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Photos provided by Ron Clarke
October 25, 2024
Lakehills church celebrates 65th anniversary
By Ron Clarke
The Bandera Prophet
The Lakehills United Methodist Church was born in 1959 and recently celebrated its 65th anniversary in a special celebration, which included a breakfast social, a contemporary service with visiting gospel singers, and a community celebration lunch.
It may be hard to believe, but what started as a simple, open-field church in tents formed into what is 65 years later a thriving, giving church in the Texas Hill Country near Medina Lake. Serving as a great history of community, the Hill Country lifestyle, and so much more, the Lakehills United Methodist Church was born as the North Medina Lake Methodist Church on Aug. 2, 1959, after its first church service was held in June of that same year.
Just over a year later, in October 1960, the first church building was completed, and the North Medina Lake United Methodist Church began its long service to the Lakehills and surrounding area communities.
As the 1960s became reality, so did the church’s growth, including donated altars, rails, furnishings, and in 1962, a fellowship hall for community use was built. After five years, as the North Medina Lake United Methodist Church, the congregation voted to officially rename the church to Lakehills United Methodist Church, a name it continues to use today.
In the 1970s, another sanctuary was built, and in the early 1980s, a parsonage was purchased for the pastor. As the 1980s moved into the 1990s, a brand new church and community facility was built and still provides religious and local community-based services to the Bandera area.
As the new millennium opened in the Texas Hill Country, the church held its very first annual Fish Fry in 2001, remodeled its kitchen to better serve the community in its outreach programs, and paid off the mortgage in 2008.
Today, the Lakehills United Methodist Church is well-known for its family-oriented programs and dedication to the community it serves, by hosting a free Christmas dinner, a weekly community meal, and a bi-monthly “Food with Friends” food pantry that provides meals to those who desire it. The church provides a host of activities, and a sense of community and camaraderie in the Lakehills and Bandera County areas. Special activities to help those who need it are special drives, including providing heaters, an outside food pantry, a loaning library, and a blanket drive among many local outreach efforts.
New pastor Peter Aguilar recently began serving the community at the Lakehills United Methodist Church this past July.
“Every church reflects the culture of the community. Sometimes the Church is downstream and responding to politics and entertainment which are driving the church conversations instead of the church being in touch with the community. We are the mirror to that. We as a
church and a community member, in attending to the wants and needs of our Lakehills and Bandera County community, the Lakehills United Methodist Church really takes ownership of the Gospel by attending to the needs and wants of the community first before any entertainment or political concerns,” Aguilar said. “What Jesus said is ‘organic.’ We and our congregation are organic. We can’t make something happen by simply willing it. We must be faithful and working at it all the time. Jesus teaches us to be like salt and leaven; to be a light on the hill to those around us and to be salt is to season the work we do, to make it better. The leaven increases the size of that work and those efforts. At this church, this is what I see, and this what I experience. Politics and the cultural debates are not our focal point here.
“Our agenda is the Gospel and how it translates to the needs of each member of the community, whether a member of our church or not. We are proud of our many ministries, to include our community meal, but we are especially proud of our children’s ministry. We pride ourselves on letting the children be involved and interact with our services. In fact, sometimes children walk to church without their parents attending because they know that they will be included.
“Even though we have experienced some tough times in our church community, they have only made us stronger, more focused, and more resilient. Churches are where people learn and build relationships, as well as believing in the same Lord. My personal mission is to make Jesus happy, and the Lakehills United Methodist Church is a good fit because our community church family cares for our local community as well, and that makes Jesus happy.”
Church Members Jennifer Moore and Patti Murley agree.
“It’s wonderful to carry our missions and traditions in this area historically for so long. We feed hunger, both physical and emotional. We are proud of our year-long events and our free Christmas dinner is but one example of many. We love everyone in our community, regardless of how you look, where you have been or how you dress. You are welcome here as you are at any time, and not just on Sunday,” Moore, who has been a member of the Church since 1978, said.
Echoing Moore, Murley said she and her husband “are blessed to be a part of a church with such a rich history and a promising future. We believe we are mission-minded and vital to Lakehills and the surrounding communities.”
