Lake Shore Baptist Church Beginnings
During 2009 we are looking back over the last 50 years at how
Lake Shore came about. These tidbits are written by Rufus Spain.

Click here to read the full 50th History.
If you would like a paper copy, please contact the church office.

 

Tidbit No. 1:
            Following the end of World War II, the population of Waco spread rapidly north and west toward Lake Waco.  Most of the area beyond about 33rd Street and north of Valley Mills Drive was farm and grazing lands dotted with mesquite thickets and heavily-wooded arroyos.  The land where Lake Shore Baptist Church and Vanguard Preparatory School now stand was part of the Davidian Compound.
            No Baptist church existed in the area.  New residents continued attending their churches in the older parts of town or remained “unchurched.”
            In the early and mid-1950s, Dr. W.W. Melton, the venerable pastor of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, and other mission-minded church members began discussing ways to extend the services of Columbus Avenue into the new area.  The decision was to “plant a mission.”
            Discussion became action in 1956 when the deacons appointed a special committee to begin searching for suitable property for the mission.  The committee’s first recommendation to purchase the “O.H. Cross” lot in “Lake Shore Hills” for $25,000 was rejected, but the committee was instructed to continue the search.

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Tidbit No. 2:
            Although in late 1956 Columbus Avenue rejected the deacon committee’s first recommendation to purchase property for a mission in northwest Waco, the committee continued to work.  In April 1957 the church approved the second committee  recommendation to buy 3.5 acres of land on Bishop Drive as the site for the new mission or “extended church” for $14,000.
            The property fronted on Bishop Drive between Meadow Road and Mountainview and extended northward to the “dry creek” where the Peace Garden now begins. (Lake Shore Church would later buy an additional 3.5 acres beyond the creek to extend the church property to its present boundary.)
            A month after the purchase of the mission property, Dr. Melton resigned as pastor of Columbus Avenue and the church called Dr. Joe Weldon Bailey in September 1958.  For the next year or so interest in the mission declined but the indebtedness on the Bishop property was paid off in September of 1958.

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 Tidbit No. 3:
            After the purchase of property in northwest Waco in April 1957, little action toward establishing a mission occurred for a year and a half.  Activity began in earnest in 1959, however, which would lead to the founding of the mission and Lake Shore Baptist Church by the end of the year.
            On March 9, 1959 Columbus Avenue adopted a motion presented by Carroll Martin (chair of the Missions Committee and brother of M.B. Martin) that “appropriate action” be taken to establish the mission.  On April 2 the first public meeting of interested members was held.  Enthusiasm was so great that Pastor Bailey felt compelled to remind the congregation that the purpose of the mission was to enlist the unchurched people in the area, not to “transplant” a lot of Columbus Avenue members.
            On April 15 the church approved a motion by Hart Nance that “appropriate committees” (we Baptists love committees!) be appointed with instructions to “proceed immediately.”
            On April 28 a second meeting of interested persons met at Mountainview Elementary.  A third open meeting occurred on May 3 at the same location.  This would be the mission “organizational meeting.”

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Tidbit No. 4:
            On May 3, 1959 Columbus Avenue members interested in the Mission Project met for the third time at Mountainview Elementary School and formally organized the mission or “Extension Church.”  James Mixon was elected moderator.
            For the next several weeks “members” attended Sunday services at Columbus Avenue and met in private homes for Wednesday evening prayer meetings.  At the first mid-week meeting on May 13 at the home of the Robert Leggotts, J.W. Ousley led the service.  Fifty-three attended.  Also at this meeting the group elected the following officers and committee chairs:
            Moderator: James Mixon,
            Clerk: Burl Davenport,
            Treasurer: Bob Leggott,
            Chair of Organization Committee: James Mixon,
            Chair of Building Committee: Floyd Casey (of football stadium fame),
            Chair of Pulpit Committee: George Nokes, Jr.,
            Chair of Finance Committee: Dr. John H. Swindle, and
            Chair of Women’s Missionary Union Committee: Mrs. Floyd Casey.
            Also at this May 13 meeting, the group petitioned the Waco School Board for permission to continue using one of the public schools in the area as a place of worship until a building could be erected.  The Board agreed to the use of Mountainview School through August 1959 and Lake Air Junior High School thereafter.

