Lyons released from prison, appears in pulpit next day

LAKELAND, Fla. — The Rev. Henry J. Lyons, the Florida pastor who spent nearly five years behind bars on charges of grand theft and racketeering walked out of state prison Nov. 29 and preached from a guest pulpit the following day.

Lyons, 61, was convicted after an investigation revealed he used his leadership role as president of the National Baptist Convention USA and pastor of Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church to steal an estimated $4 million to buy luxury homes, jewelry and support his mistresses, according to the Associated Press.

During his time in prison, Lyons was befriended by the Rev. Alex Harper Sr., pastor of First Baptist Institutional Church. It was at Harper’s church that Lyons delivered his Nov. 30 sermon about repentance and forgiveness.

“I have suffered God’s rod of correction,” Lyons told the congregation. “I stand here today to tell you I truly, truly, repented of my sins.”

Lyons’ fall came after his wife Deborah set fire to a $700,000 waterfront home he co-owned with another woman, Bernice Edwards, in July 1997. Lyons and his wife divorced earlier this year; Edwards died in prison in May of natural causes.

Lyons will remain on probation for the next three years on federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion, and he owes $2.5 million in restitution. He said he will meet with federal authorities Monday to work out payback terms.

“I have no idea how to do it,” Lyons told AP. “I don’t have any money. The attorneys have all the money. I have an agreement with God: ‘You make it available to me, and I have no problem paying it.’”

During the service at First Baptist Institutional Church, about two dozen ministers gathered around Lyons for a restoration ceremony, where an old robe—signifying the sins of the past—was removed from him, and a new robe wrapped around him.

Vincent Shannon, pastor of Zion Hill Primitive Baptist Church in Lakeland, said that the ministers came because they knew Lyons had worked for forgiveness.

“We’re here to restore him,” Shannon said. “We’re here to welcome him back.”

Lyons, who wept during the ceremony, said he hopes to meet with members of the National Baptist Convention USA in January, but has no plans to seek any leadership positions.

“I’m looking at a lot of options,” he said. “I would love to go back to being a pastor, but I understand if I don’t. I did an awful lot of counseling while in prison, so that is a possibility.”

Lyons is currently working for the Coney Funeral Home, which was part of his work release plan with the prison. He said he had not had any job offers from his old church, Bethel Metropolitan.

Published by Keener Communications Group

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