A. G. Louton

Albert Gordon Louton (August 13, 1902 – November 22, 1985) was an American minister and missionary in South Africa, affiliated with the Pentecostal movement. During the 1950s, Louton was a field superintendent for the Northern Transvaal, founding or overseeing more than 50 churches in the area.

The Reverend Albert G. Louton
Born	Albert Gordon Louton (1902-08-13)August 13, 1902 Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
Died	November 22, 1985(1985-11-22) (aged 83) Warmbaths, Northern Transvaal, South Africa
Resting place	Polokwane
Occupation	Missionary
Years active	1951–1985
Known for	Revival work
Political party	Republican
Movement	Finished Work Pentecostal
Spouse(s)	Louise Rettinger ​ ​ (m. 1929; died 1967)​ Doral Healy ​ ​ (m. 1969; died 1975)​
Children	3, including Edgar Louton
Relatives	Adam Oster (grandfather-in-law) Rollin G. Grams (grandson) David A. Louton (grandson)
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Biography

He was the son of William Bleven Louton (1872–1941) and Willie Ann (Rucker) and was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1902. He moved to Detroit, where he worked as a sales executive and later a minister. In 1929, he married Louise Marie Rettinger (1904–1967), the daughter of Jacob Rettinger (1877–1951), a businessman and immigrant from Austria-Hungary. Their son, Edgar Louton was born in 1933.

In 1951, he relocated to South Africa with his family and began missionary work in association with the International Pentecostal Assemblies (IPA). Periodically, he would travel back to the United States, where he would preach and share slides with congregations, detailing his ministry.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Louton began to gain recognition within the Finished Work Pentecostal movement in Africa, and by 1965, he had established over 50 churches, which employed 10 full-time Black South African pastors in the Northern Transvaal. As an evangelist, Louton had large tents constructed from in which he held large spiritual campaign meetings. He began to gain recognition around South Africa and in the broader Pentecostal Movement, and was covered in publications in both places. The work of Louton and his family is considered instrumental in helping spark the Black African Christian revival of the 1960s and 1970s.

Death and legacy

Louton died on November 22, 1985 while travelling from his home, 135 Magazyn Street, Pietersburg to Johannesburg when a tractor pulled in front of his vehicle, killing him and his driver instantly. Three others were in the car: a housekeeper, who was critically injured but survived, and two young men who were unharmed. He had been active in ministry until the week before his death, having overseen the painting of one of his churches, in which his funeral was held.

His death sparked an outpouring of condolences from various communities in which he was well-known.

Descendants

During his lifetime, Louton established a prominent religious leadership dynasty. His son Edgar Louton served as the Assemblies of God District Superintendent for the Northern Transvaal from 1965–1970 and continued his work. His daughter, Evelyn, married Eugene Grams, and together they cofounded the Cape College of Theology. His grandson Rollin G. Grams is a theologian, academic and author.

Another grandson, David A. Louton is a financial analyst at Bryant University.

Sources

Many more sources detailing Louton's missionary work may be found at the Consortium of Pentecostal Archives and on Newspapers.com. The ones referenced specifically in the article are listed here.