By Bob Belcher

Dr. David Edwards, pastor and leader of the congregation at Corsicana’s First Baptist Church, died Friday from injuries suffered in an automobile accident near Hubbard.

Edwards was involved in a two car collision about 4:20 p.m. Friday on State Highway 31, about 2.5 miles west of Hubbard, according to the Department of Public Safety. He was pronounced dead at 5:20 p.m. at Hillcrest Hospital in Waco.

Investigators said Edwards was westbound on Highway 31 when his 2001 Explorer was struck head-on by a 2004 Dodge truck driven by Joseph Pass, 56, of Athens. The DPS report said that Pass crossed the center lane and struck Edwards’ vehicle head on. Road conditions were listed as “dry,” the DPS report said.

Pass is hospitalized at Hillcrest Hospital and is said to be in stable condition.

Edwards, 51, answered the call to take the pulpit at First Baptist in 2006, replacing longtime pastor the Rev. B.F. Risinger Jr. Edwards and his wife, Lyndy, were preparing to adopt two children from Taiwan later this year, a brother and sister. They were scheduled to leave Tuesday for a trip to Taiwan.

A 2006 profile of Edwards in the Daily Sun told the story of his ministry career, one that did not originally include leading a congregation.

“I became a Christian at the age of 17, and the man who introduced me to Christ was going on a mission trip to India,” Edwards said in that 2006 interview. “I wanted to go with him.”

Edwards friend told him he didn’t think he was ready for that kind of trip yet, so Edwards chose to attend Wayland Baptist University, preparing for a future making mission trips. His time at the university led him in a different direction.

“In that time span (in college) I realized that this wasn’t just about a mission trip,” he said. “This was more about my direction in life, and what I was going to do.”

Edwards, then 22 years old and fresh out of college, took on his first ministry at the small church in Kansas. It was a new church, and Edwards spent four years there as he finished up his Master of Divinity degree.

“I learned there from some very loving and patient people what it meant to be a pastor,” Edwards said. “I was told that being a pastor meant loving the people, and preaching God’s word. Do that.”

Edwards’ described his philosophy of service as one of “relevant reverence.”

“I use the term ‘relevant’ a great deal,” Edwards explained, “how to be really relevant, or meaningful to this community, to reach people for Christ, to reach families, to make a difference in the lives of children and young people.

“Churches that I’ve served before, we did practical ministries in the community, things as simple as helping someone rake leaves. We called it acts of kindness. We wanted to be like Christ, in terms of doing what Jesus would do. The church is here to serve the community. That’s why we exist.”

Edwards also believed that the church played a vital role in the family unit.

“The church’s strength is the strength of the families that are in the church. One of our most significant ministries is teaching, touching and helping families become strong,” he said, “whether it be ministries to families, teaching of how to have healthy families. It’s the family of faith here, reaching out to the community.”

Edwards is survived by his wife, Lyndy; daughters, Emily of Pennsylvania, and Kate Mullaney and her husband Brian; and a son, Evan, who is a sophomore at Corsicana High School.

Church members joined in prayer Friday night at First Baptist Church after hearing the news of their pastor’s death.

First Baptist Church Deacon Monte Trimble said in an e-mail to church members Friday night that First Baptist would conduct a Sunday bible fellowship at 9:30 a.m., and hold only one morning service at 11 a.m. to remember the Edwards family in prayer. There will not be an 8:30 a.m. service this Sunday, Trimble said.

Former interim pastor Milton Cunningham, who served as pastor prior to Edwards moving to Corsicana, will lead the Sunday service.

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