Church History

(1946 - 2006)

The Second Baptist Church was organized on June 17, 1946, with the Rev. D. B. Meadows officiating and Rev. C. L. Dotson was secretary. Some of the chartered members were: Sis Clara Love, Bro. Joe Love, Sis. Annie Mae Saddler, Sis. Lucille Nel­son, Bro. L. King, Bro. C. Spikes, Bro. Hayward Carr and Sis. Francis Carr.

 The Rev. Sam Bell was the first Pastor and worship services were held at 765 north Street. Due to failing health, Rev. Bell resigned in 1947. The Rev. Slaughter was called in 1948, where, under his leadership, property was purchased at 418 Toano Street, where worship services were held until a more suitable site was found on East 8th Street. Rev. Booker T. Mayfte1d was called as Pastor in 1948 and in 1956 resigned. The Rev. D. Faulkner carried on the worship services until The Rev. J. E. Davis was called to serve as Pastor in 1957, until his own resignation in 1963. Rev. Walter Johnson was called to serve as the next Pastor and served until his death in 1964. Under his leadership the down payment was made on a parsonage at 665 Southworth Drive. Rev. Carl Turner carried on the wor­ship services until March of 1964 when our present Pastor, Rev. Wil­liam C. Webb, was called.

 After the Highway Department purchased the East 8th Street prop­erty, services were held under Rev. William C. Webb's leadership at 720 Montello Street, until we moved to our present location at 1265 Montello Street in 1967.

 A decade or more ago under the leadership of our Pastor, Rev. William C. Webb, the Second Baptist Church decided it needed more classrooms and a Fellowship Hall in order to be more effective in our Christian teach­ing and outreach. We stepped out on faith, thus the building process began. 

The construction of the church began on July 1, 1992, with the exca­vating of the dirt for the basement. The Washoe County School district allowed our church to conduct our regular Sunday services at Glenn Duncan Elementary School, until our church was completed. Rev. William C. Webb delivered the first message in the new sanctuary on Apri14, 1993.

 The church was dedicated on May 2, 1993, at 3:00 PM. Dr. Earnest Myers, Executive Secretary of the Nevada Baptist Convention, delivered the dedication sermon.

        With steady growth and a membership around 370, the Church was able off pay-off the property mortgage early in 1998 resulting in substantial savings.

        Confident, obedient, patient and enthusiastic describe the progressive growth of Reno’s Second Baptist Church. The Bible preaching church forgoes the moral conviction of adjusting the message to please parishioners by diluting the word of God. Reno’s Second Baptist Church has heard hard-hitting and soul saving, biblical preaching from the same Pastor for over forty years.

        Following in the footsteps of Church founders, this long-tenured Pastor has earned a reputation in the community for working God’s will for all people.

       Thanks to the many good-hearted followers of the Second Baptist Church for their obedient to the preached Word of God in giving to the spiritual growth of the church and the community.