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Tidbit No. 5:
            Although the “members” of the Extension Church continued to worship on Sundays at Columbus Avenue during the months of May and June 1959, momentum and enthusiasm for the Mission shifted to the mid-week prayer services held in private homes.  These meetings became times of strengthening fellowship and planning.
            Participants in the weekly meetings may rightly be called the “founders” of Lake Shore Baptist Church.  Opening their homes for these meetings were Carroll and Betty Jo Martin, R.C. and Dorothy Milam, John and Elizabeth Swindle, George and Barbara Nokes, and the Meltons.
            Leaders at these mid-week pray meetings included Dr. Melton and Baylor professors Dr. Leonard Duce, Dr. John Davidson, Dr. Yandall Woodfin, Dr. George Humphrey (Dorothy Lynn’s father), and Professor Bill Tolar.  Attendance ranged between 45 and 64.
            The last of the Wednesday prayer services in private homes was held on June 17.  On Sunday, June 21, 1959 the mission moved to its semi-permanent location in Mountainview Elementary School where it would meet on Sundays and Wednesdays until September.

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Tidbit No. 6:
     At the mid-week prayer meeting on May 13, 1959 members of the mission elected a slate of temporary officers to begin the selection of members to fill the traditional offices of a Baptist church.  On June 10 the committee reported and the mission elected the following:
            Sunday School Superintendent, Charles Mansfield;
            Training Union Director, Dr. John Swindle;
            Women’s Missionary Union chair, Myrtle Casey;
            Church Secretary, Elizabeth Swindle;
            Chairs of Visitation Committee, Jerry & Hilda Smith;
            Cradle Roll Superintendent, Barbara Nokes;
            Church Pianist, Margaret Davidson;
            Interim Choir Director, Barbara Johnston;
            Chair of Ushers, James Fletcher;
            Publicity Director, Herb Payne; and
            Chair of Money Counters, Vic Newman.
            Sunday, June 21, 1959 was the first day of full activities for the mission.  Meeting in Mountainview Elementary School, its temporary home until September, activities included Sunday school at 9:30 (144 present); preaching service at 11:00 (about 300 present); and evening preaching service at 7:30 (no count available).  Dr. Melton preached at both services.  The “Mission” or “Extended Church of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church” was off to a good start!

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Tidbit No. 7:
            Following the very successful day of full activities on June 21, 1959—and probably wanting to move beyond the stage of “mission”—the congregation voted at mid-week prayer service on July 1 to call themselves Lake Shore Baptist Church.
            While giving full support to the organization of the mission, Dr. Joe Weldon Bailey, pastor of Columbus Avenue, nevertheless expressed concern that the mission, if called a church, would draw an undue number of worshippers from the mother church.  Although the mission now called itself “Lake Shore Baptist Church,” he said in the church’s weekly newsletter, the mission was only a mission and would remain so until it became self supporting.  The purpose of the mission, he stressed, was to minister to the “unchurched” people in northwest Waco.

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Tidbit No. 8:
            On July 1, 1959 the Columbus Avenue Baptist Church mission or extended church became Lake Shore Baptist Church by vote of the congregation. Why and whence the name? Many people to this present day still ask the question. The origin of the name is “shrouded in mystery.” The church is located neither on the shores of Lake Waco, nor on Lake Shore Drive; so why is it called Lake Shore Baptist Church?

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Tidbit No. 9:
            Why the name Lake Shore Baptist Church? One explanation still heard goes like this: A major consideration among church “planters” in locating and naming a new church is to make the church accessible and easy to find. If the church is not on a busy thoroughfare, then the name should give a clue to its location.
            The lot purchased for the mission was certainly not on a major artery. Neither was the “mother church,” the argument goes, but nobody doubts where Columbus Avenue Baptist Church is located. Why not a street name for the “daughter” church as well? “Being on Lake Shore Drive,” the explanation goes, the church would be easy to find.
            Only one problem with this explanation: the church is located on Bishop Drive, not Lake Shore Drive. In fact, there was no Lake Shore Drive as we know it today.