The Lakehills United Methodist Church is an IRS non-profit 501c3 religious organization, serving the religious and Bandera area community. For more information, or to donate to their many projects, visit their website at www.lakehillsumc.org or their Facebook page. You may also call the Church Office, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 830-751-2404.
It may be hard to believe, but what started as a simple, open-field church in tents formed into what is 65 years later a thriving, giving church in the Texas Hill Country near Medina Lake. Serving as a great history of community, the Hill Country lifestyle, and so much more, the Lakehills United Methodist Church was born as the North Medina Lake Methodist Church on Aug. 2, 1959, after its first church service was held in June of that same year.
Just over a year later, in October 1960, the first church building was completed, and the North Medina Lake United Methodist Church began its long service to the Lakehills and surrounding area communities.
As the 1960s became reality, so did the church’s growth, including donated altars, rails, furnishings, and in 1962, a fellowship hall for community use was built. After five years, as the North Medina Lake United Methodist Church, the congregation voted to officially rename the church to Lakehills United Methodist Church, a name it continues to use today.
In the 1970s, another sanctuary was built, and in the early 1980s, a parsonage was purchased for the pastor. As the 1980s moved into the 1990s, a brand new church and community facility was built and still provides religious and local community-based services to the Bandera area.
As the new millennium opened in the Texas Hill Country, the church held its very first annual Fish Fry in 2001, remodeled its kitchen to better serve the community in its outreach programs, and paid off the mortgage in 2008.
Today, the Lakehills United Methodist Church is well-known for its family-oriented programs and dedication to the community it serves, by hosting a free Christmas dinner, a weekly community meal, and a bi-monthly “Food with Friends” food pantry that provides meals to those who desire it. The church provides a host of activities, and a sense of community and camaraderie in the Lakehills and Bandera County areas. Special activities to help those who need it are special drives, including providing heaters, an outside food pantry, a loaning library, and a blanket drive among many local outreach efforts.
New pastor Peter Aguilar recently began serving the community at the Lakehills United Methodist Church this past July.
“Every church reflects the culture of the community. Sometimes the Church is downstream and responding to politics and entertainment which are driving the church conversations instead of the church being in touch with the community. We are the mirror to that. We as a
church and a community member, in attending to the wants and needs of our Lakehills and Bandera County community, the Lakehills United Methodist Church really takes ownership of the Gospel by attending to the needs and wants of the community first before any entertainment or political concerns,” Aguilar said. “What Jesus said is ‘organic.’ We and our congregation are organic. We can’t make something happen by simply willing it. We must be faithful and working at it all the time. Jesus teaches us to be like salt and leaven; to be a light on the hill to those around us and to be salt is to season the work we do, to make it better. The leaven increases the size of that work and those efforts. At this church, this is what I see, and this what I experience. Politics and the cultural debates are not our focal point here.
“Our agenda is the Gospel and how it translates to the needs of each member of the community, whether a member of our church or not. We are proud of our many ministries, to include our community meal, but we are especially proud of our children’s ministry. We pride ourselves on letting the children be involved and interact with our services. In fact, sometimes children walk to church without their parents attending because they know that they will be included.
“Even though we have experienced some tough times in our church community, they have only made us stronger, more focused, and more resilient. Churches are where people learn and build relationships, as well as believing in the same Lord. My personal mission is to make Jesus happy, and the Lakehills United Methodist Church is a good fit because our community church family cares for our local community as well, and that makes Jesus happy.”
Church Members Jennifer Moore and Patti Murley agree.
“It’s wonderful to carry our missions and traditions in this area historically for so long. We feed hunger, both physical and emotional. We are proud of our year-long events and our free Christmas dinner is but one example of many. We love everyone in our community, regardless of how you look, where you have been or how you dress. You are welcome here as you are at any time, and not just on Sunday,” Moore, who has been a member of the Church since 1978, said.
Echoing Moore, Murley said she and her husband “are blessed to be a part of a church with such a rich history and a promising future. We believe we are mission-minded and vital to Lakehills and the surrounding communities.”
The Lakehills United Methodist Church is an IRS non-profit 501c3 religious organization, serving the religious and Bandera area community. For more information, or to donate to their many projects, visit their website at www.lakehillsumc.org or their Facebook page. You may also call the Church Office, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 830-751-2404.