Today, heaven gains a worshipper. The global Church mourns the passing of Ron Kenoly, the worship leader, songwriter and author who went home today at the age of 81. While we grieve his departure, we give thanks for a life poured out in service, a life that quietly taught the Church how to praise.

Ron Kenoly was not just a gospel singer. He was a worshipper through and through. His sound shaped how praise was led in churches for decades, particularly from the late 1980s into the early 2000s. His songs were never about performance or display. They were simple, Scripture-filled invitations for God’s people to lift their voices together.

It is difficult to think of a church anywhere in the world that has not sung one of his songs or shared a moment of worship through his music. His songs crossed borders without noise or agenda, settling into congregations until they became part of how the global Church learned to praise. Songs like Ancient of Days, Lift Him Up, Jesus Is Alive and Sing Out were not just well known, they became part of the Church’s worship language.

I grew up listening to his songs and ministering them in church. One song in particular stayed with me and was one I led countless times: “Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost… that’s the Kingdom of God.” Long before I understood ministry, those words were already shaping my understanding of worship. They taught us that worship was not just about sound, but about truth, identity and how we live before God. That song, and many others, became part of our church life, sung repeatedly, not out of routine, but because they carried meaning and life.

What stood out about Ron Kenoly was his understanding of worship as a shared moment. His recordings felt like gatherings rather than performances. There was excellence in the music, yet a simplicity that made it easy for everyone to join in. Choirs, worship teams and entire congregations found space in his sound.

Beyond the songs, he was also an author. He committed himself to teaching and writing about worship, helping many understand that worship is not only something we sing, but something we live. His heart was always to raise worshippers, not just musicians.

Many worship leaders and music ministers today carry his influence, whether knowingly or not. He helped set a standard while keeping the focus firmly on God, reminding the Church that worship is first an offering before it is a sound.

At the time of writing, no official details have been shared regarding the cause of his passing. What is clear is the weight of the legacy he leaves behind.

Ron Kenoly’s legacy is not only found in the songs he recorded, but in the lives he touched and the nations his worship reached. His voice may now be silent on earth, but his sound continues to rise from churches across the world. Today, heaven gains a worshipper, and the Church gives thanks for a life well spent.

This feels like the right moment to soak yourself again in his songs and remember the gift he gave the Church. You can find his music on Spotify.