was organized on September 26, 1984, under the leadership of the organizing pastor, the Most Reverend Dr. Sterling Lands II and incorporated May 14, 1985.
Founded on the basic biblical principles of Salvation, Education, and Liberation. We are a Christ-centered Family focused full gospel, abundant life Church family. We believe that people must be saved. Saved people must be taught the truth of God's Word and made free through the application of that truth.
Sr. Pastor
Pastor Sterling Lands II 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.
While living in University City, Missouri, Lands was president of the St. Louis chapter of the Center for Non-violent Social Change and was coordinator and president of the Association for the Nonviolent Social Change in America (ANSCA) from 1980-1984.
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. In 1984 he and his family moved to Austin, Texas where he soon founded the Greater Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in September of 1984. He later founded the Family Life Bible Church in Desoto, Texas in December 2005.
Pastor Lands continued his movement for justice, quality education and equity for African-Americans. He founded the Eastside Social Action Coalition in 2000. Pastor Lands served as chair of the Community Action Task Force, a subcommittee of the Baptist Ministers' Union 2000-2006. He led non-violent marches in protests of racial discrimination and for equal rights and equitable protection to African-Americans residing in Austin, Texas.
As a member of the citizens panel for the police monitor's office he coordinated a forum for community leaders and the Austin Police Chief which accused the Austin Police Department of racial discrimination and shootings by the department of unarmed people of color criminal.
Archbishop Lands is the International Presiding Prelate and Patriarch of Family Life International Fellowship, Inc. The Presiding Prelate of the St. John Archdiocese. He is the organizing overseer and Leader of the now Greater Calvary Bible Church International, Austin, Texas.
Archbishop Lands serves as the COO of the Evangelical Episcopal Communion; Co-Founder and President-Chief Executive Officer of the International Conference of Bishops Inc.; Co-Chair of the Pastors Across Texas Coalition, and is the CEO of the Family Life International Bible Institute.
Archbishop Lands supports Bishops and Pastors in the USA, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, South Africa, Pakistan, India, Haiti, and the United Kingdom, committed to strengthening the family as a Kingdom priority.
