Faith McDonnell, IRD Religious Liberty Director, worked with Roderick in his roles as Christian Solidarity International's Washington, D.C. representative and co-director of the Sudan Campaign, and leader of the Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), for which he had been Secretary General since 1992. But she first heard of him through his advocacy for persecuted Soviet Christians and Jews. In 1982 Roderick founded the Society of St. Stephen for religious prisoners of conscience and their families. He was also Co-Director of the International Task Force on Soviet Jewry.

McDonnell will organize a Washington, D.C. memorial service and celebration of the life of Roderick later in the spring, together with author and Co-Secretary General of the Transatlantic Legislative Group on Counter Terrorism, Dr. Walid Phares

In a press release, McDonnell commented: "Father Keith was more than a fellow advocate; he was a dear friend and brother in Christ. We will pray for Mary Beth, and their children, Seth, Micah, Noah, Sarah, Joseph, and Susannah.

"We mourn our loss of this great defender of the oppressed, but rejoice because we know this is also a Homecoming, at which Keith will hear 'Well done, good and faithful servant,' from his Lord.

McDonnell said when she read about Keith and the Society of St. Stephen, she never dreamed someday she would march in front of the Sudan Embassy with him.

"I can picture Keith, with his beloved Mary Beth at his side, demonstrating with Iraqi Christians outside the White House, or on the Sudan Embassy sidewalk, pushing tiny Susannah in a stroller with one hand, and holding a 'Stop Genocide in Sudan,' with the other."

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