Lakeside Baptist Church, located at 9150 Garland Road in Dallas will be celebrating its 75th year of service to the White Rock Lake community on November 12-13. The church started as a mission church of the Munger Place Baptist Church and held its first meeting on Nov. 29, 1936. Lakeside’s first church building was located at the intersection of Ocalla and Ormond (now San Benito) streets. The church grew quickly and on March 3, 1940, a new building was dedicated at the corner of Ocalla and Diceman streets.

The church continued to serve and grow throughout the war years and August in 1944 a plot of land on Garland road was secured for a new building. Under the leadership of Dr. John Lee Harris ground for the new facility was broken on Aug. 18, 1948. The years since then have been years of growth as new building, and facilities were added to meet the needs of the church’s mission.

A family center, a new worship center, educational buildings and a children’s building were added, but the church’s growth was not just in buildings. Throughout the years this church has started more than 30 mission churches in the Dallas area. Almost all of these missions have constituted as churches and are serving their communities.

This church has sent out many missionaries to all corners of the world and often joined with overseas churches in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now 75 years on, a revitalized Lakeside Baptist Church continues to serve a constantly changing White Rock Lake area with programs to meet the needs of the community. There is a new contemporary style worship service, home Bible study groups and music programs for adults and children. Other programs include AWANAS, MOPS, Precepts Bible study and a Mothers-Day-Out program.

Each year a group of Lakesiders join with the “World Changers” to do construction projects. This year they went to Brunswick, Georgia where they painted a senior citizens center, reroofed another building and helped renovate a playground. Another group of Lakesiders went to Peru where they joined with a local Baptist church as they ministered to the community. Another group is a part of a nationwide prison ministry that will travel to prisons all over Texas this fall and next spring to bring hope for a better life to those incarcerated.

Lakeside Baptist Church will celebrate 75 years of service on Nov. 12-13 with a banquet on Saturday evening and a special service on Sunday. All of the White Rock Lake community and all former and current members are invited to join the celebration. Those interested may contact the church at lbcdallas.com or call 214-324-1425.