Baylor Chapel Students Receive 'Amazing' Gift

December 9, 2005

by Paige Patton

Baylor University students attending chapel on Nov. 28, were presented with a gift that hopefully will impact their lives and give them guidance for the future. Nearly 3,000 copies of Understanding God's Will: How to Hack the Equation Without Formulas, written by the late University Baptist Church pastor Kyle Lake, were distributed to students in both morning services.

Byron Weathersbee, interim university chaplain, said he wanted all freshman to have a copy of Kyle's book to help them as they wrestle with life decisions. "Kyle Lake did a great job addressing purpose and meaning of life, and I wanted the students to understand what he thought about God's will for our lives," Weathersbee said.

Dallas sophomore Katie Wilhoit said students were given three gifts that day in chapel.

"The first was the message of the Gospel, the second was the book, and the third was an early release," Wilhoit said. She said that many students were "shocked at receiving such a gift and felt very honored that someone would give them something as important as this book."

Lake died Oct. 30 when he was accidentally electrocuted while performing a baptism at UBC, where he had served as pastor for seven years. News of the accident quickly spread around the globe and deeply affected the Baylor family.

Lake earned a bachelor's degree in speech communications/religion in 1994 from Baylor and his master of divinity degree in 1997 from Truett Seminary. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, also a Baylor graduate, and three children.

Weathersbee said that he has received much positive feedback from students who are "grateful" for what they call "an amazing gift." He said that he will occasionally receive some negative responses on chapel issues, but has had only positive reactions to the book distribution.

The cost of distribution of the books was covered by a group of Baylor alumni who were part of a supper club with the Lakes. Relevant Publishing also made "quite a sacrificial gift" to get the books into the hands of students, according to Weathersbee.

Donna Powers, long-time friend of the Lake family, was part of the team that organized the book distribution.

"Kyle had a true heart for college students and had a special way of relating with them. The book distribution is a way that Kyle's special way of speaking to students can continue on," she said.

Powers believes that although Kyle is not physically present in her life, he is teaching her that "life is short and we do not have time to waste on things that don't matter."

More information about Kyle Lake's book can be found at Relevant Books. Information about the Kyle Lake memorial fund can be found at www.kylelake.org/.

Truett Seminary also has established the Kyle Lake Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund. Gifts can be made to the Kyle Lake Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund c/o Baylor University, One Bear Place #97050, Waco, TX 76798, or at www.baylor.edu/onlinegiving.