First African Methodist Episcopal Church

I am the Senior Pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California. I have known John J. Kennedy for over 14 years. We first met while I was serving as the Senior Pastor of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in San Bernardino, California. In the capacity as Director of Community Partnerships, Southern California Edison, John was instrumental in providing a myriad of financial resources and services through our church for distribution in the underserved San Bernardino communities.

Upon my pastoral assignment to Pasadena, our professional and personal connection increased tremendously while we worked together on a myriad of progressive social issues. John leaves behind a powerful legacy of social justice. He was a strong civil rights and racial equality advocate. As president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of the Greater Pasadena communities, I worked with John to address several wrongdoings that concerned our local undervalued, underestimated, and marginalized citizens.

Ministers

John and I shared a unique clergy and political leadership relationship of trust, accountability, and spiritual connection. John was a believer who loved the Lord. Throughout his life he demonstrated the Great Commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And Love your neighbor as yourself.” Throughout my eightyear pastoral assignment in Pasadena, we often shared prayers, scriptures, and daily devotions to strengthen one another.

The proud accomplishments of John Kennedy’s life clearly show that one person can make a remarkable difference in the world. He was a man who purposefully set out to make a change in his communities and society. The powerful actions of John’s work will continue for years to have a meaningful impact on those who follow.

Rev. Larry E. Campbell, D. Min.

I am not exactly sure of when or where I met John, but I am sure that it was somewhere in the community that he so dearly loved, the City of Pasadena. John had a larger than life personality that could not be ignored and could not be denied. As a public servant, John fought for what he believed in and he was willing to endure whatever criticisms or misunderstandings came his way. His dedication to his district and to this city was unparalleled and his presence will be sorely missed. Yet he connected at a