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Created page with "'''Fred Lee Lowery''' (born c. 1943) is the senior pastor of the large First Baptist Church of Bossier City in northwestern Louisiana, whose Sunday sermons under the titl..."
'''Fred Lee Lowery''' (born c. 1943) is the senior pastor of the large First [[Baptist]] Church of Bossier City in northwestern [[Louisiana]], whose Sunday sermons under the title "The First Word" are broadcast on KTBS-TV, the [[ABC]] affiliate in [[Shreveport]], and on several [[cable television]] outlets.
==Background==
Lowery received his [[Bachelor of Arts]] from [[Samford University]] in Homewood, a suburb of [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], [[Alabama]], a [[Master of Theology]] degree from [[Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary]] in [[Fort Worth]], [[Texas]], and [[Doctor of Ministry]] degree from [[Luther Rice Seminary]] in Lithonia, [[Georgia]]. While at SWBTS, Lowery was accepted into the honors program to participate in interdisciplinary seminars at the doctoral level. He was the recipient of the Sella P. Ross Award for scholarship and service in the field of evangelism. He was a teaching fellow in both evangelism and church growth. Prior to coming to First Baptist Bossier in 1983, Lowery worked full-time in evangelism and served as pastor of First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg in [[Spartanburg]], [[South Carolina]].<ref name=okbu>{{cite web|url=http://www.okbu.edu/news/2000-02-14/lowery-featured-speaker-for-obu-chapel-service|title=LoweryFeatured Speaker for Oklahoma Baptist University Chapel Service, February 14, 2000|publisher=okbu.edu|accessdate=June 16, 2012}}</ref>
Lowery and his wife, the former Lisabeth Leigh Jones (born ca. 1951), whom he frequently mentions in his sermons, have two daughters, Shelby Lynn Lowery, and Christy Camille Lowery Facianne. He previously lived in Avon Park in Highlands County, in southern [[Florida]], and Inman in Spartanburg County in northwesternn South Carolina.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peoplesearch.com/PeopleSearchResults.aspx?utf8=%E2%9C%93&txtfirstname=Fred&txtlastname=Lowery&statepicked=LA&imgPeopleSearch.x=25&imgPeopleSearch.y=34|title=Search Results for Lowery, Fred in LA|publisher=peoplesearch.com|accessdate=June 16, 2012}}</ref>
==Pastor and author==
Called to the ministry in 1960 at the age of seventeen, Lowery came to First Baptist Bossier in 1983 at the age of forty. Since that time, FBC has added a 2,500-seat worship center, remodeled each building on campus, purchased additional land, and added a children's addition, and a state-of-the-art preschool building called Tiny Town.<ref>Jane Bokun, "Dr. Fred Lowery celebrates 50 years in ministry", ''Shreveport Times'', September 15, 2010</ref>Lowery bases most of his sermons on the themes: "Faith, Family, and Friends" and "Steps to Restoring Relationsips".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://universityneurosurgery.com/index.php?src=news&submenu=News&srctype=detail&category=Articles%20and%20Columns&refno=9|title=Dr. Anil & Laura Nanda|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', October 30, 2005|accessdate=June 20, 2012}}</ref>
First Baptist Bossier has more than seven thousand members. Lowery's website describes the pastor as having "a wonderful sense of humor, [who] goes straight to God's word and offers fresh insight as he communicates the truth of [[Christianity]] in practical ways. To him, life's bottom line is faith, family and friends."<ref name=lowery>{{cite web|url=http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/the-first-word/read/title=The First Word with Dr. Fred Lowery|publisher=oneplace.com|accessdate=June 16, 2012}}</ref>''The First Word'' broadcasts, which began in June 1983, air at 7 a.m. Central Time Sundays. For a number of years, Lowery's broadcast has been the top-rated Sunday program in the tri-state area of northwestern Louisiana, east [[Texas]], and southwestern [[Arkansas]]. Sermons can also be accessed at SermonSearch.com.<ref name=lowery/>
Lowery is a former president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, based in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], and a former vice president and president of the Pastor's Conference, an influential position, in the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], headquartered in [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]]. At the 1993 Pastor's Conference in Houston, when Lowery was the president, the speakers focused on II Chronicles 7:14 "to encourage and help our pastors as they deal
with hurting people. he path of our society is causing incredible problems in the lives of our people." Lowery said at the conference, "We have a moral and spiritual crisis in America today. ... To me our choices are revival or judgment."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.sbhla.org.s3.amazonaws.com/7541,31-Mar-1993.pdf|title=Art Toalston, "Pastors' Conference to focus on America's need for revival|publisher=''Baptist Press'', March 31, 1993|accessdate=June 20, 2012}}</ref>
Lowery is a trustee of [[Louisiana College]] in Pineville and the [[New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary]] in [[New Orleans]],<ref name=okbu/>where he had been a candidate for the chancellorship in the 1990s.
With [[Charles Stanley]] of the First Baptist Church of [[Atlanta]], Georgia, Lowery is the co-author of ''Making the Bible Clear'' (1980).<ref>Fred L. Lowery and [[Charles Stanley]], ''Making the Bible Clear'', Love Publishing, 1980, 308 pp., ISBN 0-961079223</ref> Lowery has also written ''Starting Here, Starting Now: A Christian's Guide to Getting Unstuck'' (1986),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Starting-here-starting-now-christians/dp/0939359006|title=''Starting Here, Starting Now: A Christian's Guide to Getting Unstuck'', ISBN: 0939359006 |publisher=Love Publishing Company, 1986|accessdate=June 15, 2012}}</ref> ''Home Improvement 101'',<ref name=lowery/>
Lowery's book ''Covenant Marriage: Staying Together for Life'' was published in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=-xyA4D3IAdEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=''Covenant+Marriage:+Staying+Together+for+Life.''&hl=en&sa=X&ei=pTPdT7vfKoHM9QSQqLTwCg&sqi=2&ved=0CEEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=''Covenant%20Marriage%3A%20Staying%20Together%20for%20Life.''&f=false|title=''Covenant Marriage: Staying Together for Life'' ISBN: 1-58229-393-7|publisher=Howard Books|accessdate=June 16, 2012}}</ref> According to his website, a [[Covenant marriage]] is one designed by [[God]] who knows that an otherwise simple "contract, easily cancelled, would not sustain the pain of a flawed marriage. God knew that the inevitable hurts and hassles, storms and struggles, difficulties and disappointments would tear at the heart of a contractual agreement, and it would disintegrate into a thousand pieces scattered along a trail of hurt, horror and hell."<ref name=lowery/>
Other Lowery books, published before 2000, are ''Jogging Through The Bible'', ''Seven Habits of Highly Successful Marriages'', and ''How to be Happy and Stay Married.''<ref name=okbu/>
==Political activity==
In 2012, Lowery invited the [[Repubican]] presidential candidate [[Rick Santorum]], former U.S. senator from [[Pennsylvania]], to speak at First Baptist Bossier. Before Lowery's congregation, Santourm related his personal and emotional story of the loss of his newborn son, Gabriel and the trials of a physically-handicapped daughter, Bella.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74242.html|title=Juana Summers, "Rick Santorum's faith journey takes center stage", March 20, 2012|publisher=politico.com|accessdate=June 16, 2012}}</ref> On that same Sunday, Santorum delivered a similar address an hour later at the large Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport. Days later, he handily won the Louisiana primary but still withdrew from the race early in April after defeat in [[Wisconsin]].
Lowery called Santorum a politician "who really is a statesman and he believes exactly what I believe about faith and family."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lanewslink.com/print.php?article=24930|title=Kristi Johnston, "For believers, Santorum's the ticket,"|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', March 19, 2012|accessdate=June 20, 2012}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lowery, Fred}}
[[Category:Louisiana]]
[[Category:Clergy]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:South Carolina]]
[[Category:Alabama]]
[[Category:Television]]
==Background==
Lowery received his [[Bachelor of Arts]] from [[Samford University]] in Homewood, a suburb of [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], [[Alabama]], a [[Master of Theology]] degree from [[Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary]] in [[Fort Worth]], [[Texas]], and [[Doctor of Ministry]] degree from [[Luther Rice Seminary]] in Lithonia, [[Georgia]]. While at SWBTS, Lowery was accepted into the honors program to participate in interdisciplinary seminars at the doctoral level. He was the recipient of the Sella P. Ross Award for scholarship and service in the field of evangelism. He was a teaching fellow in both evangelism and church growth. Prior to coming to First Baptist Bossier in 1983, Lowery worked full-time in evangelism and served as pastor of First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg in [[Spartanburg]], [[South Carolina]].<ref name=okbu>{{cite web|url=http://www.okbu.edu/news/2000-02-14/lowery-featured-speaker-for-obu-chapel-service|title=LoweryFeatured Speaker for Oklahoma Baptist University Chapel Service, February 14, 2000|publisher=okbu.edu|accessdate=June 16, 2012}}</ref>
Lowery and his wife, the former Lisabeth Leigh Jones (born ca. 1951), whom he frequently mentions in his sermons, have two daughters, Shelby Lynn Lowery, and Christy Camille Lowery Facianne. He previously lived in Avon Park in Highlands County, in southern [[Florida]], and Inman in Spartanburg County in northwesternn South Carolina.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peoplesearch.com/PeopleSearchResults.aspx?utf8=%E2%9C%93&txtfirstname=Fred&txtlastname=Lowery&statepicked=LA&imgPeopleSearch.x=25&imgPeopleSearch.y=34|title=Search Results for Lowery, Fred in LA|publisher=peoplesearch.com|accessdate=June 16, 2012}}</ref>
==Pastor and author==
Called to the ministry in 1960 at the age of seventeen, Lowery came to First Baptist Bossier in 1983 at the age of forty. Since that time, FBC has added a 2,500-seat worship center, remodeled each building on campus, purchased additional land, and added a children's addition, and a state-of-the-art preschool building called Tiny Town.<ref>Jane Bokun, "Dr. Fred Lowery celebrates 50 years in ministry", ''Shreveport Times'', September 15, 2010</ref>Lowery bases most of his sermons on the themes: "Faith, Family, and Friends" and "Steps to Restoring Relationsips".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://universityneurosurgery.com/index.php?src=news&submenu=News&srctype=detail&category=Articles%20and%20Columns&refno=9|title=Dr. Anil & Laura Nanda|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', October 30, 2005|accessdate=June 20, 2012}}</ref>
First Baptist Bossier has more than seven thousand members. Lowery's website describes the pastor as having "a wonderful sense of humor, [who] goes straight to God's word and offers fresh insight as he communicates the truth of [[Christianity]] in practical ways. To him, life's bottom line is faith, family and friends."<ref name=lowery>{{cite web|url=http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/the-first-word/read/title=The First Word with Dr. Fred Lowery|publisher=oneplace.com|accessdate=June 16, 2012}}</ref>''The First Word'' broadcasts, which began in June 1983, air at 7 a.m. Central Time Sundays. For a number of years, Lowery's broadcast has been the top-rated Sunday program in the tri-state area of northwestern Louisiana, east [[Texas]], and southwestern [[Arkansas]]. Sermons can also be accessed at SermonSearch.com.<ref name=lowery/>
Lowery is a former president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, based in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], and a former vice president and president of the Pastor's Conference, an influential position, in the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], headquartered in [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]]. At the 1993 Pastor's Conference in Houston, when Lowery was the president, the speakers focused on II Chronicles 7:14 "to encourage and help our pastors as they deal
with hurting people. he path of our society is causing incredible problems in the lives of our people." Lowery said at the conference, "We have a moral and spiritual crisis in America today. ... To me our choices are revival or judgment."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.sbhla.org.s3.amazonaws.com/7541,31-Mar-1993.pdf|title=Art Toalston, "Pastors' Conference to focus on America's need for revival|publisher=''Baptist Press'', March 31, 1993|accessdate=June 20, 2012}}</ref>
Lowery is a trustee of [[Louisiana College]] in Pineville and the [[New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary]] in [[New Orleans]],<ref name=okbu/>where he had been a candidate for the chancellorship in the 1990s.
With [[Charles Stanley]] of the First Baptist Church of [[Atlanta]], Georgia, Lowery is the co-author of ''Making the Bible Clear'' (1980).<ref>Fred L. Lowery and [[Charles Stanley]], ''Making the Bible Clear'', Love Publishing, 1980, 308 pp., ISBN 0-961079223</ref> Lowery has also written ''Starting Here, Starting Now: A Christian's Guide to Getting Unstuck'' (1986),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Starting-here-starting-now-christians/dp/0939359006|title=''Starting Here, Starting Now: A Christian's Guide to Getting Unstuck'', ISBN: 0939359006 |publisher=Love Publishing Company, 1986|accessdate=June 15, 2012}}</ref> ''Home Improvement 101'',<ref name=lowery/>
Lowery's book ''Covenant Marriage: Staying Together for Life'' was published in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=-xyA4D3IAdEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=''Covenant+Marriage:+Staying+Together+for+Life.''&hl=en&sa=X&ei=pTPdT7vfKoHM9QSQqLTwCg&sqi=2&ved=0CEEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=''Covenant%20Marriage%3A%20Staying%20Together%20for%20Life.''&f=false|title=''Covenant Marriage: Staying Together for Life'' ISBN: 1-58229-393-7|publisher=Howard Books|accessdate=June 16, 2012}}</ref> According to his website, a [[Covenant marriage]] is one designed by [[God]] who knows that an otherwise simple "contract, easily cancelled, would not sustain the pain of a flawed marriage. God knew that the inevitable hurts and hassles, storms and struggles, difficulties and disappointments would tear at the heart of a contractual agreement, and it would disintegrate into a thousand pieces scattered along a trail of hurt, horror and hell."<ref name=lowery/>
Other Lowery books, published before 2000, are ''Jogging Through The Bible'', ''Seven Habits of Highly Successful Marriages'', and ''How to be Happy and Stay Married.''<ref name=okbu/>
==Political activity==
In 2012, Lowery invited the [[Repubican]] presidential candidate [[Rick Santorum]], former U.S. senator from [[Pennsylvania]], to speak at First Baptist Bossier. Before Lowery's congregation, Santourm related his personal and emotional story of the loss of his newborn son, Gabriel and the trials of a physically-handicapped daughter, Bella.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74242.html|title=Juana Summers, "Rick Santorum's faith journey takes center stage", March 20, 2012|publisher=politico.com|accessdate=June 16, 2012}}</ref> On that same Sunday, Santorum delivered a similar address an hour later at the large Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport. Days later, he handily won the Louisiana primary but still withdrew from the race early in April after defeat in [[Wisconsin]].
Lowery called Santorum a politician "who really is a statesman and he believes exactly what I believe about faith and family."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lanewslink.com/print.php?article=24930|title=Kristi Johnston, "For believers, Santorum's the ticket,"|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', March 19, 2012|accessdate=June 20, 2012}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lowery, Fred}}
[[Category:Louisiana]]
[[Category:Clergy]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:South Carolina]]
[[Category:Alabama]]
[[Category:Television]]