Former Baptist Convention president with notorious past leads revival
By Tyrone Farley
For the St. Louis American
The former president of the Baptist Convention USA, the Rev. Dr. Henry J. Lyons, visited St. Louis this week as a guest preacher at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1444 South Compton, where the Rev. Dr. Sammie E. Jones is pastor.
“Dr. Lyons has been a friend of mine for many years, prior to his becoming president of the convention, and he has remained a friend for the past 20 years,” the Rev. Jones told the American.
“He is one of the best spiritual preachers in the country. What better person to lead in prayer than one who has been on the other side.”
The Rev. Lyons’ name may be familiar because of the publicity he received when he fell “on the other side” n of the law and prison bars.
In 1999, Lyons was convicted on charges of racketeering, grand theft, bank fraud and tax evasion. He was ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution and served time in a minimum-security Florida prison for these offenses. He was released in November 2003.
Lyons’ problems with the law began with a disastrous family disturbance. When Lyons’ wife, Deborah, learned of a $700,000 house Lyons reportedly had bought with his mistress, she burned down the mansion, sparking an investigation by police.
“His heart has always been with God,” Jones said of his friend, who is now the pastor at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, Fla.
“All of us have challenges in life. We thank God he came through them. God forgave him. I have asked our church community to forgive him as well.”
If attendance at the three-day revival (held Monday through Wednesday) was any indication, the Mt. Zion congregation and other local Baptists have granted Lyons forgiveness. Lyons preached to nearly full houses. According to Jones, 25 pastors from congregations across the city joined their faith’s former leader in worship.
Tuesday’s service got underway with the praise team’s rendition of “What a Mighty God We Serve” and “Victory is Mine” and the Mt. Zion Choir’s performance of “Always Remember Jesus.”
After being introduced by Jones, who invited those in the back of the sanctuary to move forward as a show of hospitality, Lyons preached a stirring sermon on Mary Magdalene.
Mary Magdalene, of course, was a prostitute who figures prominently in scriupture. When the men of her town caught her in the act of adultery, they wanted to stone her to death, but, Lyons said, “God saved her.”
Lyons reminded the congregation of Jesus’ challenge to her accusers n “if you are without sin, cast the first stone” n and how everyone then walked away and left her unharmed.
“The Lord is not in the business of getting people out of a jam, not even me, because if you did it, you got to pay,” said Lyons.
“But he forgave her of her sins, and I thank God tonight that he is a forgiving God, and I thank God for his forgiveness.”
Much of Lyons’ sermon on the second night of the revival n delivered at times in song and at times as declamations n could be understood as mature reflections on his encounters with the law.
“When it comes to what people may say about you, you have to consider the source,” Lyons said.
“People to this day come to me and say, ‘Well, Pastor, the people say …’ But who are they?”
Toward the end of the message, Lyons began to inspire the crowd with his interpretation that everyone has had a Mary Magdalene moment at some point in their lives.
In the closing of his message, Lyons said, “When I think of the goodness of Jesus and what he has done for me, and where he brought me from, I just thank him.”
At the end of the service, congregants declined to speak to the press, as did Lyons. “You understand the situation,” Jones said.
