# Kyle Lake

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{{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](/source/Tyler%2C_Texas), U.S.
|occupation = {{Hlist|Pastor|author}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|2005|10|30|1972|6|12}}
|death_place = [Waco, Texas](/source/Waco%2C_Texas), U.S.
|church = Christianity ([Baptist](/source/Baptists_in_the_United_States))
|spouse = {{marriage|Jennifer Gornto|1998}}{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
|children = 3
|congregations = University Baptist Church
|years_active = 1995–2005
|education = [Baylor University](/source/Baylor_University) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))<br>[George W. Truett Theological Seminary](/source/George_W._Truett_Theological_Seminary) ([M.Div](/source/Master_of_Divinity))
}}
'''Kyle Lake''' (June 12, 1972 – October 30, 2005) was an American [Baptist](/source/Baptist) pastor and author. He was pastor of University Baptist Church in [Waco, Texas](/source/Waco%2C_Texas), until his death in 2005. He was considered part of the [Emerging church](/source/Emerging_church) movement.<ref name = CT/>

==Biography==
Jeffery Kyle Lake was born on June 12, 1972, in [Tyler, Texas](/source/Tyler%2C_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](/source/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](/source/Clear_Lake%2C_Texas).{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} Lake earned a bachelor's degree in Speech Communications and Religion from [Baylor University](/source/Baylor_University) in 1994 before receiving a [Master of Divinity](/source/Master_of_Divinity) degree from [George W. Truett Theological Seminary](/source/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](/source/University_Baptist_Church_(Waco%2C_Texas)), founded in 1995 by [Chris Seay](/source/Chris_Seay) and Christian recording artist [David Crowder](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Baylor_University).<ref name = McNamaraCBS/> Doctors in the congregation rushed to Lake when he collapsed; he was transported to [Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center](/source/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](/source/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](/source/David_Crowder_Band) and [Robbie Seay Band](/source/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](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kyle Lake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Lake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Lake?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.