Steven Furtick
Encyclopedia
Steven Furtick is an American pastor and author. He is the Lead Pastor of Elevation Church
in Charlotte
, North Carolina
. Furtick and wife Holly have three children, Abbey, Elijah and Graham.)
Furtick was born and raised in Moncks Corner, South Carolina
. At age 16, after reading the book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala, he felt called to pastor a church in a major city. Furtick received a B.A.
in communications from North Greenville University
and a Masters of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
.
After serving as music director at a local church in Shelby, North Carolina, Furtick and seven families moved to Charlotte and started Elevation Church. The church had their first service on February 5, 2006.
as one of the Top 100 fastest growing churches in the country in 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010.
Under Furtick's leadership, Elevation Church has given more than $3.4 million to local and global outreach partners since 2006. In 2011, a partnership with Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx
was established to give 100,000 hours and $750,000 to serve Charlotte people in "The Orange Initiative."
Additionally, during the church's annual "Love Week," Furtick encourages members give back to their community. Furtick was quoted as saying "You need to know that this church does not exist for this church ... and for you, or for me. We exist to love our city, to love our world, and to demonstrate Christ to them through the extravagant love of people who call on His name." During the church's most recent "Love Week," thousands of Elevation members have packed more than 10,000 sandwiches for the homeless, helped single mothers get their cars serviced, donated blood, cleaned up parks and streets, and built a soccer field for local ministries and renovating buildings.
, the former pastor of New Life Church
of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who resigned a midst a drug and homosexual sex scandal, and his wife to take part in an interview at his church in April 2009. Furtick stated that the purpose of the invitation was neither "a gesture of endorsement nor of condemnation".
Furtick has received attention for his church's treatment of a child with cerebral palsy. The child's mother stated they were escorted to the church's lobby after the child said "Amen" during the 2011 Easter service. The church defended its action, saying the child was not removed from the church but only escorted to another section of the church to watch the service. The mother and church officials had planned to meet to discuss the incident; however, the meeting was cancelled after the mother contacted the media.
Elevation Church
Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a Southern Baptist megachurch pastored by Steven Furtick. Elevation was cited by Outreach Magazine as one of the Top 100 fastest growing churches in the country in 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010...
in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Furtick and wife Holly have three children, Abbey, Elijah and Graham.)
Furtick was born and raised in Moncks Corner, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. At age 16, after reading the book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala, he felt called to pastor a church in a major city. Furtick received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in communications from North Greenville University
North Greenville University
North Greenville University is a comprehensive university affiliated with South Carolina Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention, and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The institution awards Bachelor, Master, and...
and a Masters of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary , located in Louisville, Kentucky, is the oldest of the six seminaries affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention . The seminary was founded in 1859, at Greenville, South Carolina. After being closed during the Civil War, it moved in 1877 to Louisville...
.
After serving as music director at a local church in Shelby, North Carolina, Furtick and seven families moved to Charlotte and started Elevation Church. The church had their first service on February 5, 2006.
Church Growth
As Lead Pastor of Elevation Church, Furtick has seen the church grow to over 9,000 in regular attendance, currently meeting in six different locations. Elevation was cited by Outreach MagazineOutreach Magazine
Outreach Magazine is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Vista, California. It focuses on activities of growing churches and is non-denominational.It is a periodical from the organization Outreach, Inc...
as one of the Top 100 fastest growing churches in the country in 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010.
Outreach
In 2008, Furtick made headlines when his church doled out $40,000 to members, in envelopes filled with $5, $20, even $1,000, and told them to spend it kindly on others.Under Furtick's leadership, Elevation Church has given more than $3.4 million to local and global outreach partners since 2006. In 2011, a partnership with Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx
Anthony Foxx
Anthony R. Foxx is an American politician. He is the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. He was first elected to the Charlotte City Council in 2005, and was elected mayor on November 3, 2009, winning 51.5% of the vote and defeating his City Council colleague, Republican John Lassiter...
was established to give 100,000 hours and $750,000 to serve Charlotte people in "The Orange Initiative."
Additionally, during the church's annual "Love Week," Furtick encourages members give back to their community. Furtick was quoted as saying "You need to know that this church does not exist for this church ... and for you, or for me. We exist to love our city, to love our world, and to demonstrate Christ to them through the extravagant love of people who call on His name." During the church's most recent "Love Week," thousands of Elevation members have packed more than 10,000 sandwiches for the homeless, helped single mothers get their cars serviced, donated blood, cleaned up parks and streets, and built a soccer field for local ministries and renovating buildings.
Controversy
Furtick invited Ted HaggardTed Haggard
Ted Arthur Haggard is an American evangelical pastor. Known as Pastor Ted to the congregation he served, he was the founder and former pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado; a founder of the Association of Life-Giving Churches; and was leader of the National Association of...
, the former pastor of New Life Church
New Life Church (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
New Life Church is a non-denominational charismatic Evangelical Christian megachurch located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. New Life Church has more than 10,000 members and is pastored by Brady Boyd.-History:...
of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who resigned a midst a drug and homosexual sex scandal, and his wife to take part in an interview at his church in April 2009. Furtick stated that the purpose of the invitation was neither "a gesture of endorsement nor of condemnation".
Furtick has received attention for his church's treatment of a child with cerebral palsy. The child's mother stated they were escorted to the church's lobby after the child said "Amen" during the 2011 Easter service. The church defended its action, saying the child was not removed from the church but only escorted to another section of the church to watch the service. The mother and church officials had planned to meet to discuss the incident; however, the meeting was cancelled after the mother contacted the media.
Publication
- Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible. Multnomah Books, 2010. ISBN 978-1-60142-322-1.