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Elmer Leon Towns, Jr. (1932- ): He was the first religious journalist to recognize the existence and influence of the megachurch movement. He was one of the original leaders that helped establish principles of the church-growth movement among fundamentalist and conservative-evangelical Christians. Born on October 21, 1932, Towns has served Liberty University - the school he co-founded with Jerry Falwell for almost 40 years. Towns has penned approximately 2,000 articles and more than 100 books on various aspects of church growth, with an emphasis on effective Christian education organizations, pastoral leadership, and spiritual factors of church health and growth.

BIOGRAPHY

Decades before megachurches became popular among U.S. American Christians, Elmer Leon Towns, Jr., had a passion for large churches. Writing for periodicals aimed both at ministers and at lay-people, Towns popularized Sunday school growth strategies to a broad cross-section of fundamentalist, conservative-evangelical, and Charismatic Christians. One particular article, "The Ten Largest Sunday Schools in the United States," led to a series of articles and a book that focused on the dynamics of rapidly-growing conservative and fundamentalist churches. Later, from platforms in Christian higher education, Towns established himself as a well-respected advocate for achieving church growth through effective organization and leadership.