Max Lucado American writer and minister of the Oak Hills Church Date of Birth: 11.01.1955 Country: USA

1. Max Lucado: Early Life and Education
2. Call to Ministry and Mission Work
3. Oak Hills Church
4. Beliefs and Controversies
5. Accomplishments and Recognition

Max Lucado: Early Life and Education

Max Lucado was born in San Angelo, Texas, the youngest of four children to Jack and Thelma Lucado. He grew up in Andrews, Texas, where his father, an Italian immigrant, worked in the oil fields, and his mother was a nurse. Lucado attended Abilene Christian University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications.

While at Abilene Christian, Lucado worked his way through college selling books door-to-door through Southwestern Advantage. He initially aspired to become a lawyer, but a required Bible course in college and a missions trip led him to change his mind and pursue a career as a minister. However, becoming a missionary required him to earn an advanced degree in Bible and Biblical Studies and have a minimum of two years of church ministry experience.

Call to Ministry and Mission Work

Lucado graduated from Abilene Christian with a Master's degree in Bible and Biblical Studies. After graduation, he became an assistant minister at Central Church of Christ in Miami, Florida. His initial responsibilities included leading the singles group and writing a column for the church newsletter.

After two years in Miami, Lucado, now married to Denalyn, moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to become a full-time missionary. In 1987, his father passed away from Lou Gehrig's disease. After five years in Brazil, he brought his family back to the United States to be closer to his mother.

Oak Hills Church

In 1988, Lucado was hired as the minister of Oak Hills Church of Christ in San Antonio, Texas. He stopped taking a salary from the congregation in 1990, as he had become a successful author. During his tenure, Oak Hills began using musical instruments in its services and held the belief that baptism was not required for salvation (departing from two key doctrines of Churches of Christ); eventually, Oak Hills disassociated itself from them in 2003, simply calling itself "Oak Hills Church."

After serving as senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas for 20 years, Lucado announced in early 2007 that he was stepping down due to health issues related to atrial fibrillation. Lucado has since resumed a more limited role of writing and preaching at Oak Hills alongside Associate Minister Randy Frazee, who previously served at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois.

Beliefs and Controversies

Lucado holds the Bible to be inerrant. He is a credobaptist and holds a trinitarian view of God.

Lucado has stated that he believes in the "traditional biblical understanding of marriage" (between one man and one woman), and he maintains that same-sex marriage is sinful and contrary to God's original design. However, he has strongly voiced his disapproval of attacks on gay people, stating that "gay people and gay families need to continue to be respected and treated with love. They are beloved children of God because they are made in the image of God." He adds, "Faithful people may disagree on what the Bible says about homosexuality, but we agree that God's holy Word should never be used as a weapon to hurt others."

Accomplishments and Recognition

Lucado has authored nearly 100 books that have sold over 145 million copies. He is the three-time recipient of Charles "Chip" Jordan's "Gold Medallion" Christian Book of the Year award for his books "Just Like Jesus," "In the Grip of Grace," and "When God Whispers Your Name," and has regularly appeared on several bestseller lists, including the New York Times Best Sellers List.

Lucado has been named "America's Pastor" by Christianity Today magazine, and Reader's Digest magazine named him "America's Best Preacher" in 2005. He has served as keynote speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast.