Pastor electrocuted during baptism [Texas]

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | October 31, 2005 | AP

[aculeus]

A US pastor performing a baptism was electrocuted inside his Texas church when he grabbed a microphone while partially submerged, a church employee said.

The Reverend Kyle Lake, 33, was standing in water up to his shoulder in a baptismal in front of 800 people at University Baptist Church when he was electrocuted yesterday, said Jamie Dudley, a church business administrator.

Doctors in the congregation unsuccessfully performed chest compressions for 40 minutes, Dudley said.

The woman Lake was baptising was not injured, Dudley said.

Pastors at University Baptist Church routinely use a microphone during baptisms, Dudley said.

"He was grabbing the microphone so everyone could hear," Dudley said.

"It's the only way you can be loud enough."

About 800 people attended the morning service, which was larger than normal because it was homecoming weekend at nearby Baylor University, Dudley said.

Lake, who had a wife and three children, had been at the church for nine years, the last seven as pastor, Dudley said.

AP

[WildTurkey]

Update from today's Dallas Morning News - it may not have been the microphone after all: "Others said it appeared that a piece of band equipment fell in the water in which he was standing."

"Others said". Presents alternate view but still presents the microphone as the primary possibility.

[CindyDawg]

We accept Gods will but we pray until we know what it is. Remember David's little son?

[WildTurkey]

I would have to go back and review the rules. Isn't it required that the person remove himself from the gene pool before he procreates?

[theDentist]

Perhaps, but there's no saying he couldn't have again.

[WildTurkey]

We accept Gods will but we pray until we know what it is.

Then by ignoring hundreds of prayers in "his house" God was thumbing his nose at the whole congregation?

[CindyDawg]

It's a Christian thing:') Saying, when we pray that God must do what we ask and if He doesn't then He is ignoring us would be us thunbing our nose at Him.

[LibertarianInExile]

First off, I was talking about MY death, Ms. Sanctimony.

Second off, I don't think I asked for your perspective on how society feels. If I want to go somewhere to get the touchy-feely bent on things, I'll go hang out on DU. Maybe you should hang out there, too. Plenty of sensitive hippy-type men over there. With the importance you place on how society feels, you'd probably fit right in with the libs anyway.

[HiTech RedNeck]

"Others said it appeared that a piece of band equipment fell in the water in which he was standing."

Huh, it "appeared"? Would there be a wet amplifier to show for it?

[theDentist]

By the way, you HAVE written all the others who talked about his being a Darwin Award nominee, or made other dark jests as well, right?

[LA Woman3]

Pastor remembered for reaching outsiders

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/10/30/20051101wacpastorslegacy.html

University Baptist Church leaders say they hope their church can continue the “outside-the-box” thinking employed by pastor Kyle Lake to draw young people to God.

Lake, who was electrocuted Sunday morning while touching a microphone as he stood in the baptistery, had a passion for reaching people turned off by traditional Christian settings, said Blair Browning, a member of UBC since its inception in 1995.

“To me, Kyle's greatest attribute was his approachability,” Browning said, adding that many who otherwise would not have visited a traditional church were drawn to UBC because of Lake's approach.

“He didn't make you feel dumb for asking questions, ” he said, adding that Lake's ability to relate well with others and be accessible enabled him to develop the church community the way leaders envisioned.

Lake, 33, was not a sharply attired, preacher-in-the-pulpit kind of pastor. He preferred jeans and T-shirts and spoke in a conversational style, often sitting on a stool with typed notes and Bible in hand.

A husband and father of three young children, family stories were often used as examples to drive his points home during sermons. ,BR>
Browning said Lake, who served as community pastor before becoming head pastor at UBC in 1999, also never gave cut-and-dried answers when someone came to him with a problem or personal issue. It was a subject Lake addressed in his first book, Understanding the Will of God: How to Hack the Equation Without Formulas.

Lake's honesty, concern for others and his devotion to helping UBC grow are what drew people into the church, Browning said.

“There's an interesting interview (with Lake) on The Leadership Blog, and it's perfect Kyle,” he said. “The last question was, ‘Where do you see yourself in 10 years?' and Kyle wrote, ‘Hopefully in the same place. Pastor of University Baptist Church in Waco, Texas.'

“This was his community and his home. He was connected to it.”

Jana Parker, who coordinates the children's ministry at the church, said she hopes UBC will continue “being that church for people who don't like going to church, for people who are burned out on traditional church.”

Parker said her introduction to the church in 2001 was a breath of fresh air.

“Kyle showed us that Christianity is something we can do, something that people can live. It doesn't have to fit in a box or look a certain way,” she said.

Parker doesn't believe Lake was the focal point of the church, but rather he was an integral part of it and someone who embodied UBC's vision of challenging people to know God.

“God is our foundation, and that will not move,” she said. “I think Kyle would want us to continue being different and continue being on the cutting edge. I hope the church will continue to think outside the box.” Lake is survived by his wife, Jennifer, his 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old twin sons. A viewing will be held at noon today at First Baptist Church of Waco, at the corner of Fifth Street and Clay Avenue. Funeral services will follow at 1:30 p.m.

Lake's family has asked that donations be made in lieu of flowers to University Baptist Church, 1701 Dutton Ave., Waco, Texas 76706.

[diamond6]

Unbelievable.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

This Church is at 1701 Dutton Ave.

Do you know how many emergency EMTs are within minutes of this place?

Why in the heck did amateurs try to revive him for 40 (forty!) minutes/

The paramedics could have been there in minutes. What gives?

[Issaquahking]

Thanks for the follow up.

[PAR35]

Well, any trial lawyer should be able to tell you that eye witness testimony is the least reliable evidence that there is (unless it is needed for his present case). So take with a grain of salt what anyone says that they saw.

I did see an article this evening (I think from the Waco paper) They dug up another microphone electrocution from Louisiana a few years ago. That one was traced to an ungrounded mic.

[theDentist]

Thanks. I be here all zee month.

[Candor7]

Yrs: "Why in the heck did amateurs try to revive him for 40 (forty!) minutes/"

There were about 700 people at the service, among the congregation were several physicians ( M.D.s).

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

"Several physicians" in the congregation don't carry all the equipment a paramedic would have. Last time I went to church, I did not see the local church-going physicians toting in automated external defibrillators into church.

Did these people really not call 911?

[MayflowerMadam]

"...GREAT case for sprinkling.."

Convenient, but not Biblical.

[StarCMC]

(I'm SBC - it was a joke)