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Tidbit No. 10:
            Other names suggested for the new church on Bishop Drive were “Lake Shore Hills,” “Lake Shore Village,” and “Mountainview.” Of these, Mountainview had the strongest support.
            Although Mountainview was hardly a “view from the mountain,” and no better than “Lake Shore” as a geographical description of the location, it did have its advantages. A new elementary school by that name had been built across the street from the mission lot, thus giving the area a familiar identity.
Discussion and friendly debate about a name continued right up to the time when the new name was adopted.

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Tidbit No. 11:
            Well, what shall the name of the new church be? The reasoning that finally prevailed seems to have been the references to the various names given the western area of the city.
            The hills overlooking Lake Waco were identified in some early documents as “the Lake Shore Hills.” Also, scrawled across a 1940s aerial map of the area is “Lake Shore Village.” To call the new church “Lake Shore” would not carry the full implications of these names, i.e., neither “Lake Shore Hills Baptist Church,” nor “Lake Shore Village Baptist Church,” but at least “Lake Shore” would be an indication of where the church was located.

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Tidbit No. 12:
One final tidbit on selecting a name for the church.
            By Wednesday night prayer service on July 1, 1959 when the name of the church was decided, the choices had settled down to two: Lake Shore or Mountainview. Unfortunately we don’t have a stenographic report of the discussion that night. Fifty years have blurred the memory even of those were “present at the creation.”
            Catherine Davenport, Barbara Johnston, and Jan Williams were among those in attendance when the decision was made. None of those present recalls much of the final discussion (arguments) in favor of one name or the other, but all remember the dramatic outcome. With excitement and a degree of apprehension the congregation voted and waited the tallying of the ballots: Lake Shore or Mountainview, which would it be?
            Incredibly, the vote was a tie. Perhaps appropriately, because he had given so much to the founding of the church, Moderator James Mixon cast the deciding vote in favor of Lake Shore!
            So, there you have it; and we have been trying to explain it ever since!

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Tidbit No. 13:
            Although the band of Baptists meeting at various locations in the Lake Shore Hills of west Waco voted on July 1, 1959 to call themselves “Lake Shore Baptist Church,” they were, in fact, a church in name only. As Pastor Bailey frequently reminded them, they were in every respect only the Mission or Extended Church of Columbus Avenue.
            This uncertain status, however, did not prevent the growing flock from acting like a church. In a brief period following the organization of the mission on May 3, 1959, the congregation added activity after activity until by June 21 over 300 people were participating in preaching/worship services twice on Sunday, Sunday school, choir, children’s programs, training union, WMU, etc. All that was lacking to be a full-fledged church was the official church organization service, a pastor, and a church building.

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Tidbit No. 14:
            Although the Columbus Avenue “Mission” began a full schedule of services on June 21, 1959 and adopted the name “Lake Shore Baptist Church” on July 1, the group had no regular pastor until September. Lay personnel carried on the various activities of the mission in admirable fashion, but consistent leadership in a pastoral role was lacking.
            Columbus Avenue pastor Joe Weldon Bailey and former pastor Dr. W.W. Melton lead Sunday services frequently, and the Baylor University Religion faculty provided a ready and rich pool of preachers. Among the guest speakers were Yandall Woodfin, Bill Tolar, John Davidson, J.W. Ousley, WJ Wimpee, and George C. Humphrey.
[Note: “WJ” Wimpee is correct. He did not have names, only initials.]

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Tidbit No. 15:
            By the summer of 1959 the Columbus Avenue Mission, now calling itself the Lake Shore Baptist Church, was thriving. Worshippers were treated each Sunday to excellent sermons by guest preachers, but the congregation lacked the services of a regular pastor to care for the day by day needs of the people.
            Perhaps because the mission was not yet a financially stable, independent church, the congregation decided their needs could be met with a part-time pastor rather than a permanent, full-time minister.
            On September 20, 1959, the congregation called as their first regular, but part-time pastor, Rev. Bill Tolar, the dynamic young professor of New Testament from the Baylor University Religion Department who had preached for them a number of times. The choice was a wise one.

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Tidbit No. 16:
            When the congregation decided the time had come to move beyond the routine of having a different guest preachers each Sunday and call a full-time pastor, the first name suggested was Baylor Religion professor Bill Tolar who had preached a number of times for them already. When approached, Bill declined and explained that he felt his calling was the classroom. But he did agree to consider a regular, part-time call.
            So popular was Tolar that the congregation decided to call him on his terms. They would rather have him part-time than look for someone else. There were those who hoped he would reconsider and agree to become their full-time pastor.

