We welcome you to come as you are and worship with
us every Sunday 9 am.
SBC CHURCH HISTORY
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH of HARLEM, INCORPORATED
Early in 1922 a small band of Southerners who had since moved to New York City, got together to organize a church. The place of meeting and worship was located on East 134th Street.
The Rev. James Macon Osborne was called as the first pastor of this fledgling church. After Rev. Osborne accepted the pastorate of the Church, he took charge at once, using an outlined program as a guide during his 17 years of administration and joined the National Baptist Convention USA, Incorporated.
In October of 1923, Rev. Osborne suggested the organization and official name our Southern Baptist Church of Harlem, which was readily accepted by the membership. The name, Southern Baptist Church had been used temporarily, was made permanent. The Southern Baptist Church of Harlem was incorporated with the state of New York in 1930.
The early Southern Baptist Church consisted almost entirely of migrants from Georgia. The Church was not only a place where they sang and prayed together, but also a home away from home where old friendships could be renewed and perpetuated, a place of help in the times of need and a place of solace in times of sorrow.
Rev. Dr. C. B. Wilson assumed the pastorate on the second Sunday in January 1940. The site of the Southern Church was at 13 West 134th Street. Rev. Dr. Wilson came to us whom we all depended upon, we were worshipping at this second rented site on the same street but at a different address and with larger accommodations than the site at 11 East 134th Street. Dr. Wilson succeeded in finding still larger quarters in which to conduct worship services. The newer site was at 103 Morningside Avenue which was purchased on April 14, 1941. The Church Family moved into its new home on April 19, 1941, and at which time the fold numbered approximately 125 members on whom we all depend upon. By the time of our 28th Anniversary, our membership had grown to a quite sizable number.
As the membership continued to flourish and grow, the site at 103 Morningside Avenue could no longer accommodate the massive crowds which worshipped with us. Dr. Wilson and his Deacons set out to find still another place more suitable for worship and religious activity.
The building at the present site, 12-16 West 108th Street, was purchased. After much sacrifice and many deliberations, members and friends of the Southern Church marched to the location at 12-16 West 108th Street, New York, N.Y. 10025, on October 4, 1953, from 103 Morningside Avenue. On May 11, 1959, the last dollar owed on our new Church Home had been paid in full.
Rev. Dr. C. B. Wilson served the Southern Baptist Church family for thirty (30) rewarding years and was called to his heavenly reward by God.
Two years following the transition of Dr. Wilson, Rev. Benjamin J. Whipper, Jr. was called to lead our Church Family. He officially assumed the pastorate of the Southern Baptist Church of Harlem on Mother’s Day, 1972. In his own way, Pastor Whipper introduced to the Southern Church Family numerous undertakings for its spiritual enhancement and growth.
The purchase of the apartment building (that was vacant) that is known as the C. B. Wilson Memorial Building at 18 West 108th Street. In addition, Rev Whipper led the renovation process of our church building, originally at a cost of $250,000.00, not including the cost for minor repairs at that time. In November 1988, the C. B. Wilson Memorial Building was completed, and the apartments were fully occupied.
Rev. Whipper was a prolific preacher and was known nationally for his sound gospel message that the Lord gave him, because of this he put Southern on the map as a great house and people.
In 1998, the Reverend Eugene King was installed as the 4th Pastor of the Southern Baptist Church. Rev. Eugene King has over 16 years as Pastor, developed many ministries to meet the needs of the membership, the community and a supported a ministry in the Caribbean country of Haiti.
Reverend King and his Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree at Union Theological Seminary in New York and the Disciples of Southern regarded him as a great teacher.
The voice of God was heard by the people of God of the Southern Baptist Church and the call was extended to Pastor Roberson on June 9, 2007, to become the fifth (5th) Pastor of the Southern Baptist Church. He was installed on Sunday, September 23rd of the same year.
Under Rev. Dr. Roberson‘s pastorate many ministries were birthed and a renewed witness to the community at large has been birthed, building upon the foundation that has been laid before him, the Southern Baptist Church Family continues to feed the needy on a weekly basis, have supported a women's shelter in the area through the Women's Ministry in the Men's Ministry have taken to the streets to give coats, blankets, gloves and scarves to homeless men.
Numerous renovations to the existing church building have been made and Pastor Roberson has led The Southern Baptist Church of Harlem through the Covid19 Pandemic.
We thank our God for leading and guiding The Southern Baptist Church of Harlem for more than one century and we look forward to His continuing to do so until His return through his Son, Jesus the Christ, where we can then meet Disciples of Southern that transitioned before us and other family members and friends and be with God for eternity. To God be the glory for the things he has done.
