{{Short description|American pastor and author (1972–2005)}} {{more citations needed|date = January 2021}} {{use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{infobox clergy |name = Kyle Lake |birth_name = Jeffrey Kyle Lake |birth_date = {{birth date|1972|6|12}} |birth_place = Tyler, Texas, U.S. |occupation = {{Hlist|Pastor|author}} |death_date = {{death date and age|2005|10|30|1972|6|12}} |death_place = Waco, Texas, U.S. |church = Christianity (Baptist) |spouse = {{marriage|Jennifer Gornto|1998}}{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} |children = 3 |congregations = University Baptist Church |years_active = 1995–2005 |education = Baylor University (BA)<br>George W. Truett Theological Seminary (M.Div) }} '''Kyle Lake''' (June 12, 1972 – October 30, 2005) was an American Baptist pastor and author. He was pastor of University Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, until his death in 2005. He was considered part of the Emerging church movement.<ref name = CT/>

==Biography== Jeffery Kyle Lake was born on June 12, 1972, in Tyler, Texas, to David and Shirley Lake.<ref name = CT>{{cite web | author = CT Staff | date = October 31, 2005 | title = Pastor Electrocuted in Baptismal | work = Christianity Today (CT, ChristianityToday.com) | url = https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/novemberweb-only/14.0.html | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061014175353/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/novemberweb-only/14.0.html | archive-date = 2006-10-14 | access-date = 26 January 2025}}</ref> He attended Andy Woods Elementary and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1990 where he was co-captain of the state runner-up Lee Soccer Team. On May 30, 1998, he married Jennifer Gornto of Clear Lake, Texas.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} Lake earned a bachelor's degree in Speech Communications and Religion from Baylor University in 1994 before receiving a Master of Divinity degree from George W. Truett Theological Seminary in 1997.<ref name = Copeland>Copeland, Mike. [https://www.wacotrib.com/news/waco-pastor-electrocuted-during-baptism-subject-of-father-s-book/article_ca7292d1-490f-5a35-9af8-ca7492031e0e.html Waco pastor electrocuted during baptism subject of father's book], wacotrib.com, USA, September 23, 2011</ref>

===Ministry=== {{more citations needed section|date=January 2025}} Kyle Lake was pastor of University Baptist Church, founded in 1995 by Chris Seay and Christian recording artist David Crowder.<ref name = CT/> Lake closed his sermons with the phrase "Love God, Embrace Beauty, and Live Life to the Fullest," a benediction that is still recited by the church at the end of every service.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Lake was known for two published books, ''Understanding God's Will: How To Hack The Equation Without Formulas'' (2004) and ''(RE)Understanding Prayer: A Fresh Approach to Conversation With God'' (2005).

Lake was also known for his ability to reach out to younger audiences such as the college-age crowd,{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} and was a main worship leader in the collegiate Passion movement.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} Many students said they were drawn to his ability to preach the gospel in a way young people could understand and easily relate to their own lives.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

===Personal life=== He and his wife Jennifer (née Gornto) had three children—a daughter named Avery, and twin boys, Jude and Sutton Lake.<ref name = CT/>{{verify source|date=January 2025}}

===Death=== Lake was electrocuted on October 30, 2005, as he stepped into baptismal waters and reached out to adjust a microphone.<ref name = McNamaraCBS>McNamara, Melissa. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pastor-electrocuted-during-baptism/ Pastor Electrocuted During Baptism], cbsnews.com, USA, October 31, 2005</ref> Ben Dudley, community pastor at University Baptist, told the Waco Tribune-Herald that, "At first, there was definitely confusion just because everyone was trying to figure out what was going on" and that "Everyone just immediately started praying."<ref name = McNamaraCBS/>

The 800 people attending the baptism event was larger than usual because of homecoming activities at nearby Baylor University.<ref name = McNamaraCBS/> Doctors in the congregation rushed to Lake when he collapsed; he was transported to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead<!-- there, at around 11:30&nbsp;a.m-->.<ref name = McNamaraCBS/><!--THE 11:30 AM TIME OF DEATH IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CITATION.--> The woman Lake was preparing to baptize was also taken to the hospital, but she was not seriously injured; it is believed that she had not yet stepped into the water when the electrocution happened.<ref name = McNamaraCBS/>

At a remembrance attended by about 1,000 people that night at First Baptist Church Waco, Dudley told the UBC congregation that they would move forward as a church. "I don't know how, when, why, where or what's going to happen, but we will continue as a church in the community because that is what Kyle would have wanted."<ref name = McNamaraCBS/>

==Movie== In the spring of 2006, several Baylor University students and friends of Kyle created a short film based on his last sermon titled "Kyle's Film".<ref>Hightower, Lauren. [https://www.baylor.edu/lariatarchives/news.php?action=story&story=42550 1 year later, UBC pastor not forgotten] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210190855/http://www.baylor.edu/lariatarchives/news.php?action=story&story=42550 |date=December 10, 2015 }}, baylor.edu, USA, October 20, 2006</ref> David Crowder Band and Robbie Seay Band provided the music for the film, which features a montage of artistic images narrated to Lake's last sermon.

==Book== In 2011, a book about his life, "That's Kyle", is published by his father, David Lake.<ref name = Copeland/>

==See also== *Emerging Church

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Published works== :* ''(RE)Understanding Prayer: A Fresh Approach to Conversation With God'', 2005 (Relevant Books) {{ISBN|0976364263}} :* ''Understanding God's Will: How To Hack The Equation Without Formulas'', 2004 (Relevant Books) {{ISBN|978-0974694269}}

==External links== * [http://www.kylelake.org The Kyle Lake Foundation] * [http://www.ubcwaco.org UBC Waco] * [http://www.kylesfilm.com "Kyle's Film"] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060713153048/http://www.ubcwaco.org/2004/footprints.html Footprints project: The Legacy of Kyle Lake]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lake, Kyle}} Category:1972 births Category:2005 deaths Category:20th-century American male writers Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers Category:20th-century Baptists Category:21st-century American Christian clergy Category:21st-century American male writers Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers Category:21st-century Baptists Category:Accidental deaths by electrocution Category:Accidental deaths in Texas Category:American male non-fiction writers Category:American religious writers Category:Baptists from Texas Category:Baptist writers Category:Baylor University alumni Category:Emerging church movement Category:People from Tyler, Texas Category:People from Waco, Texas Category:Writers from Texas Category:20th-century American Christian clergy