The Rev. Lewis Nutter: Kidnapped as a Boy, Saved as a Man

Lewis Nutter was kidnapped and taken to an abandoned schoolhouse when he was 13 years old.

Nutter said he knew he wouldn't die because, at age 8, God told him he was going to preach. Now the Rev. Lewis Nutter, 74, has been a volunteer pastor at the since 1985.

Patch stopped by the small church – sandwiched between an apartment building and a home – to learn a little more about Nutter and the congregation. 

Patch: How long have you been in South Chicago Heights?  

Nutter: The church was built here in 1973. I was voted in to be the pastor in 1985. 

What has been your most important contribution?

We support missions in Mexico, we support Feed the Children and we support the people in the neighborhood. We have banquets in the basement and sometimes invite the neighbors in to have a free meal.

Who are some notable members of your congregation?  

Because he was such a giving person, Ronald Schultz.

Editor's Note: Ronald Schultz passed away from cancer.

One day I went to visit Ron when he was getting chemo treatments. We had gotten this huge mural but wasn't able to put it up because there (were) only three men in the church. He kept asking how was I going to get the mural up. I finally got the mural up. He said, "Who helped you?"

I said there was four of us: me, the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost, all from a step ladder.

Another member is a businessman in the church who bought a steeple for the church in 2009. Ron and I helped anchor it to the ceiling. For years people thought this church was an apartment building until we put the steeple up.

Tell us a story about your congregation or church.  

This is a country church within a city. We are an older congregation, I have a lady that is 92 years of age. We are old fashioned Pentecost church. The younger generation, some accept it others don't. We attend many camp meetings every year.

I go for the purpose of drinking at God's alter, to bring back to the congregation. Many times we have been blessed over and over. We go to Columbus Ohio to Rod Parsley, we go to Independence, KY to see Tommy Bates and we go to West Virginia.

We would like to go and see T.D. Jakes. I've been with Benny Hinn, John Hagee and R.W. Shambach. If you don't get filled up, you're not able to give out.

Can you share a testimony?  

I was kidnapped when I was thirteen years old.

Myself and two other boys were playing in front of a church. He came out of the dark and put a knife to my throat then he took the three of us to an abandoned schoolhouse with the intention of assaulting us.

He didn't.

But he held a .38 revolver to my head for hours. We kept telling this individual, "Our parents (are) going to come look for us and you're going to get in trouble."

One of the younger boys was my brother and he kept asking the guy if he could shoot the gun. This was an individual we knew in the neighborhood but we didn't know he was wacky in the head.

During the court hearing, other kids came forward to let them know the individual had molested them. He had gotten 20 years.

God had plans for me, that's why I am here today.

Final comments.  

God called me to preach when I was 8 years old. I was raised in a family by spiritual people. I know the leading of the Spirit of God. 

I walked out of school a fourth grader at 8 years of age. God spoke to me as I'm talking to you. Called me into the ministry. I waited until I was 35 years old before I gave in.

I lived a miserable life until I was 35 years of age. I live a joyful life now, doing what I'm doing. I'm trying to catch up on all the lost years that I wasted. 

I often wake up in the middle of the night and ask, What am I doing in South Chicago Heights in a little country church. God always reminds me of various individuals that came into the church and was saved. 

Full Gospel Tabernacle is located at 94 W. 30th Street in South Chicago Heights. Sunday services include: 9:45 a.m. Sunday school, 11 a.m. morning worship service and 6 p.m. evening worship service. Wednesday nights the church holds a 7 p.m. prayer service. All are welcome to come.