Henry Lyons facts for kids

Henry J. Lyons was an important American Protestant pastor. He led the National Baptist Convention, USA as its president from 1994 to 1999. During his time as a leader, he faced serious legal challenges related to how money was managed within the organization.

Who Was Henry J. Lyons?

Henry J. Lyons was born in 1942. He was raised by his grandfather, Booker T. Lyons, who was a deacon in their church. His father was very young when Henry was born and played a small part in his childhood.

Early Life and Education

Henry Lyons attended Gibbs Junior College in St. Petersburg, Florida from 1960 to 1962. He then studied at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach from 1962 to 1964. After that, he went to the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta to continue his studies.

In 1970, he moved to Cincinnati. Two years later, in 1972, he took on a more significant role in St. Petersburg, Florida. He married Deborah Lyons in the 1970s.

Rising Through Leadership

Henry Lyons began to take on more leadership roles in the church. In 1977, he became the Vice President of the Florida General Baptist Convention. He then served as its President from 1981 until 1994. In 1994, he achieved a very important position. He became the President of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc.

Leading the National Baptist Convention

As president, Henry Lyons was known for being a very engaging speaker. His time as leader was very active. He started a special "Unified Program" to help the organization work better. He also worked to reduce the money owed by the Baptist World Center. He cleared the debt for the Sunday School Publishing Board. Many new groups and committees were added to the convention during his presidency.

Key Achievements as President

Lyons made several important changes. He helped the National Baptist Convention grow. He focused on improving how the organization ran. His goal was to set high standards for the convention.

Facing Challenges and Later Roles

During his time as president, Henry J. Lyons faced serious legal challenges. These challenges were about how money was managed within the organization. He initially stated he was innocent of any wrongdoing. However, he later agreed to a settlement in court regarding these issues.

In 1999, he was found responsible for misusing funds from the National Baptist Convention. He faced consequences for his actions and resigned from his role as president. After some time, he returned to his work as a pastor in St. Petersburg.

He later became the pastor of the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida. In 2017, he left this position. This happened due to concerns about his leadership from the board of trustees.

Henry Lyons continued to be involved in religious leadership. In 2007, he tried to be re-elected as President of the Florida General Baptist Convention but was not successful. After this, he and his supporters started a new group. This group was called the General Baptist State Convention of Florida, and he became its President. In 2009, he also tried to become president of the National Baptist Convention, USA again, but he was not elected.

His Passing

Henry J. Lyons passed away on October 27, 2025. He was 83 years old. He died in Gainesville, Florida.