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History of LBC

In the fall of 1880, a subscription list was circulated by Mrs. L. C. Laugenhour for the purpose of erecting a house of worship for the Baptists. About two hundred fifty dollars was raised but nothing more was done until the spring of 1881 when Elder Sidney F. Conrad, who had just moved into the village, became interested in the work. Through his efforts and the cooperation of Mrs. Laugenhour and E. H. Wright, steps were taken to procure the materials, money and men to erect the building. An appeal went out to the people of the village and to surrounding churches. Between four and five hundred dollars was raised. In May of 1881, a contract was let to Bowles and Baker of Winston-Salem, North Carolina to build the first Baptist church in Lewisville. The main building was completed in the fall of 1881. The untiring efforts of Mrs. Laugenhour and her helpers contributed to the speedy completion. The dimensions of the building were forty by sixty feet.The cost was approximately fifteen hundred dollars.

Permission was granted to Elder Sidney Conrad, his wife and E. W. Wright of Enon Baptist Church to organize a Mission at Lewisville in 1882. The remaining work was done in the spring of 1882 and the church dedicated on the firth Sunday in July. Elder J. K. Conoly from Asheville, North Carolina preached the sermon. The mission was organized May 19, 1883 as the Lewisville Baptist Church with twelve charter members. The first pastor was Elder Sidney F. Conrad.

Lightning struck the first church building in July of 1936, destroying everything except the offering plates which were not in the building. Plans for rebuilding began immediately and new church building was ready for use in March 1937.In 1939, five downstairs Sunday School rooms were added. Also in the fall of 1939, construction of a parsonage was begun.In November 1940, Rev J. E. Kirk and his family moved into the new parsonage.

In 1947, an Estey Electric Organ was purchased. It was replaced by a Hammond Organ in 1962. Rev. Kenneth Snyder came January 16, 1949 as the first full-time pastor. Under his leadership eleven Sunday School rooms were added in 1952-53. In 1953, Lewisville Baptist Church helped to establish the Vienna Mission.The church purchased the adjoining property in 1956 to be used as a caretaker’s home. In 1958, full time caretakers were hired.In 1960, under the leadership of Rev. H. A. Byers, the new education building was erected. In 1964, the parsonage was remodeled to be used as a nursery. A lot was purchased in Reyondale Estates for a new parsonage which was started in the spring of 1965. It was completed in August 1965, and the pastor, Rev. George Hawkins and his family moved into the new parsonage. In January 1968, Rev Dwight Watts became the pastor of Lewisville Baptist Church.

In 1970, the Long Range Planning Committee studied the building needs, and plans were developed for a new church to include a sanctuary, education facilities, fellowship hall and kitchen. Payment for the new building was raised through a "Together We Build" program in 1971 and a church bond sale in 1973.The new facilities were dedicated in October 1974. In 1977, Dr. Joe D. Coltrane became our pastor. Our bond indebtedness was retired and additional changes were made in our Educational building.

In October 1981, Lewisville Baptist Church celebrated its Centennial year with a week of special services.

In November of 1990, the church called the Rev. B. Scott as our first full time associate pastor. He was employed to develop programs for the youth and senior adults, which were successful. In April of 1996, Dr. James E. Horton became our pastor to help complete and enlarge the goal set forth in leading our church into the 21st century. In 1999 we completed our education building including a pastor’s study, church office, choir rooms and parlor. The Reverend Paul Riggs served as interim pastor until April 2001.

RECENT LEADERSHIP

·April 2001 - Rev. Jeff Priest became our pastor, leading us into a new period of numerical growth.
·March 2001 - Rev. Ralph Stanley, Sr. called as Minister of Outreach and Evangelism.
·September 2001 - Rev Jo Bjorling called as Minister of Family Life and Discipleship.
·2002 - renovations completed in the sanctuary including new pews, carpet, lighting, painting and sound.
·August 2003 - Pastor Stanley became interim pastor.
·September 2005 - Rev Les Puryear is called as Senior Pastor, and has effectively brought a depth of Biblical exposition and spiritual understanding to the pulpit at Lewisville Baptist Church.
·December 2007 - Rev. Jonathan Hodges is called as Associate Pastor to Students with focus on the development of the Children and Student Ministries.

Former Pastors

Elder Sidney F. Conrad 1883-1887
Rev. W. C. Brown 1887-1890
Rev. W. R. Crews 1890-1901
Rev. T. C. Myers 1902-1910
Rev. J. T. Kirk 1910-1923
Rev. O. E. Ward 1923-1925
Rev. S. B. Wilson 1926-1932
Rev. V. H. Harrell, Sr. 1932-1938
Rev. J. E. Kirk 1939-1946
Rev. C. C. Prince 1946-1948
Rev. Kenneth Snyder 1949-1953
Dr. Joseph Godwin 1953-1956
Rev. Holman A. Byers 1956-1962
Rev. M. W. Shaw 1962-1964
Rev. George Hankins 1964-1967
Rev. Dwight S. Watts, Sr. 1968-1977
Rev. Joe D. Coltrane 1977-1994
Dr. James E. Horton 1996-1999
Rev. Paul Riggs 1999-2001
Rev. Jeff Priest 2001-2003
Rev. Ralph Stanley, Sr. 2003-2005
Rev. Les Puryear 2005-present