Max Lucado Ministries

Lucado was born on January 11, 1955 in San Angelo, Texas, the youngest of four children to Jack and Thelma Lucado. He grew up in Andrews, Texas. His father was an oil field worker, while his mother served as a nurse.

Lucado attended Abilene Christian University where he received an undergraduate degree in Mass Communication. Initially he wished to become a lawyer, but has said that a required Bible course at the university and a mission trip made him change his mind, deciding instead to become a missionary. However, this required that Lucado get a graduate degree in Bible and Biblical Studies; and, have at least two years experience ministering to a church. Lucado graduated from Abilene Christian University with a master's degree in Bible and Biblical Studies.

After graduation, Lucado became an associate minister at Central Church of Christ in Miami, Florida. His responsibilities initially included overseeing a singles' group and writing a column for the church's newsletter. After two years in Miami, the now newlywed Lucado and his wife, Denalyn, moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to become full-time missionaries. In 1987, Lucado's father died 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.

In 1988, he was hired as a minister to the Oak Hills Church of Christ in San Antonio, Texas.[2] He stopped taking a salary from the church in 1990, because he was already an established successful author. Lucado has been associated with some progressive teaching causing divisions amongst some Churches of Christ. Unlike the typical Churches of Christ, Oak Hills began using musical instruments in worship services and held the belief that baptism isn't required for salvation. Lucado no longer affiliates himself with the Churches of Christ. Under Lucado's ministry, Oak Hills dropped the "Church of Christ" affiliation from its name in 2003, calling itself simply "Oak Hills Church."[3][4][5]

After serving as the senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, TX for 20 years, Lucado announced in early 2007 that he was stepping down due to health concerns related to atrial fibrillation. Lucado has since resumed the more limited ministry role of writing and preaching at Oak Hills with co-pastor Randy Frazee, formerly of Willow Creek Community Church of South Barrington, Illinois.