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Tidbit No. 17:
            On September 20, 1959 Lake Shore called William B. Tolar, as its first regular, but part-time pastor.
            Born in Louisiana on July 5, 1928, Bill graduated from Baylor in 1950 and entered Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before completing his seminary studies, he returned to Baylor to teach in the Religion Department.
Lake Shore prospered under Bill’s leadership in a traditional, mainline Baptist manner. With a full array of services and programs, membership grew to over 500 and the budget increased from $30,000 to over $75,000 (that was a lot of money in those days!).
            Increasing responsibilities at the new church and pressure on him from the Religion Department to finish his seminary degree led Bill to resign effective April 30, 1962, although he continued to “supply” until July 8, 1962.

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Tidbit No. 18:
            Membership in the Lake Shore Mission grew steadily from the beginning. For many months, however, the increase was the result of “transfer of letters” from other churches, especially Columbus Avenue. Laudable as this was, Columbus Avenue Pastor Joe Weldon Bailey constantly reminded the mission folk that the purpose of the mission was to enlist the unchurched people in northwest Waco.
            On August 16, 1959 Peggy Ann Payne joined by “profession of faith,” and Dr. Bailey’s “heart was made glad” when he later baptized Peggy Ann in the Columbus Avenue baptistery. The extended church was now truly fulfilling its mission.

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Tidbit No. 19:
            Lake Shore has always been an “eating” church. The tradition began as early as Wednesday, October 24, 1959 when the first All-church Picnic was held at Roark Farm from 4:00-7:30 p.m. Everyone brought picnic lunches and the church furnished drinks and dessert. The tradition has served us well and may it continue for years to come!
             Closely akin to Lake Shore’s love of eating is its propensity for drinking—coffee that is. The church bulletin of December 6, 1959 expressed thanks to James Mixson and the Men’s Sunday School class for the recent gift of a “coffee service.” This has proven to be a “pleasant gathering spot on Sunday morning,” the note continued, “and is another symbol of the fine fellowship which exists among our group.”

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Tidbit No. 20:
            Well before Lake Shore Baptist Church was organized as an independent church, a full slate of officers had been put in place to serve the Mission. Most of these early lay leaders have passed on, but as can best be determined the following early church officers are still with us:
Burl Davenport, Church Clerk
Barbara Johnston, Choir Director
Alton Pearson, Congregational Song Leader
Hilda Smith, Co-chair (with husband Jerry) of Visitation Committee
            When the Mission was organized as an independent church, all the above, as well as those no longer living, were re-affirmed as offices of the new church.

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Tidbit No. 21:
            On November 4, 1959 the Lake Shore Mission congregation voted to become an independent church. Pastor Bill Tolar was designated to plan and moderate the transition. On November 9 Columbus Avenue, the “mother church,” gave its blessings.
            The organizational meeting took place at 2:30, Sunday afternoon, December 6, 1959 in the Lake Air Junior High school gymnasium. The service opened with the hymn, “How Firm a Foundation” followed by scripture reading and pray by Carroll Martin. Dr. Bailey brought greetings and blessings from Columbus Avenue and James Mixson responded for Lake Shore.
            The Rev. J. Wallis Burns, representing the Waco Baptist Association, reported for the examining council and a motion to organize as an independent church passed unanimously. The new church then entered into business session, called Bill Tolar as interim pastor, and re-affirmed the existing mission leaders as officers of the new church.
Lake Shore Baptist Church was born!

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Tidbit No. 22:
     Following the organizational proceedings on December 6, 1959, Dr. W. W. Melton preached the dedicatory sermon from Matthew 16:18: “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” He reminded his listeners that a church is a divine institution, a family of God’s children, the custodian of the Gospel. However, he warned, this church “can be no better than the individuals that make up its membership.” This church, he concluded, “will be just as good as you, and you, and you, and no better.”
            The “doors of the church” were then opened, and over 200 members joined, 82 of whom came by transfer of letters from Columbus Avenue. Within a month the membership rose to 225; these were declared to be the “charter members.”

