10/22/2024
Everyone is invited! We look forward to seeing you.
178-year-old West End church presses forward in faith
with Homecoming celebration, revival Oct. 27-29
RICHMOND, Va. — Faith might seem hard to come by these days, but the congregation of a 178-year-old Second Baptist Church, at 1400 Idlewood Avenue, in the Randolph community on the West End of Richmond, is “Pressing Forward in Faith.”
This theme for its Homecoming/Church Anniversary celebration at 11 a.m. Sunday, October 27, 2024, is based on Philippians 3:14: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (KJV)
The Rev. Dr. Charlotte McSwine, a “daughter” of Second Baptist, and pastor of Charles City Community Church in Charles City, Va., will preach at the celebration.
Second Baptist will extend the celebration for two days with a revival, on Monday and Tuesday, October 28-29, 2024, starting at 7 p.m. nightly.
Preacher and teacher the Rev. Dr. Timothy Jones returns to his hometown of Richmond to preach for the revival at Second Baptist. Also known as the Rev. Dr. Timothy Levi Adkins-Jones, he is the pastor of the historic Bethany Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. He is the grandson of the Rev. Leroy Jones of Richmond.
Dr. Janet Copeland will be the musician for the two nights.
Church history says that during the great revival of 1831, many people of African heritage were admitted to membership in the Second Baptist Church, which was a white congregation. In 1846, 51 members, feeling the urge of greater service to God and man, voluntarily withdrew, and the Second Baptist for people of color was born.
The Rev. Dr. James Henry Harris, pastor of Second Baptist, says: “Second Baptist has been serving the community for 178 years, and we will move into our next phase with a revival, much like the church started. We invite everyone to celebrate with us on Sunday and get revived Monday and Tuesday.”
For more information, contact the church at 804-353-7682 or email [email protected].
