Williamson in Beirut, Lebanon

The war left many domestic workers jobless and homeless. Some Christians see a chance to serve their community.

Desperately Seeking Alternatives to Arrogance

The Trump administration’s critique of elite universities is worthwhile, but government control is problematic. Good news: Christian study centers are multiplying at major universities.

The Algorithm Is Changing How We Speak—and Strive

Griffin Gooch

“Algospeak” capitalizes on our desire for attention and status. We should turn to God for both.

Review

When Faith Feels Cloudy

Three books for the doubting Christian.

News

Black Churches Urge Congregants to Mobilize After Supreme Court Ruling

Denominational leaders say the latest weakening of protections for minority voters is discouraging but not cause for despair.

Black Hope Faces a Crisis

Thomas Anderson

An influential academic theory says anti-Black racism won’t change. As it trickles into popular culture, the church should be ready to respond.

We Need the Doctrine of Hell

The harsh reality shows us our depths of depravity and the depth of Christ’s redemption.

addApple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseellipseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squarefolderGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintremoveRSSRSSSaveSavesaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube