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'''Fred Lynn Lowery''' (born March 16, 1943) is the retired senior pastor of the large First [[Baptist]] Church of Bossier City in northwestern [[Louisiana]], whose Sunday sermons under the title "The First Word" was broadcast on KTBS-TV, the [[ABC]] affiliate in [[Shreveport]], and on several cable television outlets.

 

'''Fred Lynn Lowery''' (born March 16, 1943) is the retired senior pastor of the large First [[Baptist]] Church of Bossier City in northwestern [[Louisiana]], whose Sunday sermons under the title "The First Word" were broadcast on KTBS-TV, the [[ABC]] affiliate in [[Shreveport]], and on several cable television outlets.

   

   

==Background==

==Background==

Lowery's father was a Baptist pastor, also named Fred L. Lowery. His mother, the former Esther Burkhalter resided in Hurst, [[Texas]], prior to her death in July 2013. Lowery's younger brother, John Daniel Lowery of Aiken, [[South Carolina]], a former automobile salesman and dealer and an [[Alabama]] native, died in 2013 at the age of sixty-eight. He has a sister, Jeannie Metts and husband H. Leroy "Roy" Metts of Colleyville, Texas, and another brother, Dr. Charles S. Lowery and wife Penny of Plano, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shellhousefuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2043936&fh_id=11117|title=John Daniel Lowery  

Lowery's father was a Baptist pastor, also named Fred L. Lowery. His mother, the former Esther Burkhalter resided in Hurst, [[Texas]], prior to her death in July 2013. Lowery was born in Montevallo in Shelby County in central [[Alabama]]. His younger brother, John Daniel Lowery of Aiken, [[South Carolina]], a former automobile salesman and dealer, died in 2013 at the age of sixty-eight. He has a sister, Jeannie Metts and her husband H. Leroy "Roy" Metts of Colleyville, Texas, and another brother, Dr. Charles S. Lowery and wife Penny of Plano, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shellhousefuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2043936&fh_id=11117|title=John Daniel Lowery  

(August 21, 1944 &ndash; April 3, 2013)|publisher=shellhousefuneralhome.com|accessdate=May 29, 2013}}</ref>   

(August 21, 1944 &ndash; April 3, 2013)|publisher=shellhousefuneralhome.com|accessdate=May 29, 2013}}</ref>   

Lowery received his [[Bachelor of Arts]] from Samford University in Homewood, a suburb of [[Birmingham]], Alabama, a Master of Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in [[Fort Worth]], Texas, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Rice University, then in Jacksonville, [[Florida]]. 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 received his [[Bachelor of Arts]] from Samford University in Homewood, a suburb of [[Birmingham]], Alabama, a Master of Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in [[Fort Worth]], Texas, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Rice University, then in Jacksonville, [[Florida]]. 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 1951), whom he frequently mentions in his sermons, have two daughters,   Christy Camille Lowery Faciane and Shelby Lynn Lowery Koch. He previously lived in Homer in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, Avon Park in Highlands County in southern Florida, and Inman in Spartanburg County in northwestern 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>

Lowery and his wife, the former Lisabeth Leigh Jones (born 1951), whom he frequently mentions in his sermons, have two daughters, Christy Camille Lowery Faciane and Shelby Lynn Lowery Koch. He previously lived in Homer in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, Avon Park in Highlands County in southern Florida, and Inman in Spartanburg County in northwestern 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==

==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>

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/>

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/>

Upon his retirement, Lowery was succeeded as pastor by the Reverend Brad Jurkovich, who came to Bossier City from Lubbock, Texas

Upon his retirement, Lowery was succeeded as pastor by the Reverend Brad Jurkovich, who came to Bossier City from Lubbock, Texas

Lowery is a former president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, based in 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 former president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, based in 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 has been a trustee of Louisiana College in Pineville and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,<ref name=okbu/> of which he had been a candidate for the chancellorship in the 1990s.

Lowery has been a trustee of Louisiana College in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,<ref name=okbu/> of which he was 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> and ''Home Improvement 101''.<ref name=lowery/>  

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> and ''Home Improvement 101''.<ref name=lowery/>  

Lowery's book ''Covenant Marriage: Staying Together for Life'' was published in 2002.<ref>{{cite book|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/>

Lowery's book ''Covenant Marriage: Staying Together for Life'' was published in 2002.<ref>{{cite book|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/>

==Political activity==

==Political activity==

In 2012, Lowery invited the  [[Republican]] 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]].

In 2012, Lowery invited the  [[Republican Party|Republican]] 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]].

 

==References==

==References==