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An Introductory Profile of Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer

Since accepting the call to serve as Executive Minister and Senior Regional Pastor of the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey in March 2003, Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer has led the region in embracing a new vision, which calls ABCNJ to journey as a Christ-centered, mission focused and pastoral (loving) community of churches. From this vision, new ministries are emerging. These include the Health and Faithfulness Initiative, ABCNJ GoGlobal, ABCNJ Satellite Seminars, Inclusive Ministries for People with Disabilities, the Pastor to Pastor ministry, various social action ministries, and the forthcoming ABCNJ Academy (a new pastoral excellence educational ministry scheduled to begin in 2010). ABCNJ continues to support and grow new churches, promote racial reconciliation and cultural sensitivity through “One in Christ” and provide spiritual enrichment through its ministries of camping and conferencing at Baptist Camp Lebanon.

ABCNJ’s Executive Minister was previously pastor of First Baptist Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, the Seaview Baptist Church in Linwood, New Jersey, and the First Baptist Church in East Providence, Rhode Island. He was ordained as an American Baptist minister in 1981. His Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees are from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Dr. Spitzer is committed to fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:16-20). He has preached the gospel and taught on spiritual journeying in the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Japan, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Brazil, Egypt and Uganda. All of the churches he has served have enthusiastically supported the full range of ABC missions work. He thoroughly enjoys the ethnic, racial and theological diversity of our American Baptist family.

Dr. Spitzer enjoys leading retreats on Christian spirituality. He has authored Endless Possibilities: Exploring the Journeys of Your Life (1997) and the companion Endless Possibilities Course Book (2001). In A Summer’s Journey (2001), he chronicled his unique pilgrimage to Israel during a summer of terrorism and turmoil. He has also created an intercessory peace campaign called “Praying for Peace in the Middle East.” He authored three articles on children’s spirituality for the Encyclopedia of Religious and Spiritual Development (Sage, 2006). His newest book is Jesus Christ from Cover to Cover (2006), which has served as a study guide for approximately 40 ABCNJ churches.

Dr. Spitzer has been married to his wife, Lois, since 1977. They have two children, Joshua (born in 1985) and Larisa (born in 1987). Lois is an Assistant Professor of Education and TESOL Program Development for the Richard Stockton College School of Education. Her doctorate from Boston University is in Applied Psycholinguistics.

Both Lee and Lois were born into Jewish homes and converted to Christianity as teenagers in the early 1970s. They enjoy sharing with Christians about the Jewish foundations of Christianity.