Jeffery Kyle Lake

Jeffery Kyle Lake was born June 12, 1972 in Tyler, Texas, to David and Shirley Lake. Kyle has three siblings, Jody, Jona, and Kristi Lake. He attended Andy Woods Elementary School and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1990 where he was co-captain of the state runner-up Lee Soccer Team. Kyle received his Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications and Religion from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, in 1994. Being led by God, Kyle began his ministry in churches in Tyler and Waco, Texas. He went on to attend Truett Seminary in Waco, earning his Master of Divinity in 1997. In 1998 he married Jennifer Gornto and they have three children, Avery, Jude, and Sutton. He is the author of two published books, Understanding God’s Will: How to Hack the Equation Without Formulas (© 2004 Relevant Books), and reUnderstanding Prayer: A Fresh Approach To Conversation With God (© 2005 Relevant Books). Kyle had a great passion for his work and loved serving the students of Baylor University. While preparing for baptism, Kyle was electrocuted on October 30, 2005 at his church during the weekend of Baylor Homecoming. Known best for his infectiously brilliant smile and astonishingly beautiful family, he was equal parts high intellectual and comedic humorist. His light, comic demeanor was unceasingly both charming and disarming. He closed each service with the following benediction: Love God, embrace beauty, and live life to the fullest.

The notes of Kyle’s sermon that he was going to preach the day he died exemplify Kyle’s view of life. These words are not only a reminder of who Kyle was but a challenge to live life to the fullest!

GO

Last message from Kyle

LIVE. And live well. BREATHE. Breathe in and breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now. On a crystal-clear, breezy, 70-degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun. If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool autumn day to freeze your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE. Get knee-deep in a novel and lose track of time. If you bike, pedal HARD.. and if you crash, then crash well. Feel the satisfaction of a job well done—a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed. If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old’s nose, don’t be disgusted if the Kleenex didn’t catch it all.. because soon he’ll be wiping his own. If you’ve recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And grieve well. At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you’re eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. Because it is most definitely a gift.

Kyle left us with a challenge to Love God, Embrace Beauty, and Live Life to the fullest!