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Tidbit No. 23:
            Lake Shore Baptist Church began with 225 charter members. Where are they today? To the best of our knowledge—Catherine Davenport being our authority:
            78 are known (or thought) to be deceased,
            51 are known (or thought) to be living,
                        but no longer members of Lake Shore,
            82 are unaccounted for, and
            14 are still members of Lake Shore.
 Seven of these 14 honored few are pictured here.

Joan Parsons            Jan Williams            Elizabeth King          Dot Martin
        
                  
             Catherine Davenport  Burl Davenport          M. B. Martin

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Tidbit No. 24:
             The remaining seven Charter Members are shown below. If you don’t know these patriarchs and matriarchs of Lake Shore, seek them out and tell them they are appreciated.

Alton Pearson          Marie Pearson         James King               Jack Fortenberry
        
                   
              Edna SoRelle White   Beverly Johnston       Penny Parker

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Tidbit No. 25:
             On December 6, 1959 the Lake Shore mission of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church became a “church.” But the “church” had no church “house.” Early meetings of the group were held in private homes, Mountainview Elementary School, and finally Lake Air Junior High School.
             In November 1956, soon after the idea of a mission in northwest was approved, Columbus Avenue deacons authorized the purchase of 3.5 acres of land on Bishop Drive and Meadow Road for the mission site for $14,000.
             A joint committee of deacons from Columbus Avenue and Lake Shore supervised the drafting of plans for a building and arranged financing, and in January 1960 A. C. Reed Construction Company was awarded the contract for $233,181. Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on January 10.
             Construction moved along quickly. The new building was completed and dedicated on December 4, 1960 at a total cost—land and building—of $257,851.45, of which Columbus Avenue paid $18,155.85. For nearly 20 years, the young church struggled with the remaining debt. At a Sunday morning worship service in May 1979, Pastor Richard Groves ceremoniously burned the note of indebtedness. Lake Shore was free of debt for the first time.

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Tidbit No. 26:
             Original plans for the Lake Shore Baptist Church “house” included a structure much larger than was ever built. In addition to the present all-purpose sanctuary and Sunday school rooms, blue prints show a large sanctuary on the Mountainview side of the property covering the present playground and extending to Bishop Drive.
             Because the structure which is now our sanctuary was intended to be a recreational building and not a permanent sanctuary, pews were never bought. Folding and moveable chairs have served the worshippers well.
             A numbers of proposals to raise money for a sanctuary (and pews) have been met with strong resistance. Lake Shore members are content to put their money into missions and programs, not brick and mortar.

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Tidbit No. 27:
             On Sunday, December 4, 1960, the Lake Shore congregation held services for the first time in the newly constructed church building. To celebrate the event, Lake Shore and Columbus Avenue members jointly held an open house in the afternoon and invited the whole community.
             To further mark the occasion, the church began a week-long revival with Dr. Melton preaching. New members were added and the future was filled with optimism and enthusiasm.

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Tidbit No. 28:
             Bill Tolar played a significant leadership role in the early history of Lake Shore Baptist Church. First as “guest preacher” in the summer of 1959, then as “interim pastor,” and finally as “regular pastor,” Bill led the church during the period of its most rapid growth. Membership rose to over 500, the budget grew to $75,000, and the paid staff increased to 5.
             By the end of 1961, Bill realized he had a career decision to make. He was actually holding down three full-time jobs: pastor of a growing church, Professor of Religion at Baylor, and a struggling graduate student trying to finish his theological studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He opted for his first love, teaching.
             On January 8, 1962 the church accepted his resignation, but on January 14 rescinded its action. He bowed to the wishes of the congregation, but on March 18 resigned again, although he agreed to continue as “supply.” Finally, on July 8, Bill preached his last sermon at Lake Shore.
On July 11, 1962 the church called Dr. David Johnson, professor of Educational Psychology at Baylor, as supply pastor until a new pastor could be found.

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Tidbit No. 29:
             Following the resignation of Bill Tolar the church appointed a search committee co-chaired by Burl Davenport and Clif Williams. On September 16, 1962, the church called Rhea Gray(pictured left) as its first full-time pastor. He preached his first sermon at Lake Shore on October 7.
             From the beginning of his pastorate, Rhea introduced a different style of preaching and initiated programs at variance with existing Southern Baptist—and Lake Shore—practices. Soon Lake Shore came to be known as an “alternative” or “liberal” church. Many members disliked the new trends and drifted back to Columbus Avenue or joined other churches. On April 30, 1967 Rhea preached his last sermon at Lake Shore.
             Stormy though his pastorate was, Rhea left an indelible imprint on Lake Shore. The direction in which he turned the church would be the course of the future.

