The time had come. It was the year 1885. A group of Blacks who had been worshipping at the First Baptist Church of Asbury Park, New Jersey (located on the southwest corner of Main and Bangs Ave) decided they wanted their own place of worship. The pastor of First Baptist, Rev. Frank C. Colby, and the officers were duly informed. The pastor, officers, and congregation tendered their blessings and those Blacks of kindred spirit ceased to attend First Baptist and proceeded to organize a mission. The group’s immediate concern was that of a meeting place.

At first, worship services were held in a rented Salvation Army building located on East Springwood Avenue (Lake Ave.). Reverend R. A. Bolden of Newark, NJ was selected as the first pastor. The membership began to increase and a larger meeting place was rented—the upper story of a building on the northwest corner of Springwood Avenue—the site of the old West Side Drug Store. On September 20, 1891 a meeting was held to elect Trustees in order to become incorporated under the provisions of an Act to incorporate Trustees of Religious Societies. The first trustees of Second Baptist Church elected were S. P. Slover, S. Shortt, J. Riley, Sr., William H. Clark, J. Barber, H. Ward and B. Smith. On October 2, 1891 the Certificate of Incorporation was officially recorded.

The rented worship site continued to be used until October 25, 1901 when a one story used furniture store (which previously had been offered and used for short periods for worship purposes) and the vacant plot of land (present site of the Second Baptist Church and original parsonage) were purchased. The Reverend J. C. Price succeeded the Reverend Bolden as pastor. Acquisition and ownership of the land and a building heralded a new era in the determined struggle of the church to establish permanency. Through the efforts of Pastor Price and the steady growing membership, plans were developed and initial steps were taken to transport the purchased building to its present site on Atkins Avenue, to renovate it extensively and to beautify the grounds.

Reverend Duvall succeeded Rev. J. C. Price as pastor. He served as pastor for only a short while and was succeeded by Rev. E. M. King in 1911. Under the pastorate of Reverend King, efforts were successfully made to ease the church’s debt entailed by the many changes made to the church’s structure, and the planning of a Church Parsonage. However, in1922, the sudden death of Reverend King left the church without a pastor. In an attempt to fulfill the vacancy, an invitation was sent to Reverend John H. Ashby, Pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church, Norfolk, Virginia. At the time, Reverend Ashby was also engaged in Christian work and services at Virginia Theological Seminary and College, Lynchburg Va. The Reverend Ashby accepted a second extended invitation, and with his election to the pastorship, he thus began 34 years of dedicated and devoted spiritual service to Second Baptist Church. Many of the present church features are the result of his untiring efforts working with the church membership to update the church edifice. The building was remolded; brick replaced the wooden frame work, a choir loft and organ was installed , the pulpit redecorated, a Baptist Pool constructed, church offices were included and the churches balcony was erected. In 1944 the church developed a new financial system; a $5000 mortgage was “burned,” a lot adjacent to the church was purchased and the Parsonage on Union Avenue was completed.

On July 1, 1956, after 34 years of service of active ministry to the Second Baptist Church, Dr. John A. Ashby retired. The Reverend Alfred L. Pugh the former pastor of Mt. Ararat Baptist church, In Rutherford New, Jersey was elected pastor, June 25, 1956. Under Rev Pugh’s dynamic pastorate, the church doubled in active membership. Under Rev Pugh’s able leadership the Christian Education Building was built and dedicated to the service of God. Realizing the call to another field of service Rev. Pugh resigned in January 1967.

On January 15th , 1968 Rev. Verner R. Matthews, a graduate of Shelton College, and the New York Theological Seminary, and former Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Poughkeepsie, New York was unanimously elected pastor. Reverend Matthews was a seasoned world traveler. In 1970 he traveled around the world. In 1971 he toured Israel and Rome and in response to a, "Pulpit Exchange Invitation" in 1973 he traveled to Accrington, England. Under Rev. Matthews’ leadership the Second Baptist Church membership continued to grow and the church was able to burn $75,000 mortgage for the Education Building, on Sunday April 12 1970. Under his ministry a comprehensive Christian Education program was instituted and the Kiddie Kare Child Development Program Center (Day Care Unit) was established. Rev. Matthews resigned in 1999.

An interim pastor, Reverend Arthur Lee Johnson served for 20 months while the church searched for new a pastor. Reverend Brian J. Wells, from Indianapolis, Indiana answered the call and was elected pastor in September, 2000.

During Reverend Well’s tenure as pastor, the Second Baptist Church family continued to grow leading to the establishment two Sunday morning worship services. Through his leadership, needed infrastructure improvements were made within the church and the educational building (new windows, air conditioners, carpet). He improved the collection of funds from tenants of the churches owned apartments and created the Audio Visual Ministry. He also helped enhance the music ministry of the church. Rev Wells resigned in 2007 returning to his home state of Indiana.

Rev Terrence Keeling from South Jersey and Rev. Girdie Washington from Neptune, NJ served as interim pastors as the church searched for a new pastor. Rev Keeling served 14 months and Rev. Gerdie Washington served for 10 months.

In January 2010 Reverend Doctor Byron P. Wess was elected as the New Pastor of Second Baptist Church.