Second Baptist Church,
600 Lynch Street, Benton
Harbor, celebrated its 104th
nniv r ry on Sunday,
ay 20.
A large congregatlorsof
members, friends nd 11-
ishers gathered for the
ceremonies to, hear Rev.
Donald Ad ins, Pastor deliv
er the sermon on the day's
theme, • One Forward Step.'
S cond Baptis as the
. oldest BI k Baptist Church
__ c�x�o Benton Harbor has much
commemorate with
long and illustrious history.
1n 1875, the church
began as an outgrowth of
a Sunday School that held
its meetings at 84 Main
Street abo the "Five and
Ten Cent Store."
Fi years later, 1880,
Rev. Cromwell cam from
Canada to organize a church
on Bronson Street where a
frame structure as erected.
It burn d to the ground
ortly thereafter.
Re. Fergurson from
Indi napolis reorganized a
disheartened people in 1890
and located on Colfa ne r
ichigan Avenue. Soon
after, the congregation
mo ed from Colfax to
Eighth Street.
In 1893, Rev. orris
ured enough funds ith
free labor and built th
first unit on Eighth St. for
orship. Baptismal Service
held on the doc of
East in, by breaking the
ice. Rev. orris becam
astor d the tas of
building p for the
Church too place.'
From 1900 to 1935,
many dedicated men led
the church through its
efforts for Christian
gro . Th ere Rev.
artin, Rev. cFarl nd,
Re. D.H. Fo ter, Rev.
Carter, Rev. Hill, Rev.
L ins, Re. R.H. Cabl ,
Rev. j.Barn s, and Rev.
T. H. d.
Youthe tes
Choir
pertnrms
The Youthettes Junior
oir of Community
Church of God in Christ,
870 E. Washjngton, Benton
Harbor, presented their
first concert Sunday, May
27.
The Y outhettes are a
n vocal and musical
group of the church compo
sed of young people be-
een the g of 12 and
1 S.
Mrs. Pat ill iams is
Director nd Mr. Edward
organ is the ccornpa
nist.
In addition to the
beautiful music, the group
sold chicken and rib din
ners on Saturcby and .
Sunday. Proceeds wilJ be
used to cis their dis
trict report and the
purchase of uniforms.
.. .
In 1937, Rev. F.A. Williamsand church members gathered
for the ortga Burning ceremonies.
Rev. W.G. ilson
age of 78.
It was' in that year
that the current pastor,
Rev. Donald B. Adkins
was called to Second
Baptist.
Highlights of Rev.
Adkin's pastorage in-
clude the motorcade to the
present location at 600
Lynch Street, the former
Benton Harbor Tabernacle.
In 1975 the church
celebrated its centennial
anniversary and two
years later, in 1977, the
mortgage burning was cele-
.. brated.
The history of dedi
cation that led the church
to - persever over 100 years
exists today in the efforts
of many people in the
ranks of today's members.
Among these are Helen
S nders, Church Secretary;
Virginia Edwards, Church
Clerk; William ance, Fi
nancial Secretary; Hershel
McKenzie, Treasurer.
Also serving are AI
Whitfie d, Chairman of the
De 0 s Board; Dorothy
nee, Chairperson of the
Deaconess Board; Margaret
. Easl y, Missionary De p art
m nt; Tim Sanders,Trustee
Board Chairman; Kelly
cGee, Usher Board Presi
dent; Wilbur Seott, Sunday
School Superintendent; and,
Vera Whitmore, Directress
of the Congregation of
Christian Education.
In 1936, Rev. F .A.
illi ms was called to pas
tor. A year later, the indebt
edn s of the church as
p id off and they celebrat
ed their "62" Anni rsary.
In 1941, Rev. Sebree
ans red the call and pas
tor d until his death.
Rev. . G. ilson was
called to pastor in 1944
and und r his leadership
for 22 years, member
ship grew to 400.
After 12 year Rev.
ilson felt the need to
build a ne edifice but
was led to 477 Cherry
Street ich was pur
chased and remod led.
Ten years later he
passed on in 1966 at the
DID YOU KNQW: 'et ·ghts
Hines n 'II
·-rulO (2) Duncan nnn good fOf.
, n stor eoU,,- k n('
m get yOU a n Hines Ca· _:_
FREE BO)( of Dunea _" --
E
P.O. lox 5
Cleo Thomas is Minister
of usic and Loddie Elliott
is Assistant inister of Mu
sic. Donna Adkins is Presi
dent of. the Junior Choir
which is directed by Joyce
Hall.
Vesper Choir President
is ark Ad kins and Kathy
Crump is Director,
MAY 29, 197
Evelyn Scott is Direc
tor of the Inspiration I
Choir nd Qwendolyn c
Cree is Director of the
Gospel Chorus while Marie
Scott directs the male
Wilsonian Chorus.
Kathy Rustin directs
the ursey Department for
the small children during
Sunday . oming Service.
Rev. Adkins s born
in St. Louis and raised
in Benton Harbor. He grad-
T.HE CITIZE
PAGE 5
uated from BHHS nd L C
and has studied sociology
and religion at Andre s
Uni ersity.
