The Second Baptist Church was organized at a CALL MEETING on May 18, 1927 in a private home on Second Street, located in the Old Village.
The organizational meeting was presided over by 
Rev. Arthur J. Phillips during which trustees and deacons were selected.
Rev. Phillips was then excused and the meeting continued with Rev. Reid, father of Mary (one of our charter members) presiding. Rev. Phillips was unanimously voted in as pastor, with the accepted resolution from the Deacon Board that his term be twenty (20) years to life. Rev. Phillips then resumed his duties presiding over the meeting and the trustees were authorized to find a church site.
The trustees reported on May 21, 1927 that the site located at 52 South Simon Avenue, Lackawanna NY was available for a purchase price of $950.00 The report was accepted. The members continued to meet in private homes until it was decided to use the old Friendship House located at 195 Ridge Road (presently the site of the Ebenezer Baptist Church dining hall) as a temporary meeting place.
$5000.00 was borrowed from the Buffalo Baptist Association and ground was broken for our new church on June 15, 1927. With the help of Waverly Jones, Julius Bowles and Henry Dan Burse the building was erected, and, in May of 1929, the congregation moved into its first new home. Still in debt for $2500. The members decided to have a “RALLY DAY” assessing each member $25.00. Ten captains were selected and the sum of $2710.22 was raised. The balance of the loan was paid on October 1, 1943 and the mortgage burned on December 9, 1943. New instruments were also purchased.
The church remained financially stable through:
- A] Membership dues and assessments
- B] Freewill offerings
- C] Programs (i.e. Musicals, State Rallies, etc.)
- D] The sale of “dinners”
Members also donated their time and energy toward the purpose of keeping Gods house together in spiritual fellowship.
Rev. Phillips gained his crown on January 22, 1955 in the Millard Fillmore Hospital after serving as pastor of Second Baptist Church for twenty-eight (28) years. Following the pastor’s death, Rev. Adolphus Allen kept the members in loving fellowship.
January 1956 brought the Rev. George F. Bell to the pastorate of the church. Our first step under his leadership was the relocation of our church home. The first decision was to erect a new building. Four lots on Washington St. Lackawanna were purchased for this purpose.
The matter was reconsidered and. On January 15, 1958, the trustees were authorized to enter into negotiations for the Serbian Church located at 18 Church Street in Lackawanna, for a purchase price of $35,000. In this transaction, a down payment of $32,000 was made with a six (6) month mortgage for the balance of $3,000. The loan was paid and the mortgage burned. The church family marched from its old home on Simon Avenue to its new home at 18 Church Street on the third Sunday in July 1959. Extensive repairs were made to the building and new furnishings purchased.
Rev. Bell accepted the pastorate of the Tasker Street Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA in June of 1971 and the church was again left without a pastor. However, they never ceased a prayerful fellowship.
Rev. Tommie L. Burson was called to pastor the church on December 1, 1971 and served for two (2) years. Under his leadership a parsonage was purchased. Upon his leaving, the deacon board held the church together spiritually until January 1, 1975.
January 1, 1975 when Rev. Allen B. Green accepted the call to leadership of the church.
Rev. Green was also serving in the U.S. Army and, in January 1976, was given leave from the church to complete his tour of duty. Rev. William E. Feagin was asked to serve as interim pastor in Rev. Green’s absence and did so dutifully and spiritually from January 1976 until Rev. Green’s return in September of 1977. having completed his military obligations, Rev. Green served until his resignation in January 1980 to accept the pastorate of the Second Baptist Church in Erie, PA. The spiritual fellowship was again left in the hands of the deacon board.
Rev. J. Daryl Wood accepted the pastorate on October 5, 1980 and his first task was the restructuring of our financial program in order to be better administrators of the Lord’s blessings. Rev. Wood was very instrumental in establishing a building program for the construction of a new church building. It was during this time also that we purchased our first church van to enable us to fellowship with other houses of worship. In January 1987, Rev. Wood left the leadership of the Second Baptist Church and the affairs of the church were under the care of the deacon board. With God’s guidance we stayed together in love and desire to be renewed and strengthened.
