Second Baptist celebrates 130th Anniversary Sunday
History of Community service continues today
With a history steeped in community service and activism, the Second Baptist Church celebrates its 130th Anniversary with a special service 10 a.m. Sunday at its 124 Atkins Avenue location.
“This will be a monumental service because without First Baptist there would have been no Second Baptist,” church deacon Dan Harris said. “Rev. Helms and some deacons from First Baptist Church in Asbury Park will be present at the service.”
A sold out celebration follows at 3 p.m. at the Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune. Newly appointed Rev. Semaj Van Zant will be in attendance.
The church first organized in 1885 as a sector of First Baptist Church, whose black congregants worshipped in the church basement.
“Our ancestors began by renting space from First Baptist,” said lifelong congregant and church historian Fortune Thomas.
Thomas said congregants collected donations to start the church. In the beginning, service were held in rented space at the Springwood Avenue Salvation Army building but soon moved to the space above the Springwood Avenue drug store due to growth in membership.
The church was incorporated on Oct. 2, 1801. The church’s land at 124 Atkins Ave. was purchased on Oct. 25, 1901.
The church was recognized for its many years of outstanding service to the members of the community during Thursday night’s City Council meeting.
“The beautification and expansion of the church building as well as the growth of membership continues from the time of Rev Price and the successors who had and continues to serve the congregants and the community faithfully until this day,” Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton said as she read a Proclamation of recognition. “We wish them many more years of success.”
During the 1960s, congregant Ermon K. Jones and his wife Blanch filed and won a court case for their right to purchase a home in the then predominately white Gables section of Neptune.
“The church has always been comprised of community mined activists,” Thomas said. “I can remember parents marching for Civil Rights back in the 1960s on the Asbury Park boardwalk.”
After the national Civil Rights movement hit home, the community at large suffered.
“We lost a good following when the riots took place in 1970,” Thomas said. “A lot of parishioners moved away and then we began to lose members through attrition. Older members were dying and their children had to move to other areas in order to survive.”
Today the 200 member church is focused on a campaign to rebuild. In the height of the 40s to 60s, the church had close to 400 members.
“We are following up on the shoulders of a great legacy,” Rev. William E. Coleman said. “We as a church have a history as a working cornerstone for social justice in the community. When I came here three years ago, I knew it was time for us to get back out on the street corners in order to see what we could do to rebuild our community and make it a safer place. This is a pivotal time for us.”
Second Baptist Church’s varied community service programs and initiatives include:
The Zenobia/Xenia Ware Scholarship Committee has awarded 136 scholarships to college students. Chaired by Sister Patricia K. Thomas, the group started in 1960 by awarding $230.00 to further education. Today recipients are awarded $2,000.00 to help with educational costs. The ministry is led by Nicolle Harris and Justin Heyward.
The Edith Douglas Food Pantry, established in 2010, distributes food packages to over 120 families bimonthly. Those who are unable to come have their food delivered to their door.
This Minority Males Initiative, created by Rev. Coleman and Board of Trustee Chair Ken Morgan, assists minority males at Brookdale in completing their degrees and finding sustainable employment in the global market place.
Boy Scout Troop #241 and its cub pack launched in 2013.
This year marked the 55th annual Men’s Day Celebration.
During the summer, a Vacation Bible school for children includes extracurricular activities and a dinner.
Deaf Ministry Program volunteers attend services and deliver the message in sign language.
The building serves as an election polling station.
Dance classes and extracurricular activities include baseball and basketball leagues.
For more information, visit their website or Facebook page.
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