Minister/Shepherd: Bro. Jefferson R. Caruthers, Jr.

Jefferson R Caruthers, Jr. is a native of Anaheim, California.  He is the son of a gospel preacher.  Jefferson Caruthers, Sr. His father, J. R. Caruthers, Sr., attended Nashville Christian Institute (1948-1951) under the late Brother Marshall Keeble.  Brother Caruthers, Jr. is one of eight children born to Brother Caruthers, Sr. and Mabel Caruthers.

Brother Caruthers became a Christian in Santa Ana, California (1969) under the preaching of Brother William Brown, who then ministered to the Westside Church of Christ in Santa Ana.

Jefferson Caruthers, Jr. is a graduate of Southwestern Christian College (A.A.,1980).  David Lipscomb College (B.A., 1982) Harding University Graduate School of Religion (M. Th.,1987), and Cleveland State University (M. Ed., 2004).  In addition, he has worked in doctoral studies in Southern Religious History at the University of Mississippi.

In 1983, Jefferson Caruthers, Jr. married Felecia Sandrelli Spinks of Auburn, Alabama. He has been happily and busily married now for 26 years.  They met at David Lipscomb College.  They are the parents of seven children: Chava, Jefferson III, Carmen, Joshua, Hayley, Joel and Jonas (the last two are twins).  Sister Caruthers also attended David Lipscomb College and is a graduate of Memphis State University (B.S. 1985), and the University of Mississippi (M. Ed., 1990). She has worked in the field of Social Work, teaches Ladies' Bible classes, works with the youth and seniors, and has spoken on numerous ladies' lectureships.

Brother Caruthers has been preaching for over 30 years.  He has ministered to the Central Avenue Church of Christ in Coldwater, Mississippi (1983-1993), and to the Adams Avenue Church of Christ, Cleveland, Ohio (1994-2005). Brother Caruthers began his work as preacher for the Carver Road church of Christ in July of 2005.  He has spoken on college lectureships on subjects including the history of the restoration leaders.  He has also spoken on numerous state and regional lectureships, youth meetings and gospel meetings.  He is the author of several tracts and well as workbooks on both Old Testament and New Testament writings. He also currently writes Bible School materials for the 21st Christian series, “Blueprints.”

Jefferson Caruthers serves on the board of the National Teachers’ Workshop, the executive board of Quality Education Academy (k-12 Charter School that began at Carver Road), and the board of Quality Independent Living (an apartment facility of 42 unites started by the church).