HISTORY OF 2B

As a response to the rapid growth of southwest Lubbock, Second Baptist was founded in 1958 under the sponsorship of First Baptist Church of Lubbock. Reverend Bob Hearn served as the church’s first pastor. The development of new neighborhoods surrounding the church fueled the rapid growth of the congregation. During Second Baptist’s first four years, the building size doubled to house the flourishing  fellowship.

Under the leadership of Reverend Hearn, the fledgling church began its rich tradition of community outreach.   The establishment of the Second Baptist Child Development Center provided working parents with high quality childcare and preschool education for their children.  The Sick Children’s Clinic was created to provide free healthcare and medications for underserved children in the community.  A relationship with Lubbock’s Congregation Shaareth Israel was formed through fellowship and worship. During this era of civil rights unrest, Reverend Hearn partnered with Reverend A. L. Dunn, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, to lead the observance of Race Relations Sunday.

In 1967, Dr. Hardy Clemons was called to serve as Senior Pastor.  Dr. Clemons’ groundbreaking implementation of “team ministry,” which included women, began to blossom as the means of taking Christian commitment into daily life. The concept “Every Member A Minister” became the new emphasis as the church ushered in the next decade as a “Contemporary People of God.”   During the 1970’s, Second B became the first Southern Baptist Church in West Texas to ordain women as deacons. In 1982, Second B ordained Reverend Dot Thompson into pastoral ministry. These significant church decisions led to Second B’s withdrawal from the Southern Baptist Convention.

In a time of great division in the Baptist world, Clemmons was instrumental in the formation of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Alliance of Baptists. For a period of three years in the late 1980s, Rev. Dr. John Claypool, a renowned theologian, served alongside Clemons as co-pastor.  Clemons served as a pastoral counselor for many and trained other ministers to serve as pastoral counselors.

During the 1980’s, the church expanded its ministries across the community. Several church members were instrumental in founding the South Plains Food Bank. Lubbock Habitat for Humanity was established with the support of Second B members.  The church partnered with the South Plains AIDS Resource Center to minister to ill and disenfranchised members of the Lubbock community.  Second B joined the Interfaith Hospitality Network and Family Promise to provide homeless families with emergency overnight housing.

Charlie Johnson was called as pastor in 1989. His pastoral vision of open hospitality and community leadership brought Second B into a new era of ecumenical and civic relationships throughout the South Plains. 

In 1995, the congregation voted to relocate to southwest Lubbock in order to reach the growing population.  Construction began at the new location on Chicago Avenue in 1999.  The first service at the new location was held in September 2001. Also, in 1999, Second B adopted the Stephen Ministry, a lay-led ministry that equips Christian caregivers to provide high-quality, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people in the congregation and the community experiencing life difficulties.

Phillip Wise became pastor in 2003.  His leadership brought Cooperative Baptist Fellowship into the Baptist World Alliance.  In 2007. Kids Hope, a mentoring ministry for at-risk students became yet another of the many important missions of Second Baptist Church.

In 2010 the church called her 5th senior pastor, Ryon Price. During Price’s tenure, Second B enjoyed an era of enhanced interracial and interfaith fellowship with many faith communities in Lubbock. These relationships were grounded in conversations, panel discussions, shared worship and holiday meal gatherings. The music ministry also expanded to include a weekly worship orchestra and a vibrant bell choir ministry.  Second B completed construction of its new columbarium in 2013 after several years of research and discussion. It has become a holy space for families and is currently being expanded to provide more space for future growth.  In 2014, 2B Leaders Camp, a unique faith-based, 5-week camp for children that combined service, leadership skills and recreation was established.

In 2015, the church restructured its lay leadership and reaffirmed its mission, encouraging every member to be a minister. The Diaconate continued to provide spiritual leadership to the congregation through service and prayer.  The Vision Leadership Team was established to guide the church’s business and operational vision.  Second B engaged in a 5-month period of congregational discernment to define the church’s policy for weddings. The church’s tradition, as outlined by the Covenant of Community, granted full membership with all benefits to anyone professing faith in Jesus and having received baptism in any form. The church voted overwhelmingly to entrust the offering of weddings of any type to the discernment of the pastoral team, upholding its historical tradition of inclusion of everyone.  After Ryon Price’s time at Second B came to an end, the church appointed a female senior pastor, Stephanie Nash.

Second Baptist called Jake Maxwell as senior pastor in 2018. Jake skillfully guided the church through the pandemic with a combination of live-streamed worship services, parking lot gatherings, and socially distanced services. All Sunday School classrooms as well as all worship services became equipped with the technology required to include those who could not attend in person.  Second B increased its online and social media presence to better meet the needs of the congregation. A ministry motto, “Love.All.Now.” was adopted in 2021.  Sheryl Gallerneau, 2B’s Children’s Minister, was ordained in May of that year.  Despite the challenges created by the pandemic, the church paid off its remaining building debt.

Continuing a decades long tradition, the church’s annual Adult Retreat has entered a new level of congregational participation and spiritual depth with the change of location from Glorieta to historic downtown Santa Fe and the engagement of nationally known speakers including Phyllis Tickle, Tony Campolo, Richard Rohr, Brian McLaren, Will Willimon, and Peter Rollins.

Christian discipleship at Second B continues to challenge all ages to “cultivate deep wisdom and courageous faith.” The children’s ministry flourishes through weekly programming and the elementary and youth summer camp programs.  Youth activities include mission trips, summer camps, and service during 2B Leaders Camp.   Adult programming includes Sunday morning classes, “Windows” courses on Wednesday nights, senior adult programming, Bible and book studies, support groups, new member classes, and prayer group opportunities throughout the week.

Second B has active mission partnerships with St. Benedict’s Chapel in Lubbock, South Plains Food Bank, Second B Buddies as elementary school tutors, Family Promise, Biblical Underground Fellowship, Sick Children’s Clinic of Lubbock, Congregation Sha’areth Israel, and Primero Bautista in Piedras Negras, Mexico. The Deacons provide pastoral support for many church members.

For over sixty years, Second Baptist Church has responded to the needs of the Lubbock community and the members of its congregation. Second B is an inclusive community seeking to welcome and embody the fullness and beauty of the Christian church.  In the midst of a complex world, we are grateful to offer the healthy spiritual community of Second Baptist.