West Lake Baptist Church and the Rev. Lee Evans (right) will present Chadder (left) and Group’s High Seas Expedition during the church’s Vacation Bible School in June. Paul Bryant Photo CHANDLER — As it prepares for a different kind of Vacation Bible School, West Lake Baptist Church “is ready to reach the community,” the Rev. Lee Evans said.

“We have people here who have a desire to see the community impacted by Christ. The church is just hungry and ready to do something.”

That includes VBS in June, when West Lake brings Chadder and Group’s High Seas Expedition to kids who have completed kindergarten through sixth grades.

“Chadder is the main character,” VBS Director Stacey Robeson said. “He’s in our Sail Away Cinema, and he always says, ‘Hugs to you’ and ‘Jesus loves you.’”

This year’s VBS will differ from last year’s, Robeson said, in that children will not be divided by grades.

“We will have crews and crew leaders. The crew leaders will bring their crews to each station, and the older kids will help the younger ones. We’re also doing God sightings.”

And Chadder, a chipmunk, will make appearances around town leading up to VBS, Robeson said.

Evans became West Lake’s pastor about six months ago, replacing the Rev. Eric Peyton who took the same position with First Baptist Church of Waskom.

“We moved here from Bangs, Texas,” Evans said. “We had been there almost 10 years, with First Baptist Church. The Lord brought us here. We have no doubt about that.”

Evans, 49, is an East Texas native who grew up in and around Tyler. He’s been in the ministry since 1983.

“We love it here, and West Lake has been incredible,” he said. “It was like any church needing a pastor. It had been without one for nine months or so, but the church is rather healthy. It is filled with good folks ready to hear God’s word.”

God’s leading was enough to bring Evans and his wife, Cindy, back home. But he said West Lake’s stability was attractive.

“The church has been here since the 1970s, and Bob Sexton was here for 10 or 11 years. Eric Peyton was here seven years. The church has had just five or six pastors.”

And Evans hopes to remain at West Lake for just as long.

“Families, communities and nations don’t get where they are overnight. It takes time, and we will be here as long as God tells us to be here. I believe in longterm ministry. That’s where change comes.”

West Lake averages more than 300 for Sunday-morning worship.

“I don’t think there’s a limit,” Evans said. “The previous pastor got (the church) out of debt, and the new student building is paid for. We need to impact these children, youth, and students. The needs of this community are bigger than we are, but they are not bigger than God.”

The Evanses have three adult children: Stephen, a chief operating officer for a web-hosting company; Rachel, a student in East Asia; and Tricia, a student at Texas A&M University- Commerce.

VBS is scheduled for June 14-18, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Visit westlakebaptistchurch. org to register.

For more on High Seas Expedition, visit highseas. group.com.