The Reverend Dr. Steven L. Lyons
The Reverend Dr. Steven L. Lyons was born in Sanford, NC and spent his formative years in Rocky Mount, NC, graduating from Rocky Mount Senior High School. He attended Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, Atlanta, GA, earning the Associate Degree in Mortuary Science. He graduated (Summa Cum Laude) from St. Augustine’s University, Raleigh with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He has earned the Master of Divinity Degree with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling (Summa Cum Laude) from Shaw University Divinity School, Raleigh. In May 2016, Rev. Dr. Lyons was conferred the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, NC. His Doctoral project was entitled “Utilizing the Class Leader System and Official Board to Spiritually and Numerically Develop St. James AME Church of Winston-Salem, NC.” He has completed further studies at Penn State, North Carolina State University and Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary. He is listed in Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities and has been honored by the Laurinburg Branch of The National Association of University Women as an African-American Man of Distinction.
Licensed to preach in 1999 and ordained an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in June of 2004, Dr. Lyons was appointed the Pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church, Laurinburg, NC. In May 2009, he was appointed to the pastorate of St. James AME Church, Winston-Salem, NC. The Lord blessed Allen Chapel and St. James with various new ministries, programs and outreach initiatives including; increased membership, liquidating debt, physical upgrades/renovations and a revived, renewed commitment to kingdom building. In April 2018, St. James, paid off the mortgage under Dr. Lyons’ leadership.
Dr. Lyons was appointed the proud pastor of Mt. Zion AME Church, Hillsborough, NC in May of 2018. This new leadership ushered in a sense of renewal through powerful preaching and teaching of the Word. The energy, passion and love of God’s people as exhibited in the Lyons leadership style has caused a shift in the atmosphere. “Let Mount Zion rejoice!” is an overarching theme for each worship experience. Pastor Lyons instituted a new format for the worship experience, reorganized the Class Leader system, implemented each second Sunday as Youth Sunday and introduced “Calling Post” messages as a means of communication with the congregation. The Church website has also been revamped and Facebook and social media are now utilized.
Additionally during the Lyons tenure, the Lord allowed Mount Zion to serve as host for the inaugural Eastern District Conference, under the leadership of newly appointed Presiding Elder, The Reverend Anita M. Thompson, the first female Presiding Elder in the Western North Carolina Conference. Sis. Jeanine D. Latta and Sis. Cheri B. Stinson both preached their initial sermons and The Rev. Douglas B. Bynum was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in the AME Church and was transferred to the Virginia Annual Conference where he currently serves as the pastor of Mt. Zion AME Church, Martinsville, VA.
Recent enhancements include the purchase of a Hammond Organ, upgraded outside lighting, new blinds for the Fellowship Center, the implementation of Givelify and CashApp for online donations and a weekly Prayer Call-in line, involving Church members, Clergy persons in and outside of Mt. Zion, community persons and students of the Board of Examiners has been instituted.
The Pastor’s Office has been re-painted and additional furniture added. Upgrades and renovations completed at the parsonage, including replacement of the roof, HVAC unit, light fixtures and all carpet replaced with hardwood flooring.
Since the onset of Covid-19 in March 2020, we have continued to worship through Drive-In Services and Live Streaming via Facebook. Church School and Bible Study have been combined and is now held on Wednesday evening via Zoom. Even in the midst of this pandemic, our ministry to the community has not wavered. We served as a site for Covid-19 testing, as well as voter registration. We are grateful that we have been able to operate our monthly Food Bank and other outreach initiatives which serve those in our congregation, as well as the community.
Dr. Lyons serves on the Western North Carolina Board of Examiners as an Instructor and member of the Board. The Board of Examiners is responsible for coordinating and developing a district wide standardized training curriculum to prepare individuals for ordination. He is the co-coordinator of the Nehemiah Ministry of the 2nd Episcopal District of the AME Church. This ministry receives applications from churches across the five conferences of the district, awarding grants to assist churches with physical upgrades and repairs. At the 2018 Western North Carolina Annual Conference, Dr. Lyons was elected to serve on the Conference RED Board. This Board is responsible for overseeing the economic development of the church’s Kittrell property. He has also served as a Conference Trustee and is currently on the conference Judicial Committee.
Dr. Lyons was elected as an Alternate Delegate to the 2016 General Conference and a delegate to the 2020 General Conference where he was elected to serve as a member of the denomination’s Preliminary Inquiry Committee.
In September of 2012, the dream of the Steven L. Lyons Funeral Home became a reality. The funeral home serves families of the Raleigh, Wake County and surrounding areas under the mantra of “Trust ~ Service ~ Compassion.”
Dr. Lyons is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Phi Lambda Chapter, Raleigh, NC) and serves as the National Associate Chaplain. He is a member of the New Bern Avenue Corridor Alliance Board of Directors (Raleigh, NC), the St. Augustine’s University Community Development Corporation, the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service (Vice President), the North Carolina Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association and recently completed a term as a Board member of Transitions LifeCare (Hospice) of Wake County.
He is the father of one son, Joshua. Dr. Lyons continues to be supported by family, many extended relatives and friends, carrying out the vision given to by the Lord to “serve the present age,” his “calling to fulfill.”
Dr. Lyons is most humbled to be a part of the Gospel Ministry, The calling upon his life is summed up in the following words; “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.” Isaiah 61:1-2