It is with heavy hearts that we announce that our missionary and former Pastor of our church, Bro. Mike Lane, passed away in his sleep sometime in the early morning hours of August 31, 2015 on his mission field of La Esperanza, Honduras. His sudden passing comes as a shock to his friends and family alike. On Sunday evening, Mike & Debbie went to the hospital due to concerns about chest pains Mike was having. The doctors examined him and ruled out a heart attack, and he was sent home. When Debbie went to wake him in the morning, she discovered he had passed away.
Note from Pastor Smith:
(Posted 09/01/15) We were certainly surprised by the unexpected report we received from another one of our missionary families in Honduras, Jason and Cassandra Tate, that Bro. Mike Lane had died in his sleep sometime Sunday night or early Monday morning. The Tates immediately began the several hour drive to join Mike's dear wife Debbie, all the while transferring information back and forth. We have the wonderful joy of laboring daily along side the Lanes' son Brandon, an Assistant Pastor and music director here at Faith, his wife Kathy, and their three children: Dakota, MaKayla, and Brayden. We had to interrupt the staff devotional and prayer time to excuse ourselves, and then realizing the brevity of the situation, we returned to retrieve Brandon and reveal the cause of our concern. We were able to contact Debbie within minutes, and they began to console one another and communicate with each other to create a plan for uniting the family together as quickly as possible. We were able to get Brandon on a flight by mid-afternoon, and arrangements were made for transportation and lodging at the airport where he could meet Mrs. Debbie when she arrives. Many national pastors quickly gathered at the Lanes' home early this morning, and many more arrived throughout the day, with several more joining them after their arrival in Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras. The coroner's autopsy was delayed by the long travel and excessive traffic congestion, so the original plan of an early morning release may be altered. The Tates are with Mrs. Debbie, as are several other missionaries and nationals, and the prayers and response of brethren around the globe has been manifested through the grace and comfort of the Spirit of God.
Latest Updates:
(Update from Debbie Lane posted 09/25/15) Words could never express what is in my heart. The out pouring of your love, prayers and generosity toward me and my family has truly been overwhelming! If anything, or anyone could soften the shock and the blow of Mike’s sudden passing, your prayers and your kindnesses have done so. My husband would have been so surprised at the outpouring of love that has come from so many around the world!
We have endeavored to send notes of our appreciation to everyone. My daughter, daughter-in-law and I have tried to work together to accomplish that. There were just far too many for one person to do alone. If somewhere in the confusion and the shuffle of responsibilities, names and many addresses you do not receive an acknowledgment of your kindness toward us, I pray that you will forgive us and know that it was certainly not an intentional oversight. We have prayed God would help us not to leave a single person out and that He would bless and repay each and every one of you in such a way as we could never do. Read More...
How You Can Help:
Our number one resource is prayer to God for the strength and comfort that this dear family desperately needs. We ask you to join with us by lifting them up in prayer throughout the course of each day as they walk through this valley. Several friends and churches have also begun to send financial support to assist the family with the many travel and funeral expenses they will incur in the days to come. If you would like to send a financial gift for the Lane family, please click here to enter our secure giving area.
Memorial Details:
A memorial to honor the memory and life of former Pastor and Missionary Michael Lane will be held at the Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas on Monday, September the 7th at 2:00pm.
A memorial will also be held at Faith Baptist Church in Tacoma, Washington on Saturday, September the 12th at 2:00pm. Bro. Lane served as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church for 15 years prior to serving as a Missionary on the mission field of Honduras. Bro. Lanes son Brandon is currently serving as an assistant Pastor and music director at Faith. The memorial will be streamed live via the internet, you can view the services by clicking on this link.
Cards and flowers may be sent to the address listed below. Financial gifts to help the family may be made here by clicking this link.
