Second Baptist Church Celebrates 123 Years

Senior Pastors Anthony and Jackie Green have led the historic Second Baptist Church for 28 years and have been a pastoral team that has preserved the Church History for future generations. 2015 marks l23 years that the first historic African American Church in the Inland Empire is still “alive and well.” Sunday, Nov. 8 will be celebrated with a l0 a.m. morning service and 4 p.m. evening service. The morning speaker will be Reverend Michael Smith, Jr. of Reno, Nevada, a spiritual son who grew up and was licensed and ordained by Second Baptist Church. The afternoon speaker will be Pastor Joshua Beckley, Senior Pastor of the Ecclesia Christian Fellowship of San Bernardino, CA. Deacon Terry and Melissa Richey are the Anniversary Chairpersons. Second Baptist has a unique history and was incorporated in 1892. It has been at three locations in Redlands, founded on Orange Street in 1891, then moved to State Street and now resides at the corner of 9th and Stuart Street in Redlands since 1929. In its early years it was well known for Gospel quartet singers, founding of the Citrus Valley District Ushers and great cooks of African American cuisine. Second Baptist Church has brought a unique flavor of high spirited worship and Gospel preaching. It is known for its work with the University of Redlands Martin Luther King Jr. Events, and Redlands Police Department in chaplaincy and a twenty year collaboration of Pastor Anthony Green through “Midnight Basketball Hoopz” to minister to At-Risks teens monthly on the third Friday of the month from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Redlands Community Center. Second Baptist has led several city and statewide prayer gatherings and movements under the leadership of Bishop Dr. Jackie L. Green. The community is invited to the grand celebration and afro-centric decorations especially for this historic occasion. The church is located at 420 East Stuart Avenue in Redlands, 92374.