Lakeland Baptist Church

Did you ever imagine a church growing from a simple tent? Lakeland Baptist Church’s story begins just like that. In the burgeoning neighborhood of Lakeland, named for its proximity to Lewisville Lake, a man named Jim Angel felt a calling. He saw the new houses springing up west of Interstate 35E in Lewisville. He envisioned a church for this growing community. In 1962, Lakeland Baptist Church held its first service in a rented tent. Thirty-four souls gathered for worship. That same day, they broke ground for their first building. The tent served as their sanctuary until August 1, 1962. Then, they held their first indoor service. During that initial service, ten people joined the church. Six individuals made decisions for salvation. Jim Angel served as Lakeland Baptist Church’s first pastor until 1967. He then left to start another ministry, nearby Camp Copass in Denton. During his five-year tenure, over 200 people were baptized at Lakeland. Garland Beasley took the reins as the second pastor in 1967. He successfully led the church until 1974. Lakeland Baptist Church’s most significant growth arguably began with its third pastor, Dr. Ben Smith. He served from 1974 to 2007. During his leadership, alongside Lewisville’s transformation from a rural town to a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, the church flourished. Nearly 2,000 baptisms occurred between 1974 and 1998. Over $5 million was donated to missions, both local and international. Fourteen mission churches were established, many thriving today. Lakeland Baptist Church expanded its facilities significantly during this time. A Family Life Center was built in 1976, which served as the main auditorium until 1989. Then, the current “House of Prayer” auditorium was completed. A three-story educational wing was added in 1998. In the early 2000s, renovations moved the main entrance away from the busy Interstate 35E frontage roads. Lakeland Baptist Church continued to evolve. Dr. Ron Osborne became Senior Pastor in 2008. In 2014, Dr. Donald Schmidt was elected Senior Pastor. Today, the church building also houses Lakeland Christian Academy, a private school. The school utilizes the church facilities for its preschool and other grade levels. Lakeland Baptist Church remains affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. It’s also connected to the Southern Baptists of Texas and the North Texas Baptist Association, whose offices are conveniently located on the church’s property. From a humble tent to a thriving community hub, Lakeland Baptist Church’s journey is a testament to the power of faith and vision.