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Texas Minister To Lead Plant City's Largest Church

First Baptist Church of Plant City

Plant City Elks Lodge No. 1727 recently honored winners of its annual Americanism Essay Contest, including, from the left in the front row, Olivia Dwyer, Hannah Tredway, Lyndi Hopkins, Michaela Knox, Breanna Hostutler and Jordan Lattimore. In the back row from the left are lodge officials Frank LaBarbera, Tom Crews, Sharon Hammersla and Jerry Yates.

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By DAVE NICHOLSON

dnicholson@tampatrib.com

Published: April 1, 2009

PLANT CITY - A 40-year-old Austin, Texas minister will become the senior pastor of the city's largest church.

The membership of First Baptist Church of Plant City voted unanimously to hire the Rev. Michael S. Lewis to replace the Rev. Ron Churchill, who is retiring after 21 years in the church's pulpit. Lewis will preach his first sermon May 17.

Lewis, who was recommended by a pastor search committee, has been senior pastor of Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin since April 2003. He has an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va. and a master of divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., among other degrees.

Lewis' wife, Liliana, is a native of Mexico City, Mexico. She is a former professional ballerina who has a bachelor's degree in Bible and elementary education from Columbia International University.

The couple has been married nearly 18 years and has three children, Charity, 15, Faith, 14, and Hope, 11.

Great Hills Baptist has about 5,500 members and averages nearly 2,000 in its worship services.

Lewis was born in Savannah, Ga. and was previously senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Richmond Hill, Ga. and Crestview Baptist Church in Lancaster, S.C. He also serves as vice chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. His hobbies include walks with his wife, bicycling, waterskiing, boating, golf and reading. His wife home-schools their three children and shares many of her husband's interests plus tennis and playing games.

Churchill, 65, plans to preach his final sermon on Easter. Interim pastors will fill in until Lewis starts.

First Baptist has more than 3,000 members.

Under Churchill's leadership, First Baptist moved to its current location at 503 N. Palmer St. and bought acreage on James L. Redman Parkway for a possible relocation.

Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at (813) 865-4432.

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