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Tidbit No. 30:
             How long does it take a church to “begin?” For 29 weeks now, we have looked at some of the highlights of what we called the “beginnings” of Lake Shore Baptist Church covering a period of some 5 or 6 years. With the calling of Rhea Gray as our first full-time pastor in 1962 and the consequent launching of the church on its future trajectory, let’s declare our church “begun.”
             For as long these “tidbits” continue to run in our weekly Shorelines, perhaps we should consider them, not “beginnings,” but “highlights,” or “noteworthy events,” although many of them will be the beginnings of church traditions or “firsts” in our church’s history.

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Tidbit No. 31:
             Immediately following Rhea Gray’s departure in April 1967, the church asked Deryl Fleming (who had been Assistant Pastor since March 1963 [pictured left]) to be interim. After considering about 20 candidates, the search committee recommended Deryl who was the leading candidate from the beginning. On July 9, 1967, the church called Deryl as its second full-time pastor.
             Although Fleming’s presence in the pulpit and his low-key and conciliatory “management style” differed considerably from Gray’s, their theology and view of the role of the church in the modern world were similar. Under Fleming’s leadership, the church stayed the course set by Rhea. After more than 7 years fruitful years as senior pastor, Deryl offered his resignation on November 17, 1974.

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Tidbit No. 32: 

             For over six months following Deryl Fleming’s resignation in November 1974, Dr. Jack Flanders, professor of Religion at Baylor, served the church as interim.

             On June 1, 1975 Dr. Richard Groves became Lake Shore’s third pastor.  Although Richard continued to lead the church in the course set by his predecessors, he brought his own style to the pulpit and introduced programs and policies that would be of lasting influence on the church.

In September 1981 Richard offered his resignation effective October 17 to become “our missionary” to the struggling Metropolitan Baptist Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, his parish being the environs of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

.

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Tidbit No. 33:

             Following Richard Groves’ resignation effective October 17, 1981, the church turned once again to Dr. Jack Flanders to be interim pastor.  Then on March 28, 1982 the church called Roger Paynter as pastor to begin his ministry on July 1.

             Roger continued in the tradition of previous pastors—young (32 years old), intelligent, innovative, challenging in the pulpit, attuned to the times, and grounded in Baptist tradition.  Like his predecessors, Roger’s impact on Lake Shore is still visible.

             Sensing that his work at Lake Shore was completed, Roger preached his last sermon in July 1989 to accept a pastorate in Jackson, Mississippi.  The search for a new pastor began.

 

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Tidbit No. 34:

             On September 10, 1989, following Roger Paynter’s resignation in July 1989, the church called Nathan Stone as interim pastor. Stone found the church compatible with his views and the church liked his style of ministry. Soon talk began about calling Stone as permanent pastor.  Conventional wisdom decreed, however, that an interim pastor should not be considered for pastor. But, some members argued and rightly so, Deryl Fleming had made the transition wonderfully well. So in December 1989 Stone resigned as interim to become a candidate for permanent pastor, and on February 15, 1990 the church called him as its fifth full-time pastor.

              One of the distinctions of this stage in the church’s life was Nathan’s age when he began here. Previous pastors at the time of their calling had ranged in age from 29 to 32; Nathan was 50. Age would matter very little, of course, but some members liked the idea of hiring young ministers and “training them in our style of ministry” and sending them on to higher service! After five full years, Nathan resigned on October 27, 1995 to pursue other avenues of ministry.

 

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Tidbit No. 35:

             Following Nathan Stone’s resignation on October 27, 1995, the church called Wes Eades as interim pastor.  Wes was trained in psychological and pastoral counseling as well as church ministry which served Lake Shore well at that time in its history.

             A search committee sifted through many, many dossiers before unanimously recommending Dr. Brett Younger as pastor.  Brett preached his first sermon on August 11, 1996.

