"The Master Who Built the Palace of Praise"... Worship Legend Ron Kenoly Passes Away at 81

The legend of contemporary Christian music (CCM), Dr. Ron Kenoly, who led a revival of praise and worship around the world by singing "Ancient of Days," has passed away.

According to Christian media and foreign news on the 4th (Korean time), Ron Kenoly passed away at the age of 81 on February 3 local time. Music director Bruno Miranda, who worked alongside him for over 20 years, shared the sad news on his official Instagram, stating, "This morning we said our goodbyes to Dr. Ron Kenoly."

◆ Not an Entertainer, but a 'Worship Leader'

Born in Kansas in 1944, Kenoly served in the U.S. Air Force in his youth and pursued a career as an R&B singer under the stage name 'Ron Kiss.' However, in 1985, he decided to dedicate his life to God and entered the path of a worship minister. His album 'Lift Him Up', released in 1992, recorded the fastest sales in worship album history at the time and received gold certification, with his signature songs 'Jesus Is Alive' and 'We're Going Up' becoming standards for worship in churches worldwide, including Korea.

◆ Ministry That Continued Until the Last Moment

Director Miranda recalled in his eulogy, "He never considered himself a celebrity. He was a thorough worship leader." In fact, Kenoly traveled to 123 countries during his lifetime to spread the gospel, significantly impacting worship ministry in Africa. Until his passing, he dedicated himself to mentoring the next generation through university lectures and mentoring programs. Currently, a wave of tributes from ministers and fans around the world continues, and specific funeral arrangements will be announced later.