Lakeland Baptist Church (Lewisville, Texas)
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Lakeland Baptist Church is a Southern Baptist congregation located in Lewisville, Texas.
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[edit] History
During the late 1950's and early 1960's, Jim Angel, a resident of Denton who worked at Southwestern Bell in Dallas, noticed that several new houses were being built on the west side of Interstate 35E in Lewisville (at that time, the majority of the small community was located on the east side). The new subdivision was named Lakeland for its proximity to nearby Lewisville Lake.
Angel believed that God was leading him to start a new church in the area to reach the residents of the growing subdivision. Using their property as collateral, Angel and his wife Darlene purchased a plot of land at 397 South Stemmons Freeway, which today remains the church's address.
The church (named after the subdivision in which it was located) held its first services on June 25, 1962 with 34 in attendance, and simultaneously held a ground-breaking ceremony for its first facility. Services were held in a 60 foot by 40 foot tent rented by Angel (who was now Lakeland's first pastor) from Childress Tent Company until August 1 of that year, when the first indoor service was held. During the first service, ten persons joined by letter and six made salvation decisions.
Angel would remain as pastor until 1967, when he would resign to begin another startup ministry, nearby Camp Copass in Denton. During his five years, Lakeland would baptize over 200 individuals.
Garland Beasley would become Lakeland's second pastor in 1967, and would continue to maintain Lakeland's successful ministry until his resignation in 1974.
[edit] The Ben Smith Era
Dr. Ben Smith, Lakeland's third (and current) pastor, was called in December 1974. (Smith has announced his intention to retire effective January 2007).
Lakeland has arguably had its greatest success since 1974, which can be attributed equally to Dr. Smith's leadership and to Lewisville's growth from rural farming community to Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex suburb. From 1974 to 1998, Lakeland:
- baptized 1,926 individuals,
- donated over $5 million to mission causes locally and abroad,
- started 14 mission churches, several of which have become successful congregations, and
- greatly expanded its facilities (Lakeland built a Family Life Center in 1976, which served as its auditorium until 1989 when its current auditorium – dubbed "The House of Prayer" – was completed, a three-story Educational wing in 1998, and significantly renovated the facility in the early 2000's to move the main entrance away from the busy Interstate 35E frontage roads).
[edit] Lakeland Today
Lakeland offers a variety of programs and ministries for all ages and stages of life.
Lakeland is strongly affiliated with the conservative wing of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptists of Texas and the North Texas Baptist Association (the Association's offices are located at Lakeland's facility).
Lakeland also sponsors a private school, Lakeland Christian Academy, on its facility. The school currently operates through 5th grade, with the ultimate goal of offering classes through grade 12.
