Stepping onto this hallowed ground it is impossible to ignore the rich history. Here we are at Second Missionary Baptist Church. It is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a story of faith. It is a legacy of love.
Second Missionary Baptist Church’s story began in March 1927. 121 people gathered for prayer at the old Taylor School. The school was on Louisiana Street in downtown Houston. Led by God, they left their home church. They sought to start a new congregation. From its beginning, Second Baptist invested in changed lives. The church focused on reaching the world for Christ.
Just one year later, in 1928, twelve faithful families made a sacrifice. They put up their homes as collateral. This allowed Second Baptist to purchase buildings. These buildings belonged to St. Paul’s Methodist Church. The location was at Milam and McGowan. This became their home for three decades.
The church experienced decades of growth. In 1957, Second Baptist voted to move. The new campus would be west of town. It sat on 25 acres at Woodway and Voss. This move aimed to reach families. The families lived in the rapidly growing area west of town.
A Pastor Search Committee formed in 1976. Their task was to find a great leader. They sought someone with a passion for soul-winning. The committee wanted a heart for the city of Houston. Their search led them to Dr. Ed Young. He was a pastor in South Carolina at the time. He accepted the call to become Second’s fifth pastor. In 1978, Dr. Young, his wife Jo Beth, and their three sons moved to Houston.
Years of incredible growth followed. Bible study and worship attendance increased. This led to the construction of the current Woodway Worship Center. The Second Family voted to develop a second campus. It would be at I-10 and Fry Rd in the late 1990s. Second officially became a multi-site church.
In the last 15 years, the church has continued to position itself. It meets the needs of a rapidly growing city. There are campuses in Kingwood, Pearland, Cypress, and Fulshear. There is even an online presence.
In 2024, Dr. Ben Young was called. He became the sixth senior pastor of Second Baptist Church. As they undertake an exciting new season, the Second family remains committed. They worship and walk with Christ. They also win others to Him.
Second Baptist Church Houston is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. It also belongs to the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.
Second Baptist Church sponsored the foundation of the Second Baptist School in 1946. It is a self-supporting agency. The school occupies a 42-acre campus. It is in the Memorial area. The school welcomes students without regard to religion or economic background.
The Woodway Campus has the largest all-pipe Rodgers organ ever built. It has 192 stops and 10,412 total pipes. This makes it one of the largest pipe organs in the world.
Second Baptist launched a weekly broadcast of worship services in 1979. It was on local television. In 1982, a local radio program began. Also, national TV broadcasting started. It was known as The Winning Walk. Since then, this has expanded. It now includes international television, radio, and internet distribution.
In 1999, Second Baptist opened its West Campus. It has a 4,500-seat worship center. There are separate buildings for educational programs. They are also used for weddings and funerals.
Second Baptist Church has grown into a megachurch. It has multiple campuses and a wide reach. Second’s story continues. It is a tapestry woven from God’s faithfulness. It is made up of people whose lives have been changed. It is all thanks to the good news of Jesus Christ.