Humbled by scandal in recent years, the former Bellmead First Baptist Church has a new owner, a new pastor and financial backing from groups that include the First Baptist Church of Woodway.

The iconic church once counted 1,588 members. But attendance had dropped to a handful amid dissension, splits and felony charges against former pastor William Frank Brown.

In 2009, Brown was arrested and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child. He pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated sexual assault and received four concurrent 50-year prison sentences.

Tim Randolph, director of missions for the Waco Regional Baptist Association, stands in front of the former Bellmead First Baptist Church, which is trying to regroup after years of turmoil.
Rod Aydelotte / Waco Tribune-Herald

“This church had a tough final few years and leadership was the main problem,” said Tim Randolph, director of missions for the Waco Regional Baptist Association.

With regular attendance down to 11 people, the church disbanded and gave the property to the association.

“We don’t own church properties as a general rule,” Randolph said. “But as it closed, the people there wanted us to have it, with the intention of getting another church up and running.”

The First Baptist Church of Woodway agreed to create a mission church there and help the association provide financial backing.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas also invested in the church.

Between 30 and 50 mostly younger people are attending services led by new pastor Victor Lyons, 28.

Baylor graduate

Lyons was born in Chile to missionary parents and graduated from Baylor University’s Truett Seminary.

Lyons said he most recently served as pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church near Crawford, but said he felt compelled to lead an urban church.

He said he thinks his fluency in Spanish will serve him well.

“I’m already thinking we need to add a service for those who speak Spanish,” Lyons said.

He said that on his last Sunday at Shiloh, he baptized five new converts.

“What better way to end one ministry and start another,” said Lyons, who has been teaching English to ninth-graders in Groesbeck to help make ends meet.

His family includes his 26-year-old wife, Courtney, and their 5-month-old son, Stanley. Courtney Lyons, a former youth minister, is pursuing a doctorate in church history at Truett Seminary.

“We want to reach out to this community right now,” Victor Lyons said.

He said he knows many inner-city churches face economic hard times and the Bellmead-area church has been hurt in other ways.

Victor Lyons (right), the new pastor of the former Bellmead First Baptist Church on Ashleman Street, stands with his wife Courtney as he holds his 5-month-old son, Stanley. The church will officially change to LaVega Community Church in early June.
Waco Regional Baptist Association photo

He said he already was approached about taking part in a program to help feed youngsters during the summer.

In early June, the church officially will take the name LaVega Community Church. That reflects its history because it was organized on March 25, 1945, when Bellmead Baptist Church merged with LaVega Baptist Church.

Rich history

The house of worship has a rich history. A local radio station broadcast early sermons preached there, and at one time membership grew to 1,600 members.

Declines followed the closing in 1968 of James Connally Air Force Base, which later became the site of Texas State Technical College, as well as the General Tire plant in the 1980s.

Still, the church reached out, sponsoring Bible classes in Spanish and sewing classes. In the 1990s, it renovated its education building for $200,000, and raised enough in pledges in one day to refurbish the sanctuary.

Though bad times followed, backers of the new church believe it will become a beacon for Bellmead.

“There is a lot of excitement about what God is doing. We believe Bellmead needs a new church, which is why we started this one,” said Doris King, director of local missions for Woodway First Baptist Church.

King said she counted 27 people at the Bellmead church during her last visit.

“That’s a huge church building and we believe the numbers will increase as we pick up speed,” King said. “Victor is excited about getting out into the neighborhood and spreading the word.”

Randolph said supporters hope the church becomes self-sufficient within two years.

mcopeland@wacotrib.com

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