Church History
Recent History...
In March 2020 just about all the churches in our area and across the globe closed their doors as requested by government officials to hinder the spread of the deadly CORONA virus.
During this time, our churches held together by meeting outside with members separated, listening in their cars and newsletters kept folks informed of happenings with the church family.
Due to health issues and age (72), our pastor, Rev. J.D. Shiflet, decided to retire as of Dec. 31, 2020, and our church began the search for our pastor and our supply pastor in the meantime.
On Jan. 17, 2021, coming from Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church, the Rev. Ervin Stutzman, 70 years old, (along with his wife, Wanda, age 69) became our supply pastor. The couple were residents of the area for several years and have helped many churches in the Laurens Association transition between pastors. They were both very helpful and encouraging during the transition process. Under the Stutzman’s leadership the church organized prayer walks and began revitalization projects, and Bro. Stutzman led the church to reopen its doors and reinstate all previous programs before the pandemic. Bro. Stutzman preached sound biblical doctrine and the church received come great biblical instruction during his tenure.
In October, 9 months after Bro. Stutzman became our supply pastor, our pulpit committee announced they contacted a minister for a trial sermon. The Rev. Phil Wyatt, age 53, came on Oct. 31, 2021, to preach and was accepted as our next pastor by the congregation. His first official Sunday as the new Senior Pastor was on Jan. 5, 2022.
The Rev. Phil Wyatt, and his wife, Rochelle, come with much experience in the ministry. He has served as youth leader, music leader, and S.S. teacher; as both bi-vocational and full-time positions in churches across SC, GA, & TN. He served in the military for close to 9 years before accepting God's call to the ministry. He considers himself to be a conservative in practice and doctrine. We are excited about the future that God has for us under Pastor Wyatt’s leadership.
Pastor Phil and Rochelle (his high school sweetheart) have been married for 34 years and have 4 adult children and 12 grandchildren.
During this time, our churches held together by meeting outside with members separated, listening in their cars and newsletters kept folks informed of happenings with the church family.
Due to health issues and age (72), our pastor, Rev. J.D. Shiflet, decided to retire as of Dec. 31, 2020, and our church began the search for our pastor and our supply pastor in the meantime.
On Jan. 17, 2021, coming from Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church, the Rev. Ervin Stutzman, 70 years old, (along with his wife, Wanda, age 69) became our supply pastor. The couple were residents of the area for several years and have helped many churches in the Laurens Association transition between pastors. They were both very helpful and encouraging during the transition process. Under the Stutzman’s leadership the church organized prayer walks and began revitalization projects, and Bro. Stutzman led the church to reopen its doors and reinstate all previous programs before the pandemic. Bro. Stutzman preached sound biblical doctrine and the church received come great biblical instruction during his tenure.
In October, 9 months after Bro. Stutzman became our supply pastor, our pulpit committee announced they contacted a minister for a trial sermon. The Rev. Phil Wyatt, age 53, came on Oct. 31, 2021, to preach and was accepted as our next pastor by the congregation. His first official Sunday as the new Senior Pastor was on Jan. 5, 2022.
The Rev. Phil Wyatt, and his wife, Rochelle, come with much experience in the ministry. He has served as youth leader, music leader, and S.S. teacher; as both bi-vocational and full-time positions in churches across SC, GA, & TN. He served in the military for close to 9 years before accepting God's call to the ministry. He considers himself to be a conservative in practice and doctrine. We are excited about the future that God has for us under Pastor Wyatt’s leadership.
Pastor Phil and Rochelle (his high school sweetheart) have been married for 34 years and have 4 adult children and 12 grandchildren.
Our Origin...
125 years and counting! |
It was a fall day, Oct. 3, 1897, when a group of believers, under the leadership of Rev. Swindler of Newberry, gathered under the protection of a brush arbor on the corner of Holmes and Oak Streets. A brush arbor consists of small trees or bushes with branches intertwined across the top to give some protection from the elements and wide enough for a small group to gather beneath. The purpose of this gathering was to worship God and to establish a body of believers in the community. These believers were known at first as Little River Baptist Church.
Before they were able to erect a building, this group needing protection and growing met on the upstairs floor of a Fleming Street drug store. Later they met in a hall over the company store building. Methodists and Presbyterians also used this facility. On the fourth Sunday, morning and evening services were held. On Dec. 20, 1898, the church called a meeting to reorganize. There were 25 people listed as charter members. They called Rev. James A. Martin as their pastor. Rev. Martin also was a medical doctor at Martin's Crossroads. This faithful group had already organized a Sunday School sometime in 1898 under the direction of Houston Roper. During a conference on March 12, 1899, the church members voted to change its name from Little River Baptist Church to Laurens Second Baptist Church. In August, the church was voted into the membership of the Laurens Baptist Association and also sent messengers to the October 1899 annual meeting. |
Second Baptist Church 414 Fleming Street Laurens, SC 29360 p: 864-984-3070 Sunday Schedule 10:00am - Sunday School 11:00am - Morning Worship 6:00pm - Evening Worship Wednesday Schedule 7:00pm - Adult Prayer Meeting/Bible Study 7:00pm - Kids & Youth Bible Studies |