A church in Benton Harbor is preparing to mark 150 years in the community.

Second Baptist Church, located at 600 Donald Adkins Drive, will hold a celebration May 13 through May 16 to mark the occasion. Pastor Kenneth Robinson tells us the church was founded in 1875, growing out of First Baptist Church in St. Joseph. It was initially a Sunday school the St. Joe church operated to meet the needs of residents in Benton Harbor.

“They decided that it was best to move from a Sunday school class-based mission to organizing a church that would service the people that were relocating from the South to the North after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed some 13 years earlier,” Robinson said.

Robinson says Second Baptist eventually took on a life of its own as Benton Harbor grew.

“The church has a long history. They have been influential in the civil rights movement, influential over the years in building and helping to build the community.”

Over the years, the church has occupied several buildings. Robinson says many people remember its old location at Main Street and Eighth Street. It later moved to Cherry Street near Pipestone, and then finally to its current location on Donald Adkins Drive. That street is named after the church’s longest serving pastor, who also happened to be the father of comedian Sinbad.

These days, Robinson says Second Baptist is a thriving congregation that took a hit during COVID, like many churches, but is now in a revival period.

To mark the 150th, the church will hold a three-day revival each night on May 13 through the 16th. Then, on the 16th, they’ll host a black-tie gala at The Inn at Harbor Shores with live music, guest speakers, and dinner. Robinson says all are welcome for the banquet.