Church History

By the Grace of God, a group of Negro slaves worshipped along with their masters in a church located near the corner of what is now Hogan and Duval Streets. This church was Bethel Baptist Church, the first church of Baptist denomination in Jacksonville, Florida. Separation came when a few dedicated Christians relocated to a site on Duval Street near Laura Street and organized the Second Baptist Tabernacle in 1848. The remaining Negroes retained the name Bethel Baptist Church. By making this break during the turbulent, oppressive time of chattel slavery Second Baptist Tabernacle began a tradition of relying on God in the toughest times and believing that they were stronger together through Christ.  

 Reverend Mack Brown was the first pastor and served from 1850 until his death in 1865. Brother Glasco Wiggins and his wife Sister Peggy Wiggins were the first to be baptized as part of the new congregation.   Over the next sixty-four (64) years thirteen Pastors were called to Shepperd Second Baptist Tabernacle.“The Great Fire” of 1901 brought devastation to the city and Second Baptist Tabernacle with the destruction of the first wooden structure, which was replaced by another wooden structure located at 1018 Kings Avenue.

The first brick structure was begun under the pastorate of Reverend J. Samuel  Williams and completed under the pastorate of Reverend K. D. Britt in 1930.The early years of Second Baptist Tabernacle were filled with the hopes and dreams of our founding fathers to establish a congregation of faithful soldiers for Christ, who would be used to do some mighty works for God in the La Villa neighborhood. Here was laid the foundation for a Bible believing Bible teaching church consecrated to the service of God.

In 1929, the late beloved Reverend King David Britt was called as pastor to Second Baptist Church. He brought with him his wife Alberta and two sons, Colbert and King David, Jr.  During his twenty-nine (29) year tenure Pastor Britt served as Moderator of the East Florida and Bethany Baptist Association.  Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit Pastor Britt’s notable achievements are as follows.  He completed the first brick structure at 954 Kings Road in 1930. Church acquired property from Kings Road to Johnson Street West.  A new wing was added in 1950 to accommodate the increase in membership from 300 to 3,000.  Pastor Britt realized that along with church growth comes the need to expand, enlarge and establish Auxiliaries to advance the kingdom of our Savior.  Pastor Britt’s slogan was “Do not take advantage of mankind but take advantage of opportunity.” 

Dr. James Carl Sams was a respected, dynamic and faithful leader of Second Missionary Baptist Church.  He was called September 25, 1958 and served 27 years with his wife Sister Cornelia Sams, who stood faithfully by his side.  During Dr. Sams’ leadership the Church experienced numerous accomplishments among the most notable are:  new edifice completion in 1979 and mortgage burning in 1984, Youth Ministry Growth with Counselors and Youth / Children and the church motto “The Church Where Somebody Cares” is still used today. Dr. Sams ensured a legacy of excellence serving 37 years as President of the Progressive Missionary and Educational Baptist State Convention and 18 years as President of the National Baptist Convention.  During his tenure purchase of a Convention Center, benevolent and charitable donations increased and formation of the State Congress.  Dr. Sams served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Florida Memorial College. He was recognized for years as one of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in America and for his influences by local and state governments.

History was made at Second Missionary Baptist Church when she embraced one of her sons, Reverend Odell Smith, Jr., to be her sixteenth pastor.  Building on our motto, “The Church Where Somebody Cares,” he served untiringly as the church’s under Shepperd for 31 years with his wife, Sister Corliss P. Smith, by his side.  Pastor Smith was widely known as a kind and compassionate man who spent quality time with the Church Family.Rev. Smith’s impact was felt with the expansion of the Evangelism Explosion Program through our interaction with sister church's in the Jacksonville community. Second Church served as the training center for those desiring training in the Great Commission.  He also impacted the Community at large for many years with the weekly Sunday afternoon radio broadcast ministry.  His greatest impact may have come through his Licentiate of nine Ministers of the gospel; seven of which became ordained Reverends. Dr. Smith served as Moderator of the East Florida and Bethany Baptist Association for 10 years, President of the Lincoln-Douglass Memorial Emancipation Proclamation Association, Inc for 23 years and 6 years as Chaplain of the Jacksonville Urban League. New ministries established under his tenure were: Church Wide Homecoming, The Children Youth and College Age Ministry, Scholarship, Food Bank and The Homeless/Hungry ministry. 

Reverend Derrick Mercer was welcomed to the pulpit as Pastor on Sunday June 2, 2019. Installation Services were held Sunday, September 29, 2019. Second Church celebrated God’s choice to lead this Congregation. In our hearts we believed he was sent for our purposes, to be our next generational Pastor. But as time has born out God’s purposes were much more immediate. On July 31, 2019, Pastor Derrick Mercer presented his first phase of changes that would be beneficial in the new season at SMBC. He laid out his proposal clearly and concisely. The Congregation embraced the Vision, “Growing, Going & Giving.” In the spirit of the vision, he restructured the Sunday Morning Order of Service and instituted New Member Orientation to support the growth of the Church. With God’s Wisdom, Rev. Mercer established the Church’s long held goal of a Social Media and WEB presence on the Internet. The success of this endeavor enabled the Congregation to survive the fast approaching Pandemic that only God knew was coming. This digital presence strengthen communication with members, established online giving and allowed services to be live streamed during COVID lockdown. God’s purpose was to prepare our Church for the coming hardship and we are thankful Pastor Mercer followed God’s guidance.  We Are Stronger Together through Christ.