Fred Luter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fred Luter |
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| Former President of the Southern Baptist Convention | |
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Fred Luter in Kentwood, Louisiana, during National Day of Prayer in 2015
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| Church | Franklin Avenue Baptist Church |
| Predecessor | Bryant Wright |
| Successor | Ronnie Floyd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 11, 1956 New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Baptist (Southern Baptist Convention) |
| Residence | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Spouse | Elizabeth W. Luter |
| Children | Kimberly Ann "Kim" Luter Fred J. Luter III |
| Occupation |
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Fred J. Luter Jr. was born on November 11, 1956, in New Orleans, USA. He is a well-known American Baptist pastor. He is the main pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. From 2012 to 2014, he was the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, a large group of Baptist churches.
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Early Life and Family
Fred Luter Jr. was born in New Orleans on November 11, 1956. He was the middle child in a family of five siblings. After his parents divorced, his mother, Viola Luter, raised him and his siblings by herself. She worked as a seamstress to support her family.
Starting His Ministry
Luter began his work as a minister in 1977 in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. This happened after he was in a motorcycle accident. He has said that this accident was a major turning point in his life. He compared it to a famous story from the Bible about someone who changed their life completely.
He started by preaching on the streets. During this time, he noticed that many men, especially fathers, were not attending church. To get them interested, he would host events that men would enjoy. For example, in 1981, he held a gathering to watch a televised boxing match.
His first sermon inside a church building was in 1983. This took place at the Law Street Missionary Baptist Church in New Orleans. Later, while working at Greater Liberty Baptist Church, he heard about an opening at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church. He decided to apply for the job there.
Leading Franklin Avenue Baptist Church
In 1986, Fred Luter became the main pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church. At that time, the church had only 65 members. Under his leadership, the church grew a lot. Before Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, the church had over 7,000 members. This made it the largest church connected to the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisiana.
After Hurricane Katrina, many people from New Orleans had to leave their homes. Luter helped the church rebuild its membership. By the time he was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, the church had 5,000 members again. Luter has a special way of helping the church grow, which he calls "FRANgelism." The letters "FRAN" stand for friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors. This idea is about connecting people through their social networks to the church community.
Becoming President of the Southern Baptist Convention
In 2012, Fred Luter was chosen to be the president of the Southern Baptist Convention. This was a very important moment because he was the first African-American person to hold this position.
The day after Luter was elected, the Southern Baptist Convention made another big decision. They voted to allow churches to use "Great Commission" as an alternative name instead of "Southern." This was for churches that wanted a different name from the traditional geographical one. David Crosby, a pastor from New Orleans, nominated Luter for the presidency. Luter took over from Bryant Wright.
When Luter was re-elected for his second and final year as president, he stated his main goal was "to improve racial harmony."
Personal Life
Fred Luter married Elizabeth W. Luter in 1980. They have two children. Their daughter, Kimberly Ann "Kim" Luter, was born in 1982. Their son, Fred J. "Chip" Luter III, was born in 1985. Chip studied at Dallas Baptist University and is also a Baptist minister. Elizabeth Luter, born in 1956, is involved with Christian conferences for women.
Awards and Recognition
In 2012, Fred Luter received special honorary doctorates in theology. These degrees were given to him by Criswell College and Oklahoma Baptist University. They recognized his strong dedication to excellence and his care for others.
See also
In Spanish: Fred Luter para niños
- List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people
- Southern Baptist Convention
- Southern Baptist Convention Presidents
