Everett L. Fullam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Everett L. Fullam
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Fullam, c. 1990
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Everett Leslie Fullam
July 1, 1930 Montpelier, Vermont, United States
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| Died | March 15, 2014 (aged 83) |
| Occupation | Teaching priest |
| Years active | 1967-1998 |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth (m. 1952 to 2014 [his death]) |
Everett Leslie "Terry" Fullam (born July 1, 1930 – died March 15, 2014) was an important priest, Bible expert, and teacher. He became well-known in the Episcopal Church in the United States. He also influenced Anglican, Roman Catholic, and evangelical communities worldwide. He led special church renewal ministries from 1972 to 1998.
Early Life and Education
Everett Fullam was born in Montpelier, Vermont. After finishing high school in Barre, Vermont, in 1948, he started studying music. He went to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. While there, he also led the choir at a nearby church. The pastor of that church gave him a book called Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians. Fullam later said this book helped him change his life's direction.
He left Eastman and went to Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. He graduated with high honors, earning a degree in philosophy. He then continued his studies at both Harvard University and Boston University. He received his master's degree in philosophy from Harvard in 1955.
For the next sixteen years, Fullam taught at several universities and colleges. He finished his teaching career as a professor at Barrington College in 1972. Even though he never went to a special school for priests (seminary), he became an Episcopal priest in 1967. This happened with the help of the bishop of Rhode Island.
In 1984, Fullam received an honorary degree called a Doctorate of Divinity from Barrington College. In 1990, Gordon College also gave him an honorary degree, a Doctor of Humane Letters.
His Work as a Priest
In 1972, Fullam became the leader (called a rector) of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Darien, Connecticut. Under his leadership, Saint Paul’s became one of the most active and fastest-growing churches in the United States. As rector, Fullam focused on helping both church leaders (clergy) and regular church members (laity) grow in their faith.
As more people learned about his strong leadership in church renewal, he received many invitations. He traveled around the nation and the world to teach.
In 1980, a book about Fullam and Saint Paul’s church was published. It was called Miracle in Darien by Bob Slosser. This book was updated in 1997 and is still seen as an important book about how churches can grow and become more active.
Also in 1980, Fullam's main teachings were made into two videos. One was called Jesus, Head of the Church. It became the most watched film ever shared by the Episcopal Radio-TV Foundation. The other video, What Do You Think of Christ?, was also very popular. Fullam's teachings were also recorded as audio, and these recordings are still available online today.
In 1989, Fullam left his job as rector at Saint Paul’s. He wanted to spend all his time teaching and helping people around the world. He led special church trips (missions) in more than 25 countries. This included over 50 trips to Israel and the Middle East. However, in 1998, he had a stroke. This meant he had to stop his teaching missions.
Books and Recordings
Fullam wrote seven published books. These include Living the Lord’s Prayer, Fit for God’s Presence, and How to Walk with God. He also created a large collection of audio recordings. This collection is called Life on Wings and has more than 550 different titles.
See also
In Spanish: Everett L. Fullam para niños
