Event Planned July 25 to Celebrate First Year of 4th Saturday Services at Bethlehem AME
La Grange and surrounding communities are invited to join Bethlehem AME Church, 5218 FM 3233 in La Grange, Texas, on a One-Year Celebration of Fourth Saturday Praise and Worship Service.
The Celebration will be held Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 1 p.m.
Mr. Leo Vaughns Jr, Pastor of St. Mark in Fort Worth, Texas, a gospel musician, a 37th year educator at Kirkpatrick Middle School in Fort Worth, songwriter of the Gospel Album: “God is still in Control,” and author of the book, “When Can’t Say You Cannot, Will Shows You Can,” has traveled from Fort Worth, Texas every fourth Saturday of the month, to execute services at Bethlehem AME church. The vision started after the burial of his mother, Vivian Lois Dobbins Vaughns, who transitioned April 14, 2025, and is buried on the Bethlehem site. Many other relatives are buried on site, including his grandmother, Lizzie Mae Vaughns, who was a foundational icon at Bethlehem AME Church. His father, Leo Vaughns Sr, was also buried on the site on January 30, 2026. Pastor Vaughns, who is an only child but has many cousins and community support, not only preaches during these services, but also sings, plays the keyboard, and designs and orchestrates all the previous programs, which have drawn crowds and enthusiasm throughout La Grange and surrounding communities. To keep the community updated on events, Pastor Vaughns has an automated calling system to let “Lottie Dottie and Everybody” know about upcoming events and services. The system now has 98 members on the calling roster. Pastor Vaughns appeared at several of the Juneteenth events in La Grange: one event was held in front of the La Grange Courthouse; he appeared at the HEB, to which Mayor Jan Dockery officiated; an event at Randolph High School Rec, and a Gospel Praise-Fest Musical, which was wall-to-wall participation and held at Bethlehem on Friday, July 3, 2026.
The One-Year Celebration’s theme is, “Look Out! The Best is Yet to Come.” For this special service, the guest speaker will be Pastor/Judge Ronnie McDonald of Bastrop, Texas; Pastor Louis Zachary of Taylor, Texas will be the emcee; the St. James Praise dancers will minister, and a live Gospel presentation will be presented of the song: God is still in control by Pastor Leo Vaughns Jr and the congregation.
After this celebration, a meal will be provided. As Pastor Vaughns says, “Lottie Dottie and Everybody” is invited to come join us at Bethlehem, where God’s power keeps showing up.