The Biblical quote is a true testimony of faith for the Genesis of Second Baptist Church, Kenosha, Wisconsin. The budding congregation was very similar to a “tree” which withstood the sands of time. Second Baptist Church battled gusty winds, torrential rain storms, and eroding soil around its roots and still stands firmly embedded in Jesus Christ.
Second Baptist Church had its humble beginning as a Union Mission under the guidance of Reverend J.W. Best in 1919. The mission was organized in the home of the late Brother Joseph Maxwell and Sister Mary Maxwell Elder. In 1924 the mission moved back to the Maxwell’s residence. In 1932, First Baptist Church of Kenosha, Wisconsin graciously consented for Second Baptist worship services to be held in their church at 1:00pm on Sundays. In 1943 the Second Baptist Congregation purchased a building at 2211-57th Street. The church was officially registered with the County Clerk in the same year as “Second Baptist Church.”
After many years of wandering from place to place, God blessed the church with an opportunity to purchase land to erect a permanent place for worship under the leadership of Reverend L.T. King. Three lots were purchased at 39th Street and 32nd Avenue in 1960. In 1962 Reverend King and the Second Baptist Church family broke ground and the church was built on its present site.
Reverend Marke T. Toles accepted the call to pastor Second Baptist Church in 1963. Reverend Marke T. Toles resigned in 1980 as Pastor after seventeen years of faithful service to Second Baptist Church and the Kenosha Community.
On April 1, 1981, Reverend Olen Arrington, Jr. was called to be the angel of the flock of Second Baptist Church and pastored for twenty-nine years until the Lord called him home in 2010. Many church improvement projects were completed under the leadership of Pastor Arrington.
In October 2011, Pastor Lawrence L. Kirby II accepted the call to pastor Second Baptist Church of Kenosha. If you ask Pastor Kirby to describe himself, he will tell you that above all he is a servant of the Most High God, a dedicated family man, and a young man with a passion for ministry and people. After five years, in December of 2016, Pastor Lawrence L. Kirby II made the decision to resign his pastorship of Second Baptist Church.
Second Baptist Church members remained steadfast without a pastor for two years. On January 20, 2019, God sent a shepherd to Second Baptist embodied int he spirit of Reverend Demetris Crum. On March 24, 2019, Reverend Demetris Crum was installed as the Pastor of Second Baptist Church of Kenosha, WI. Under the divine leadership of God and Pastor Crum, our membership continues to grow by baptism, restoration and by Christian experience.
During the 100 years of existence the following have served as pastors and ministers of Second Baptist Church: Reverend J. W. Best, Reverend Charles Young, Reverend A. Able, Reverend A. W. Turner, Reverend L. Price, Reverend Cleo McKenzie, Reverend F. J. Jordan, Reverend L. T. King, Reverend Marke T. Toles, Reverend Olen Arrington, Jr. and Reverend Lawrence L. Kirby II.
The Biblical quote is a true testimony of faith for the Genesis of Second Baptist Church, Kenosha, Wisconsin. The budding congregation was very similar to a “tree” which withstood the sands of time. Second Baptist Church battled gusty winds, torrential rain storms, and eroding soil around its roots and still stands firmly embedded in Jesus Christ.
Second Baptist Church had its humble beginning as a Union Mission under the guidance of Reverend J.W. Best in 1919. The mission was organized in the home of the late Brother Joseph Maxwell and Sister Mary Maxwell Elder. In 1924 the mission moved back to the Maxwell’s residence. In 1932, First Baptist Church of Kenosha, Wisconsin graciously consented for Second Baptist worship services to be held in their church at 1:00pm on Sundays. In 1943 the Second Baptist Congregation purchased a building at 2211-57th Street. The church was officially registered with the County Clerk in the same year as “Second Baptist Church.”
After many years of wandering from place to place, God blessed the church with an opportunity to purchase land to erect a permanent place for worship under the leadership of Reverend L.T. King. Three lots were purchased at 39th Street and 32nd Avenue in 1960. In 1962 Reverend King and the Second Baptist Church family broke ground and the church was built on its present site.
Reverend Marke T. Toles accepted the call to pastor Second Baptist Church in 1963. Reverend Marke T. Toles resigned in 1980 as Pastor after seventeen years of faithful service to Second Baptist Church and the Kenosha Community.
On April 1, 1981, Reverend Olen Arrington, Jr. was called to be the angel of the flock of Second Baptist Church and pastored for twenty-nine years until the Lord called him home in 2010. Many church improvement projects were completed under the leadership of Pastor Arrington.
In October 2011, Pastor Lawrence L. Kirby II accepted the call to pastor Second Baptist Church of Kenosha. If you ask Pastor Kirby to describe himself, he will tell you that above all he is a servant of the Most High God, a dedicated family man, and a young man with a passion for ministry and people. After five years, in December of 2016, Pastor Lawrence L. Kirby II made the decision to resign his pastorship of Second Baptist Church.
Second Baptist Church members remained steadfast without a pastor for two years. On January 20, 2019, God sent a shepherd to Second Baptist embodied in the spirit of Reverend Demetris Crum. On March 24, 2019, Reverend Demetris Crum was installed as the Pastor of Second Baptist Church of Kenosha, WI. Under the divine leadership of God and Pastor Crum, our membership continues to grow by baptism, restoration and by Christian experience.
During the 100 years of existence the following have served as pastors and ministers of Second Baptist Church: Reverend J. W. Best, Reverend Charles Young, Reverend A. Able, Reverend A. W. Turner, Reverend L. Price, Reverend Cleo McKenzie, Reverend F. J. Jordan, Reverend L. T. King, Reverend Marke T. Toles, Reverend Olen Arrington, Jr. and Reverend Lawrence L. Kirby II.
Mark Toles
1963-1980
Olen Arrington, Jr
1981 - 2010
Lawrence L. Kirby II
2011 - 2016
L. T. King
F. J. Jordan
