Best of the Best

Dr. Fred L. Crouther
A devoted leader of the cloth in the community

Dr. Fred L. Crouther

by Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo
It is Sunday morning! Church bells are ringing; off to Sunday school, followed by devotion; opening prayers and Sunday Services have begun!

In hundreds of churches throughout the community, the Sunday ritual is customary. Our churches continue to play the role of spiritual source, yet they are always more.

Our churches are such an integral part of our history. They are our inspiration, socialization and meeting place.

They are often as much our introductions to, new ideas, services, agencies, and professionals, as they are our faith, religious values and morals, and community/unity venue.

When the "Community Journal" began thirty years, Reverend, Dr. Fred L. Crouther was already shepherding his flock. In fact, Pastor Crouther will celebrate his 35th Anniversary in the ministry, his 33 years as the spiritual leader in Milwaukee, and his 27th year at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, located at 2315 North 38th Street.

Pastor Crouther is a devoted leader of the cloth and a seasoned elder for young ministers entering this committed vocation! Beginning at the Greater Galilee Baptist Church, where he spent seven-and-a-half years, he continues to be inspired by the Scriptures and the meaning of the verses, "Where He Leads Me, I Will Follow."

New Covenant began under Reverend Crouther’s pastorage in 1979, with 270 members. Today, they are 1,300 members strong, with a growing membership that remains committed to staying on that corner and expanding the area rather than vacating, as is often the norm.

An accomplished ministerial orator, Dr. Crouther has been called upon often for Revivals throughout the city and the United States. And, the urban development plan of his church has been emulated throughout the National Baptist Convention’s membership as a prototype of city revitalization.

Believing that the church has to go beyond its four walls and meet its parishioners where they are, Dr. Crouther and his congregation, have pledged to live the Gospel, while preaching the Scriptures. Their reclamation of land, previously cleared for projected expressways, and the purchase and renovation of existing empty buildings, eyesores and unsafe traps for the homeless, has been a God-send for residents and the city tax roll, as well.

The late Reverend Leon Sullivan, founder of Opportunities Industrialization Corporation (OIC) was the inspiration for Reverend Crouther’s involvement with Milwaukee’s OIC. And, his role as a director on the board, for over twenty years, augmented his determination to be a part of the neighborhood change process rather than moving the sanctuary and the congregation.

"Reverend Sullivan’s Philadelphia program did great work for that faltering community. He was a man guided by needs and God’s directive to reach out to the poor. That OIC program took unskilled youth and created programs with training that made them able to work, to provide for their families," Pastor Crouther expounded.

"You have to have some kind of training components to train youth for the job market, he continued. "The Milwaukee program was doing that. We had the community’s support," Dr. Crouther exclaims.

With passion, he said, "We had the GED for youngsters who had dropped out. Those that were not going to MATC were succeeding at OIC.

"We prepared them. We had secretarial training, auto mechanic, plumbing and one phase for home construction, roofers, electricians, jobs that paid good money, were parts of the training components."

"Senior weatherizations were another major area. The senior population is growing at the same time statistics are saying that the typical Black senior is not prepared for the costs of maintaining their homes, their meds and the other demands.

"This has not made sense, to me! OIC continues to be a major loss for the community. I know what happened but the penalty has been on the whole community."

"We can tell the great void, for our youth, Dr. Crouther, continued. "We have exacerbated the problems. The government has cut back on jobs, while there is nothing for the young people to do. Fast food places can’t offer permanent employment opportunities for the masses, at the same time, parents can not provide the financial support for the same reasons," he said.

On a roll, Dr. Crouther expounds, "We cannot inspire them, the children, when they have no place to go (meaning jobs). Then, when they just "hang out," they get into a whole lot of trouble. And, they become a part of a whole new industry, "incarceration!"

"One has to admire what Bill and Melinda Gates are doing in the U.S. and throughout the developing world, but America has got to focus on putting money back into our own back doors," he said.

These realities and the philosophy of "home first" have been the impetus for redevelopment of the New Covenant corridor. "Our members were tired of the blighted area so, the church officers and the members supported my vision as pastor to rebuild and redevelop the area and as a church family, we acted upon it," he shared.

New Covenant members Johnny Moutry; Al Cooper, Floyd Mosley, Ron Roberts, Dr. Shirley Moutry and Mason Bullock are the current officers of the New Covenant Housing Development Corporation. Their current vision is to complete the whole area; including making the Sherman Library into a Food Court; and building houses and apartments between 35th and North Avenue and Reformation Church. Going South of the Library, businesses will be developed, street level, with living quarters on the second floor.

"We want to build a new Sanctuary, in the area, as well, said Dr. Crouther. We definitely plan to stay! We have a vested interest in this area. We have the Urban League Edison Academy, with over 600 children. The school is a part of the School Choice Program and our kids are doing exceptionally well," he proudly states.

Continuing, he said, "This is a true example of community unity, our partnership includes the Charter through UWM, with the Urban League managing and New Covenant housing the school. We can make these programs work! We must make them superb!"

Many players have been instrumental in making these church initiatives work. Former Mayor John Norquist supported the redevelopment plan and helped them in getting options on the land.

"We were blessed with people like Alderman Murphy, Gordan, Hines and Davis of District 10, who followed through on the ordinances. Former Governor Tommy Thompson also helped us through WHEDA. Today, we have full support from the Aldermen, Mayor Thomas Barrett and Governor Jim Doyle. We thank them all," he remarked.

"I am really thankful to God for a great membership! They truly inspire me and keep me going. It’s a team effort. We jointly want to make a difference in the community. And, we can do more," he continued.

"Governor Doyle has opened a new office to assist the pastor’s and other lay people. His office has specialists who can walk you through the process. There are grant writers, proposal writers and people who help identify the correct legislative bodies necessary to make these projects work. We just need to call them," Pastor Crouther confided.

But, continuing, he said, "The Marquette Interchange commands employment justice, we have to be more vocal about these kinds of things. What I do looks so small when I look at all of the needs! ‘Jobs’ has to be our mantra! Without them we shall be forever needy!"

"I am grateful that God has used me to ‘follow Him!’ And, I am gracious enough to accept this award. But, I will not be worthy until ‘We let His light shine for the ‘least of them,’" he declared.

Reverend Dr. FL Crouther, you have let your light shine through your thirty-five years in the ministry. In those years, you have brought a fledgling congregation to an astute, sensitive, talented group of worshippers and community builders.

Additionally, Dr. Crouther you gave wisdom and spiritual guidance for over twenty years to OIC, the premiere employment opportunity and training initiative. You have served the National Baptist Convention in the position of vice president for over five years; and you led the Wisconsin State Baptist Convention for twelve years, while still serving your membership.

Pastor Fred L. Crouther, you and your congregation have worked in partnership to change the geographic area surrounding your sanctuary.

And, the action of the New Covenant Housing Development Corporation has premiered the utilization of abandoned land for revitalization and community stability.

Your actions supplant the community and strengthen the city through taxes and services.

Pastor, we thank you, and your congregation! We thank God for your willingness to "Let Your Light Shine" in your church, your neighborhood, your city. You represent the Best of the Best, and we salute You! And, we wish you always the Best of the Best!