Second Baptist Church, Lake Jackson, Texas, began as a mission of First Baptist Church, Lake Jackson, on February 1, 1953, meeting first in the American Legion Hall on Sycamore Street. Later, the mission group moved to a rented building on Plantation Drive, but after only five months of mission status, the group organized into what was then called the Shady Oaks Baptist Church. Brother H. N. Balderee, who had served as mission pastor, was called as the first pastor of the church.

The first building located at 201 Garland Drive was begun in August 1953 and was constructed with a gift of $1,500 from the Mary Hill Davis State Mission Offering on land donated by Dow Chemical Company and First Baptist Church, Lake Jackson. It soon became evident that more space was needed, and in December of that same year, ground was broken for enlargement of the first building, with additional space for Sunday School, a kitchen, and a baptistery.

Brother Balderee retired in February 1959 and Brother David L. Sutton was called as pastor. During his ministry, the third addition was made to the building, along with general remodeling, repair to damage done by Hurricane Carla, air conditioning added, and bricking of the entire building.

After serving the church as pastor for over seven years, Brother Sutton resigned on July 31, 1966, to assume the pastorate of Baptist Temple in Bay City, Texas.

In January 1967, Brother R. Don Hendricks was called as pastor. He and his wife, Roberta, and their daughter, Beth, brought much needed stability and maturity at that particular point in the life of the church.

Brother Hendricks served the church for eight years before resigning to accept the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Avery, Texas.

Second Baptist was without a pastor for 18 months, and Brother Bill Hall served faithfully for 12 months as interim pastor during that period.

In October 1975, the church called Dr. D. Duane Kelley as the new Pastor. Bro. Kelley and his wife, Wanda, came from Garden Acres Baptist Church, Burleson, Texas. Two major goals were accomplished the first year of Bro. Kelley's ministry: the calling of a staff member and the remodeling of the auditorium. In September 1976 Bro. Gary Thornton, with his wife Debbie, was called as staff member with major responsibilities in children and youth activities and outreach. It was also during this time that Second Baptist Church began a bus ministry and an aggressive effort to build a Sunday School. The Sunday School grew from 188 enrolled in 1975 to over 600 enrolled by 1986 with an average Sunday School attendance of around 200.

Bro. Kelley served the Church for nearly eleven years before accepting the position of Director of Missions for the Trinity River Baptist Association, Liberty, Texas, in September 1986.

In June 1987, Bro. Thornton resigned to become the Director of Church Services for the Gulf Coast Baptist Association, offices in Angleton.

During the next period, Bro. Darrell O. Foster served the church as interim pastor until the

church called Bro. Jim D. Way as pastor. Brother Way, along with his wife, Gaye, and four sons, came to Lake Jackson from First Baptist Church, Munday, Texas, beginning his ministry at Second Baptist in June 1987.

In December 1987, the church called Bro. Ronnie Whitehead with his wife, Teresa and two children, as associate pastor with major responsibilities in music and youth.

After several years of ministry at Second Baptist, Bro. Whitehead resigned in the summer of 2000 with Bro. Way resigning in the spring of 2001.

Second Baptist Church was again blessed when it learned that former pastor Bro. Kelley was willing to serve as interim pastor, leading the church through an "Intentional Interim Ministry" program. Long-time church members rejoiced at being blessed again with the services of Bro. Kelley and Wanda.

A "Transition Team" was selected to facilitate the Intentional Interim Ministry, providing a much needed decision-making process. Bro. Ron Redden, a former music director at Second Baptist Church, blessed the church for six months as interim worship leader. Ron resigned at the end of August 2001, to devote full-time to his teaching job and his family. Bro. Willie Martin, another former music director at Second Baptist Church, was called as interim music director in November 2001. Soon thereafter, Bro. Willie's son-in-law, Bro. Stephen Neighbours, felt called to be our minister to students and brought with him his wife, Cindy. Bro. Willie resigned in May 2002, being called back to Brazosport Baptist Temple as interim music director.

A pastor search committee was formed in 2002, and they interviewed several candidates. On November 10th, 2002, Bro. Gary Thornton was called as pastor. Former pastor Dr. D. Duane Kelley was named pastor emeritus. On January 5th, 2003, Bro. Thornton was officially installed as pastor of Second Baptist Church. The church members, with the help of the Transition Team, made great progress in setting the church on solid ground and on a steady course. The Transition Team eventually was disbanded and a new Leadership Team has taken over their responsibilities.

On January 12, 2003, Bro. Stephen Neighbours submitted his resignation as minister of students. After several months with volunteer leadership, in May 2004 Bro. Willie Riggs was called as youth minister.

A 50th Anniversary Homecoming celebration took place June 6-8, 2003 with excellent attendance from near and far. Former music minister Dr. Gil McKee preached the Sunday morning sermon.

The church began an Adult Hispanic Sunday School class in March 2003. They constituted as a church in April 2006 "El Pueblo de Dios" and purchased land on Cedar Street in Richwood with hopes to permanently locate there.

Brother Joe Cooper began serving as Minister of Properties on January 1, 2005, and he resigned on March 31, 2006, to move back home.

On April 2, 2006, the church voted to call Bro. Benjamin Leal as part-time Minister of Music. He and his wife Kimberly began their ministry on Easter Sunday. At the end of 2006 the ministries of Bro. Leal and Bro. Riggs had to be discontinued due to financial constraints.

In April 2008 the church was again able to call a part-time minister of music. Bro. Glen Rice, formerly a member of Willow Drive Baptist Church, has been serving faithfully in that capacity.

Love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a commitment to sound doctrine, and worshipping in Spirit and in truth are the foundations for the church. A spirit of volunteerism, love, and fellowship has grown during the transition period. Our thanks to the many volunteers who have installed new doors, painted, cleaned, planted flowers and shrubbery, refinished the auditorium, built and set up storage buildings, removed trees that were a safety problem, completely remodeled the parsonage from the foundation up, re-roofed the church, and are continuing to upgrade and improve the church facilities. Indeed, God continues to work daily in Second Baptist Church. Worship services and other activities are well attended and the people of the church feel a welcome sense of involvement in the direction of the church. A care ministry through the Sunday School, and church-wide outreach have been begun. And the church enjoys a strong commitment built around the truth that "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." - Colossians 1:27-28.

Revised: 12/20/2008
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