             Like so many of his predecessors, Brett was young (age 35) and a graduate of Baylor University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  His youthful appearance and ready wit betrayed a man of profound learning and deep convictions. After four and one-half years of fruitful and happy ministry, Bret preached his last sermon at Lake Shore on March 18, 2001.

 

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Tidbit No. 36:

              On August 17, 1975 Lake Shore approved the election of women deacons. The committees elected to find pastors following the resignations of Roger Paynter and Nathan Stone seriously considered the question of a woman pastor, but decided the “time was not right.” 

             The search committee, appointed after Brett Younger’s departure, received numerous resumes for the position of pastor. The resumes were reviewed and the candidates were interviewed and for the first time in Lake Shore's history a woman was recommended to be the pastor. The church acted on the committee’s recommendation and enthusiastically voted to call Dorisanne Cooper. Dorisanne preached her first sermon at Lake Shore on February 3, 2002.

             Having a pastor with a husband—and later a child—was a novelty for the church, but Dorisanne has lived up to our expectations. She has been yet another member of our list of outstanding pastors.

 

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Tidbit No. 37:

             Since early in Lake Shore’s history, the descending dove, symbol of peace, has been our logo. It all started when Rhea and Annetta Gray bought the first James Avery Dove. Joan Parsons, Barbara Johnston, Dot Martin, and others liked it so much they also bought Avery doves. The mania spread. Many Lake Shore members still wear the Avery dove as pendants, tie-tacks, and lapel buttons.

             The “Lake Shore” dove has undergone several re-incarnations in appearance and use since it was unofficially adopted as our symbol. As examples, the dove adorns our pulpit, our church stationary, Shorelines, and other publications. In earlier years when we regularly entered athletic teams in church leagues, we were known as the “Lake Shore Doves.” And some of the early members are still spoken of lovingly as “the Dovies!”
Here are some renderings of our dove:

 

 

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Tidbit No. 38:

             The original windows in the church sanctuary were of non-descript, blue-gray colors suggesting perhaps sky and clouds, but nothing particularly worshipful.

             After years of discussion, a committee headed by Libby Bellinger was appointed in 2000 to study replacing the windows. The committee decided to avoid the dark hues of traditional Gothic and go with a modern, stylized, semi-abstract, textured pastel and clear glass. The results are most pleasing.

             Windows bear the names of past members whose families made the project possible, and a plaque on the wall beside the windows lists the names of additional past members whose families also contributed.

 

 

 

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Tidbit No. 39:

             We consider ourselves a welcoming and caring church—and indeed we are. It begins when we read collectively to new comers our “Welcome to New Members” printed in the worship bulletin each week:

 

We affirm you in your Christian decision

and celebrate your place in the family of God.

We accept our responsibility to help you grow into the fullness of Christ.

We offer ourselves to be your family, to surround you with God’s kind of Love.

 

             Ever wonder where this greeting came from? During Rhea Gray’s pastorate, a “generic” version, as Deryl Fleming called it, came into use. Deryl then put it into the form we use today. Thanks Deryl for this beautiful gift.

 

 

 

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Tidbit No. 40:

             In times past, churches routinely furnished homes for their ministers, variously called the manse, pastorium, parsonage, or simply the “preacher’s house.”

             In May 1962, during Bill Tolar’s pastorate, Lake Shore Baptist Church began discussing the purchase of a pastor’s home. In September the church voted to buy the property at 2409 Charboneau for $21,000.

             Rhea Gray was the first pastor to occupy the parsonage followed by Deryl Fleming and Richard Groves.

             Times were a’ changing, however. A house furnished by the church was a boon to a young pastor, but when he reached retirement age he would be without a home of his own. A new concept was developing, i.e., instead of furnishing a home, churches began paying their pastor a monthly “housing allowance” which enabled him to buy his own home and build equity over the years.

             So, following this new trend, the church voted in October 1976 to sell the parsonage and provide the pastor a housing allowance. The process was made easy when incumbent pastor Richard Groves offered to buy the parsonage for #34,000. On the transaction, the church turned a nifty profit of $21,000!

 

Lots of Tidbits of Thanks

During this 50th year (2009) we've highlighted a tidbit of history in each week's newsletter. We'd like to say a huge THANK YOU to Rufus Spain, our church historian, for compiling these tidbits. They helped all of us have a better sense of the history we share.