History
In 1925, between the end of the World War I and the Great Depression, 25 Christian believers known as Richard’s Mission came together to organize what would later be known as Second Baptist Church Southwest. It was a time of great poverty and racial oppression: blacks had been banned from working in government buildings; black soldiers who had fought in World War I were involved in protests as they continued to serve in segregated units; and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, with A. Philip Randolph at the helm, was organized in the same year. A federal anti-lynching law had been killed in the U.S. Senate three years earlier and 97 black Americans were known to have been lynched since the vote. In spite of it all, Richard’s Mission demonstrated their faith in God by banding together to serve God and the Southwest community and today our commitment has not waivered. Our Pastor and Ministerial Staff, Deacons, Deaconesses and Trustees Boards, Sunday Church School, Vacation Bible School, Womens Missionary Union, Brotherhood, six organized choirs, Intermediate and Junior Usher Boards, Nurses Unit, Progressive Club, Willing Workers, Flower Club, Hospitality Committee, Pastor’s Aid Club, Golden Agers Fellowship, New Members Orientation Committee, Scholarship Committee, Youth Department, Boy and Cub Scout Troop #300 and Child Development Center, are proud of our heritage and accomplishments.