Monday, September 7th at 2:00 pm
Calvary Baptist Church
401 West Church Street
Grand Prairie, Texas 75050
(972) 237-2757
www.calvarygp.net
Saturday, September 12th at 2:00 pm
Faith Baptist Church
5714 29th Street Northeast
Tacoma, Washington 98422
(253) 927-7673
www.foundedonfaith.com
MY FRIEND
Some days I do what’s right,
And others do what’s wrong,
He shows me the right path to take,
And He gives me a song.
Some days I’m not the tender clay,
He needs to mold and make,
To be used for His purposes,
Though it’s better for my sake.
Sometimes trials come,
And I’m turned and tossed,
Sometimes loved ones pass,
And I grieve over the loss.
But I know Who’ll take care of me,
Who’ll provide my every need,
Who’ll give me everlasting peace,
And give me comfort sweet.
This person that I’ve talked about,
Will keep you to the end,
Jesus is His perfect name,
And He’s a never-changing Friend.
Dakota and Dad-Dad Lane (2007)
Four generations of Lane men (2007)
Reflecting on the Life of Bro. Mike Lane:
James Michael “Mike” Lane was born in the state of Texas to Jim and Dovie Lane on August 27, 1952. He met his wife Debbie in their home church, Calvary Baptist Church of Grand Prairie, Texas, and they were married on June 3, 1972. The Lanes attended Arlington Baptist College/Bible Baptist Seminary; after graduating, Bro. Lane served on staff for five years as the music and youth minister at Central Baptist Church in Deer Park, Texas. They then moved back to serve one year at their home church, where Bro. Lane became the visitation minister and junior high teacher, and worked in the printing ministry as well.
In 1980, the Lanes followed God’s call and moved to the “missions field” of the great Pacific Northwest, where Bro. Lane became the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Tacoma, WA. During his fourteen years of ministry at Faith, Pastor Lane was able to see many people saved and baptized. During that time, they started a Christian school, began supporting fifty missionary families around the world, and sent two missionary families from the church. The church grew in properties, as well as in membership.
After serving in the United States for twenty years, Pastor and Mrs. Lane were called to the mission field of Honduras, Central America, where they have served as missionaries since 1994. Through God’s leading, they had a part in starting and establishing eleven churches, witnessed in over twenty-five communities, and trained leadership in indigenous local Baptist churches.
Bro. Lane is survived by his parents, Jim and Dovie Lane; two sisters, Karen Wheeler and Donna Talley; his wife, Debbie; his daughter and son-in-law, Kristy and Cosmin Holhosvaida; his son and daughter-in-law, Brandon and Kathy Lane; and seven grandchildren.
Remembering Bro. Mike Lane
For fifteen years, Bro. Lane was the Pastor here at Faith Baptist church in Tacoma before turning to another mission field, Honduras! When we became the Pastor in 1994, we extended our missions outreach to include Mike & Debbie, and have supported them for over twenty years. Their hard work and labor of love at Faith Baptist Church is well remembered by faithful members who have been coming to join prayer teams throughout the day, and will continue to do through so through the days to come. We have often expressed our gratitude to Bro. Lane for leaving Faith Baptist Church in sound moral, financial, and doctrinal standing before departing for the mission field.
The church has experienced great growth and ministry opportunities as a result of the strong foundation established under the Lanes' leadership. "Bro. Lane", as most knew him, will be missed, and the ministry will be without a special gift, but praise God for the men Bro. Lane mentored so the work can go on! We pray for Mrs. Debbie and her children, their spouses, the grandchildren, and all of Mike and Debbie's family as they go through this difficult time.
We will continue to support Mrs. Debbie and the ministries through the transition, and pray other Pastors and churches can do so as well. We praise God for the privilege of serving our Lord in any season or any soil, in sickness or in health, that souls might be saved and lives can be forever changed. To every born again believer, a "goodbye" here is a "welcome home" there. Even so come, Lord Jesus!
I am very thankful for the ministry and faithfulness of Bro. Lane. As I service at Faith Baptist Church, I realize that I am continuing on in the ministry where in another man has labored. I know that the Word of God reminds us that some men plant and other men water but God himself gives to us the increase. Praise God for men who are have answered the Lord's call for laborers for his harvest!