He served as Assis
tant Pastor at Second Bap
tist prior to his pastor
ship at Second Baptist in
Do aigic from 1964-66.
Rev. Ad ins and his
wife Louise ' ha six
children, ich I, 0 vid,
Donald [r., Dorothea,
Donna nd ar.
c
EBENEZER BAPTIST
214 E. Britain· 927-2188
R • Witter L. Brown
SundlY School. 9:30 I.m.
WOrship. • • • • 10: 55 a.m.
S n. E n. Serv. 7:30 p.m.
ST PAUL BAPTIST
130 Urb nd
Rev. E bert Bro n
Sun. School ••• 9:30 I.m.
Worship 11)la.m.
Afternoon •••• 3:00 p.m.
BYPU ••.•••• 5:30 p.m.
Ev n.serv ••••• 7:00 p.m.
Iy or ••• 7:00 p.m.
Tue I Soc •• 4:00 p.m.
ed.BI&Pmtg .0. 7:00 p.m.
ST. ARK'S BAPTIST
802 Pavonn
R v. Col m GrlY
Sun.School •••• 9:00 I.m.
orship ••••• 11:00 a.m.
Ev nl Wo ••• 7:30 p.m.
SECO 0 BAPTIST #
600 Lynch - 926-1191
Rev. Don ad Adkins
Sun. School ••• 9:30 l.m.
Worship ••••• 10:45 I •
ST. JOHN CATHOLIC
600 Columbus - 925-2425
R • L roy it
Sun. • 8,10,11 :3Oa.m.
Sat. ••••• 5:30 p.m.
Sat.Conf •• 4-5:3Op •
HIGHLA 0 AVE. SDA
H land 1& Eudid
Pastor R.C. IS
SlblMth Sch .... 9: 5 I.m.
Worship ••••• 11:00 l.m.
Young ".smtg •• 4:00 p.m.
eel. Pray •••• 7:30 p.m.
F.�.V •••• 7:30 p.m.
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1451 E. lin
926-9603 or 925-7668
inl r SillS L , Jr.
S • Sdaool • . 10:00 I.m.
Wo ip..... 11: 15 I.m.
n's Trn. CI ••• 5:00 p.m.
E Ing Wore •• 6:00 p.m.
Mon. Sis's CI'6:00 p.m.
Wed. Bible Stdy 7:00 p.m.
EW BETHEL BAPTIST
Townlin Rd.· 927-3902
·R • Ilton cAte.
Sun. Sdaool ••• 9:30 l.m.
Wonh 11 l.m. 7:30p.m.
BYPU ••••••• 6:00 p.m.
HOPE ELL BAPTIST
756 H· hland
R • John A. Simmons
Sun. School ••• 9:30 a.m.
Divln Worsh •• 11:00 l.m •
NE PARADISE BAPT.
287 S. Crystal· 927- 727
Rev. W.T. Burto
Sun. Sc 001 ••• 9:30 • .m.
om. Wo .: 11:00 l.m.
FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST
Hi h pt. Dr. It Emp ,..
927-2062
R • T.N. Wilkins
orship 11 I.m'& 7:30a.m.
Sun. School •• � 9:30 l.m.
BTU Sunday ••• 6:30 p.m.
T. ZION BAPTIST
831 eGu n
Rev. John E. abon
Sun. School ••• 9: 0 I.m.
om. Worsh. • 10:45 I.m.
E n. Serv ••••• 7:00 p.m.
Wed. Bib •••• 7:00 p.m.
.'
PILGRI REST SAPT. ,
1105 E. lin· 926-2227
R • .E. Ellis
R • Ellis Hull, Ass't.
Sun. School ••• 9:30 a.m.
Worship 11 1.m.1&7: p.m.
BYPU ••••••• 5:00 p.m.
Sun. E n ••••• 7:00 p.m.
FIRST PRESBYTERIA
475 G -925-7075
Rev.Ooro y F. Cro
orship •••.•• 9:45 l.m.
Sun.5chool. •. 11:00 l.m.
CHURCH OF GOD
I CHRIST· IST.13
Sun.5chool ••• 1. i.m.
Worship ••••• 12:0 p.m.
Y.P.W.W •••••• 6:30 p.m.
Ev Serv ••••. 8:00 p.m.
Tu Fri •• 8:00 p •
FLAKE TE PLE
C.O.G.I.C.
696 Columb s, nt. rb.
Eid V Flak
� ASHI GTO TE PLE
C.O.G.I.C.
871 carberry Rd.- •
Eld Paul • Ad s
REED TE PLE
C.O.G.I.C.
477 Ch...-y t.H
• 92 27
Eid J.C.R
CASSCOU TV
CHRIST TABER ACLE
ALL ATIO 5
APOSTOLIC CHURCH
66100 T orpe U • Rd.
C 'vin C <a polis
641·5929 or 641-7279
A.L.Baxt -R.Ro
Sun.5daool ••• 10:00 I .
�W.·j� ••••• 11:00 I.m.
00 •••• 3:00 p •
V BURE COU TV
I .