Sterling Lands II

Sterling Lands II
Born	(1944-11-11) November 11, 1944 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Occupation	Senior pastor of the Greater Calvary Bible Church
Religion	Non-denominational Christianity

Sterling Lands II (born November 11, 1944) is the senior pastor of Greater Calvary Bible Church,^[1] formerly Greater Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. He is the founder and Presiding Bishop of Family Life International Fellowship,^[2][3][4] a civil rights and community activist, youth advocate, and author. He participated in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. He has been active in the NAACP and Operation Push. He is a member of the Warrior Gospel Band.

Early life

Lands was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is a graduate of the Southern University School of Engineering, with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, and a Doctor of Divinity degree from Master's International School of Divinity.^[5][6]

Community activism

While living in University City, Missouri, Lands was president of the St. Louis chapter of the Center for Non-violent Social Change.^[7] He was coordinator and president of the Association for the Nonviolent Social Change in America (ANSCA) from 1980-1984.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Lands moved to Austin, Texas in the fall of 1984. Lands continued his crusade for justice, quality education and equity for African Americans. Lands founded the Eastside Social Action Coalition in 2000. The Coalition is listed in the Progressive and Activist Organization in Austin, Texas.^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

Lands served as Chair of the Community Action Task Force, a subcommittee of the Baptist Ministers’ Union 2000-2006. Lands led non-violent marches^[17] in protests of racial discrimination and for equal rights and equitable protection to African Americans residing in Austin, Texas.

Lands, a former member of the citizens panel for the police monitor's office accused the Austin Police Department of racial discrimination and shootings by the Austin Police Department of unarmed people of color criminal. Lands coordinated a forum for community leaders and the Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo to discuss race relations.^[18][19][20]

Legal

In a historic ruling Lands and his Church was awarded temporary parenting responsibilities for two children.^[21][22][23]

Pastor

Lands pastored the Second Baptist Church, Frankford, Missouri, which merged with the 117-year-old Maryland Street Baptist Church, Louisiana, Missouri in 1981-1984. Lands founded the Greater Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Austin, Texas September 1984, and the Family Life Bible Church in Desoto, Texas in December 2005.^[24]

Youth advocacy

Lands is the founder of Greater Calvary Rites of Passage,^[25] a 501c3 non-profit organization that aims to improve the transition of black youth to adulthood through character education and development. Youth remain in the program for thirteen years.^[26][27][28] Notable graduates include jazz artist, Dana Clark,^[29] and gospel artist, Monae Miller.^[30]

Music

Lands is a "protege"^[31] of Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame inductee^[32][33] Reverend Cleophus Robinson. Lands is the founder and lead musician of the Warrior Gospel Band.^[34][35]

Bibliography

Lands is the author of:

• Character centered leadership: moving to next level leadership^[36]
• Fathers make the difference: effective fatherhood survey results^[37]
• Inside out!: character development and abstinence education^[38]
• Parenting by faith^[39]
• A winning season - developing the character centered leader^[40]
• Integrity first : a process for developing character centered leaders of high moral character^[41]
• The main ingredient : a 10-step process to develop servant warrior leaders committed to building character centered families and character centered communities^[42]
• Evolution of a character development model that works^[43]
• Increase twelve principles of increase Bible study and discussion manual^[44]
• Lyrics for living holy^[45]
• Nothing short of grace^[46]

Community development

Lands is the founder and CEO of Rites of Passage Development, a company that specializes in affordable housing.^[47][48]

Sources

• Lowes, Robert. "Largely white U. City PTO re-elects black president". Globe-Democrat.
• (April 1, 1981). “Special School District Candidates”, St. Louis Star.
• (April 2, 1981). “District 6". St Louis Globe-Democrat.
• (April 5, 1991). “21 Candidates for 4 Seats in Special District”. St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
• (August 25, 1983) “King’s Dream Lives on, Son Says”. Globe-Democrat.
• Vogel-Franzi, Jeane. (June 15, 1983). “U City Parents Threaten To Shut Down Schools”. Clayton Citizen Journal.
• (September 22, 1983). “Lands Recognized at Testimonial Dinner”. The St. Louis Sentinel.
• Rivers, Reggie. “Minister’s talk to kick of King Week Activities”. Austin American Statesman.
• Dayna, Finet. (July 1999). “By The Content of their Character-Sterling Lands (Gospel of Faith and Justice). The Good Life Magazine.
• Lindell, Chuck (February 5, 1995). "Man of His Word". Austin American Statesman. 
• Lindell, Chuck (October 26, 1992). "Rites of Passage (Church using rituals to teach youths)". Austin American Statesman. 
• Lindell, Chuck. "Midnight Mission". Austin American Statesman. 

References