Famed Christian author and former pastor Tim Keller passed away after battling pancreatic cancer, according to his church. On behalf of the Redeemer Network Leadership Team, Bruce Terell said, “It is with a heavy heart that I write today to inform you that Redeemer Presbyterian Church founder and long-time senior pastor, Tim Keller, passed away this morning at age 72, trusting in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection. We are forever grateful for his leadership, heart, and dedication to sharing the love of Christ with others.”

He continued, “While we will miss his presence here, we know he is rejoicing with his Savior in heaven.” Before Dr. Keller’s death, his son Michael shared that the famed pastor was being released to hospice care. In a statement, he wrote, “Dad waited until he was alone with Mom. She kissed him on the forehead, and he breathed his last breath. We take comfort in some of his last words. ‘There is no downside for me leaving, not in the slightest.’”

Dr. Keller was born in Pennsylvania and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminister Theological Seminary. He previously served as the West Hopewell Presbyterian Church pastor in Hopewell, Virginia. He was Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary and Director of Mercy Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America.

In May 2020, Dr. Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, was initially diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. After his diagnosis, he underwent two years of chemotherapy, participating in the immunotherapy drug trial at the National Institute for Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Unfortunately, although the immunotherapy successfully killed 99 percent of the cancerous tumors, Keller announced in March that additional cancer tumors returned, requiring him to undergo a variation of the previous immunotherapy treatment. Keller founded Redeemer Presbyterian Church in 1989 with his wife, Kelly, and their three sons. He led a diverse congregation of young professionals for 28 years, where weekly attendance topped 5,000 people.

Dr. Keller also served as the co-founder and chairman of Redeemer City to City, which started churches in New York and other cities worldwide, publishing resources and books for ministry in urban environments. Dr. Keller transitioned to City to City full-time in 2017 to mentor and teach seminary students and church planters through a joint venture with Reformed Theological Seminary’s City Ministry Program.

He also worked with City to City’s global partners to start church planting movements. Dr. Keller’s books, including the New York Times bestselling “The Prodigal Son” and “The Reason for God,” has sold over 2 million copies and been translated into 25 languages. Christianity Today called Dr. Keller “a pioneer of the new urban Christians,” saying that he will be remembered for his commitment to mercy and justice, love of cities, and love for his neighbors.

Dr. Keller was also a thyroid cancer survivor, and he was diagnosed in 2002. He leaves behind his wife, Kelly; three sons, Jonathan Keller, Michael Keller and David Keller, a sister; and seven grandchildren.