Lakes Chapel Missionary Baptist Church was originally founded in 1865 (during the Civil War) by a small group of spirited, religious, and community minded neighbors, some of whom were former slaves, and others the children of slave.

The first church was made of logs

The church takes its name from its earliest location which was beside a fisherman’s lake.

The earliest history of the church dates back to 1880, when a white farmer, John T. Bland, out of respect for the initiative and effect the small group of neighbors demonstrated in helping themselves, deeded three-quarters of an acre of land for the sum of one dollar.

The second church was built on a beautiful hill at Piney Road and Point Caswell Road.
The Ervin J. Herring Memorial bell and steeple was mounted on the church in 1977, given by Mr. & Mrs. F. Davis Hawes.

The dedications or mortgage burning for the current location at 9525 Point Caswell took place in 1980 under leadership of Clarence W. Pate.

Lakes Chapel Missionary Church was flooded in Hurricane Fran September 5, 1996, this event destroyed many history documents and membership records which were irreplaceable.

Lakes Chapel Missionary Church was flooded in Hurricane Floyd in September 16, 1999

On August 19, 2008, Lakes Chapel became incorporated and membership was at one-hundred fifty souls at that time.

In 2009, the church purchased 15 acres of land on Point Caswell Road which is the construction site and the new Home of Lakes Chapel Missionary Baptist church.

Lakes Chapel Missionary Church was flooded in Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018, which dropped 40 inches of Rain in Pender County.   

The construction of the new building broke ground spring 2021 and is current under construction.

The certificate of occupancy for the new church was received March 14, 2023.

The Grand Opening of the new church was held on Sunday, April 2, 2023.

The New Church was dedicated on Sunday, May 2, 2023. Moderator Dr. Reginald A. Wells was the guest speaker.