Remembering Rev. Rudy
Rudy with his wife Collette from April 2016
Founder - Reverend - Friend
Rudy's true life story - Retro Play!
Rudy's Obituary
Rodolfo Eugenio Henderson was born December 29, 1951, in Harlingen, Texas, to Santiago and Amparo (Castro) Henderson.Known as "Rudy" by family and friends, his ministry began in the early 1970's. Rudy married Collette Kelly on January 29th, 1971, and together they began serving the Lord as their family grew to include four sons. They started a small church; caring for and loving their congregation with everything they had. Rudy and his family were passionate about evangelism and taking the word of God to the streets. Rudy always cared deeply about his ability to impact those around him and showed the love of God throughout his career as an East Lansing High School media teacher, a librarian for the Michigan Department of Corrections, and a video production supervisor for the State Senate. He retired from the State of Michigan Senate in 2014.
Rudy was the President and founder of Media Messengers Evangelistic Association. This non-profit was started to share the message of the gospel through media, print, the internet and events such as the Lansing Bless Fest. It was his desire to "bless" the city of Lansing after seeing the down and out, day after day on his drive into work. Now in its 18th year, the Lansing Bless Fest has served over 20,000 meals to the people of Lansing and spread the love of Christ to countless numbers of people. His heart is at the center of this festival and will continue to be as his family furthers the ministry that was birthed within him. Rudy was preceded in death by: his mother, Amparo Henderson; father and step-mother, Santiago and Tomasa Henderson; step-brother, Trini Montalvo.
Rudy took his final breath on May 1, 2016, and leaves many to cherish his memory, his large and loving family, friends, colleagues and those he helped along the way. Rudy never surrendered to the sickness that eventually took him home. He will be forever missed, but his tremendous legacy will live on in the lives of his family and all of those touched by his great kindness.
Isaiah 52:7 "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."