(RNS) — Arthur Gay, an evangelical leader who oversaw the National Association of Evangelicals when President Reagan gave his historic “evil empire” speech, has died at the age of 86.

Gay was president of the association from 1982 to 1984 and held the same role at World Relief, its humanitarian arm, from 1991 to 1996.

Though his leadership began decades ago, Gay’s influence endured through the present day, leaders of the organizations said in announcing his death.

“Art Gay was one of the most gracious leaders I have ever known. He was a great encourager, always curious and wanting to learn more,” said Galen Carey, the NAE’s vice president of government relations, in a statement. “Art was an example of generous orthodoxy, speaking the truth in love.”

Gay led the NAE during a time when Reagan was seeking the continuing support of U.S. evangelicals. The late president first spoke at the association’s 1983 convention.

“The National Association of Evangelicals community, from coast to coast in our great land, deeply appreciates and values his love for the truth of the Bible and his commitment to its great moral values,” Gay said in his introduction.

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In the speech, Reagan criticized leaders of the then-Soviet Union and the “so-called nuclear freeze solutions proposed by some.” He opposed such proposals as counter to American “principles and standards,” including a belief in God.

President Ronald Reagan addresses the Annual Convention of the National Association of Evangelicals on March 8, 1983, in Orlando, Florida. NAE President Arthur Gay is seated immediately left of Reagan, with glasses. Courtesy photo

“(I)n your discussions of the nuclear freeze proposals, I urge you to beware the temptation of pride — the temptation of blithely declaring yourselves above it all and label both sides equally at fault, to ignore the facts of history and the aggressive impulses of an evil empire, to simply call the arms race a giant misunderstanding and thereby remove yourself from the struggle between right and wrong and good and evil,” the 40th U.S. president told the NAE after Gay’s introduction.

When Reagan died in 2004, the Rev. Richard Cizik, then NAE’s vice president of governmental affairs, told Religion News Service in an interview: “Obviously, not everybody agreed then or now about Ronald Reagan’s agenda, but there’s no disputing that the ‘evil empire’ speech he gave to the evangelical leaders in 1983 helped inspire a chain reaction for liberty that ended the Soviet Union.”

In 1984, when Reagan again addressed the NAE’s convention, Gay made it clear in his own presidential address that he thought the association should be nonpartisan.

“Brothers and sisters, it is because of integrity and self-definition that the NAE must not become identified with a particular political party or ideology,” Gay said, The Washington Post reported.

Gay invited President George H.W. Bush to speak at the World Relief annual luncheon during the NAE’s 50th anniversary celebration at its convention in 1992, according to the history posted on the organization website.

During his leadership of World Relief, the humanitarian group further developed its U.S. refugee resettlement program and started new programs in Liberia, Rwanda, Yugoslavia, Myanmar, Croatia, Sierra Leone, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Art continued to care and pray for the global ministry of World Relief for decades after his own retirement from this role,” said Myal Greene, current president and CEO of World Relief, in a statement. “He is a model of kingdom leadership who leaves a remarkable legacy.”

Gay also was a leader in the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference denomination and long pastored South Park Church in Park Ridge, Illinois.

“We are incredibly grateful for Pastor Art’s enduring legacy at South Park Church of deep commitment to the Gospel and passion for global missions,” said a church spokesman in an email.

Added NAE President Emeritus Leith Anderson: “We are so thankful for Art’s faithful leadership and ministry with the NAE, World Relief, South Park Church and so many more.”

RNS National Reporter Bob Smietana contributed to this report.

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