Sterling Lands II (born November 11, 1944) is an

African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

minister and senior pastor of Greater Calvary Bible Church, formerly Greater Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. Lands is also the founder and first presiding bishop for Family Life International Fellowship, a civil rights and community activist, and author.

Biography

Lands was born in

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. Located the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, it is the parish seat of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana's most populous parish—the equivalent of counties i ...

. He is a graduate of the

Southern University Southern University and A&M College (Southern University, Southern, SUBR or SU) is a public historically black land-grant university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is the largest historically black college or university (HBCU) in Louisiana, a ...

School of Engineering, with a bachelor's degree in

electrical engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...

. Moving and living in

University City, Missouri University City (colloquially, U. City) is an inner-ring suburb of the city of St. Louis in St. Louis County, Missouri, St. Louis County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was measured at 35,065 by the 2020 United States Census, 2020 c ...

, Lands was president of the St. Louis chapter of the Center for Non-violent Social Change. He was coordinator and president of the Association for the Nonviolent Social Change in America (ANSCA) from 1980-1984. Lands pastored the Second Baptist Church,

Frankford, Missouri Frankford is a city in Pike County, Missouri, United States. The population was 323 at the 2010 census. History A post office called Frankford has been in operation since 1830. The community's name probably is a transfer from Frankfort, Kentuck ...

, which merged with the 117-year-old Maryland Street Baptist Church,

Louisiana, Missouri Louisiana is a city in Pike County, Missouri, Pike County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,364 at the 2010 census. Louisiana is located in northeast Missouri, on the Mississippi River, south of Hannibal, Missouri, Hannibal. Louisiana ...

in 1981-1984. Lands founded the Greater Calvary Missionary Baptist Church,

Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the county seat, seat and largest city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and Williamson County, Texas, Williamson co ...

September 1984, and the Family Life Bible Church in

Desoto, Texas DeSoto is a city in Dallas County, Texas, in the United States. DeSoto is a suburb of Dallas and is part of the Best Southwest area, which includes DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Duncanville, and Lancaster. History The area was first settled in 1847, ...

in December 2005. Lands moved to

in the fall of 1984. Lands continued his movement for justice, quality education and equity for African-Americans. Lands founded the Eastside Social Action Coalition in 2000. The coalition was listed in the Progressive and Activist Organization in Austin, Texas. In a historic ruling, Lands and his church was awarded temporary parenting responsibilities for two children. Lands served as chair of the Community Action Task Force, a subcommittee of the Baptist Ministers' Union 2000-2006. Lands led non-violent marches 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 Austin Police Department (APD) is the principal law enforcement agency serving Austin, Texas. As of Fiscal Year 2022, the agency had an annual budget of $443.1 million and employed around 2,484 personnel, including approximately 1,809 officers. T ...

of racial discrimination and shootings by the 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. In 2022, Lands as a bishop within the Evangelical Episcopal Communion joined the Apostolic Communion of Anglican Churches (a

Christian denomination A Christian denomination is a distinct religious body within Christianity that comprises all church congregations of the same kind, identifiable by traits such as a name, particular history, organization, leadership, theological doctrine, worsh ...

in the

Convergence Movement The Convergence Movement, also known as the Ancient-Future Faith movement, is a Protestant Christian movement that began during the Fourth Great Awakening (1960–1980) in the United States. Largely a result of the ecumenical movement and its fo ...

) through one of its provinces; while in the Apostolic Communion of Anglican Churches, they continued affiliation with the Evangelical Episcopal Communion.

Youth advocacy

Lands is the founder of Greater Calvary Rites of Passage, a

501c3 A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 501 ...

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. Notable graduates include jazz artist Dana Clark, and gospel songwriter, Monae Miller.

Music

Lands is a "protege" of Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame inductee Reverend

Cleophus Robinson The Reverend Cleophus Robinson (March 18, 1932, Canton, MississippiJuly 2, 1998, Saint Louis, Missouri) was an American gospel singer and preacher. He hosted a gospel television series which ran for over 20 years. He was often referred to as "Th ...

. Lands is the founder and lead musician of the Warrior Gospel Band.

Community development

Lands is the founder and CEO of Rites of Passage Development, a company that specializes in affordable housing.

References

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''. * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lands, Sterling 1944 births Living people Baptist ministers from the United States Baptists from Louisiana