Zola Levitt
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Zola Levitt | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 3, 1938 |
| Died | April 19, 2006 (aged 67) |
| Education | music degrees, B.A. from Duquesne University and M.A. from Indiana University honorary Th.D. from Faith Bible College, Dallas, Texas |
| Years active | 1960-2006 (his death) |
| Spouse(s) | Sandra, -2006 (his death) |
| Children | sons Mark, Aaron, and stepson Will |
| Church | Messianic Jewish (Christianity) |
Offices held | Founder and former President, Zola Levitt Ministries |
| Title | Dr. Zola Levitt |
Zola Levitt (December 3, 1938 – April 19, 2006) was a member of Christianity in Dallas, Texas, he led a strong pro-Israel ministry, Zola Levitt Ministries, Inc., a non-profit 501(c) organization for the purposes of "evangelism of the unbelievers and the exhortation of the believers".[This quote needs a citation]
Early life and ministry career
Levitt was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to a German Reform Jewish family. Levitt, who had been raised in Reform Judaism, accepted Yeshua (Jesus Christ) as the Jewish Messiah in 1971, becoming a Messianic Jew. Levitt, who soon after his conversion to Christ embarked on a Messianic Christ-based Ministry, had held music degrees from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and Indiana University (doctoral coursework completed), and also later received an honorary Th.D. from Faith Bible College in Dallas, Texas. An avid musician, Levitt played the oboe, English horn, recorder, and piano.
Levitt was also a widely published author with more than fifty books in several different languages to his credit, and was also the composer of some two hundred spiritual songs, personally performing for most of his album. His two musicals, Beloved Thief and Mine Eyes Have Seen, have been televised nationally.
Television works
Zola was known as the host of the weekly national television program Zola Levitt Presents, and was formerly the host of two top-rated radio talk shows, The Heart of the Matter in Dallas and the nationally syndicated Zola Levitt Live. Levitt had also acted as a lecturer and tour host on more than 80 trips to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, the areas of the seven churches Mediterranean islands, European capitals, etc. He once taught a course entitled "Christ in the Old Testament" at Dallas Baptist University and gave seminars at other educational institutions.
Zola Levitt Presents
His national television program, Zola Levitt Presents, is seen on INSP, DayStar and Ion Television, and until August 28, 2006, was seen on TBN and is currently hosted by Jeffrey Seif. His ministry offers a correspondence course entitled The Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies, which teaches the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. It also publishes a monthly newsletter, The Levitt Letter.
Illness and Death
Levitt died of lung cancer on April 19, 2006 in Dallas after a brief illness. On Feb. 20, 2006, a biopsy was performed and he was diagnosed with stage 4 Metastasic squamous cell Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Stage 4 is considered the most advanced stage of lung cancer, when the disease has spread to a distant part of the body, such as another organ. Surgery is almost never used if the cancer has metastasized to another organ. Levitt was survived by his wife, Sandra, and sons Mark, Aaron, and stepson Will.