Rev. Howard T. Reese came to us in August of 1987 and eventually became our Interim Pastor. His humble spirit and loving manner were apparent and at a quarterly church meeting on April 5, 1988 the decision was made to ask him to accept the leadership of the Second Baptist Church. Under his leadership the church’s building plan was completed with the renovation of the church sanctuary and fellowship hall and additional office space. Our next project was to re-landscape the church grounds, build a parking lot, install new glass doors at the entrances to our sanctuary and hall, and to install a signboard on our lawn. These projects have all been completed. The youth department purchased new robes, which were dedicated on Mother’s Day 2000 and the new task of establishing a library/media center, was begun. Plans were also formulated to purchase fencing for our church parking lots.
New Year’s Day 2001 was a sad day for the Second Baptist Church family and the community as we heard the news that our leader, Pastor Reese, had been called to his reward in heaven. The news left us in a state of shock but we knew that God, who makes no mistakes, had set this time for Pastor Reese’s graduation day and that He already had someone prepared to lead us.
We remained together in prayerful diligence until December 2001 when Rev. Mark E. Blue was sent to lead the flock at Second Baptist Church. Since Pastor Blue has been with us there has been a renewed spirit of love and dedication. Our Sunday School, Church Bible Study and Worship Services have grown in number and spirit. The WOMEN’S MINISTRY was established with First Lady, Angela Blue as our inspirational leader. In conjunction with this, The “BROTHERHOOD” (Laymen’s Organization) was established for the men. Our youth meet for Bible Study on Thursday evenings. This allows them to come together and discuss issues pertaining to young people and study the Bible in relationship to them. They have also established sessions to help the young people with their school and homework assignments. We have completed most of the projects that were begun before Rev. Reese’s passing.
Some of our accomplishments since Pastor Blue has been our under-shepherd at Second Baptist Church are:
- 1.) Acquired additional property bordering our church building for future growth
- 2.) Purchased a new Church van and baptistery
- 3.) Purchased a new stove and hood, and renovated our kitchen
- 4.) A new Senior Citizen Community Ministry will open this week and will be open four days a week.
- 5.) A “RIGHTS OF PASSAGE” ministry will be started soon for the youth in our community.
- 6.) New computers have been installed for the use of our community youth and seniors
- 7.) Purchased new tables and chairs for our dining hall.
- 8.) We have begun a Saturday morning community FOOD PANTR
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Philippians 3:13-18
“13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.”
NKJV
ARTHUR J. PHILLIPS
| Founder/Community Activist/Leader/Spokesman Helped obtain many jobs for minorities. |
ADOLPHUS ALLEN | Kept the church united/great teacher |
GEORGE F. BELL
| Foreign Mission-motivated the church to furnish a Hospital room in the Carrie Dwyer Hospital, Liberia/ Youth Education-initiated an educational fund with Donations given him during Thanksgiving Day services. |
TOMMIE L. BURSON
| Youth organization and involvement |
| WILLIAM E. FEAGIN | Kept the church united/Mission Worker and Prayer Leader |
ALLEN B. GREEN
| Evangelist/Great Bible Teacher/Emphasized Tithing/Co-Founder of Medical Task Force (later called the Nurses’ Guild) |
J. DARYL WOOD
| Financial Reorganization/Building Fund/Bible Study Teacher/Emphasized Tithing |
HOWARD T. REESE
| Unified the Church/Youth Reorganization/completed Church renovation project/reorganized Male Chorus/Emphasized Church Unity and Structure |
MARK E. BLUE
| Emphasizes Church Prayer (prayer partners/church growth in knowledge and study of God’s Word, the Bible, “finishing what we’ve started”/ forgetting and forgiving mistakes of the past and moving forward to do “new” things in Christ Jesus. |
We would be remiss if we did not mention the following ministers who also helped in keeping the spiritual fellowship flowing
| REV. ROBERT PALMER | Assisted Pastor Phillips |
| REV. JOHN WASHINGTON | Dr. Watts Chorus |
| REV. CARL JONES | Assisted Pastor Burson, Youth Involvement |
| REV. TERRENCE MELVIN | Associate Minister, Assisting Pastor Blue |
Thank You and God Bless You