CHURCH
HISTORY
In the late 1940’s, God planted a vision in the heart of John Polite Ladson, and on December 11, 1947, that vision came to fruition when the Second Canaan Missionary Baptist Church (“Second Canaan”) was organized as an assembly of seven charter members under the leadership of the Rev. E. M. Moore, former pastor of the Canaan Baptist Church.
In 1948, Rev. John P. Ladson was ordained and installed as the first Pastor of Second Canaan. Worship Services were initially held at Rev. Ladson’s residence located at 536 W. 156th Street in New York City. The church’s first officers were appointed and the storefront on 275 W. 117th Street was leased and became the church’s new place of worship. As the Lord continued to enlarge His church, in October 1950, Second Canaan moved its home to 424 W. 125th Street and finally on February 5, 1956, Rev. Ladson led Second Canaan to 10 Lenox Avenue.
During his tenure, Rev. Dr. Ladson proclaimed Second Canaan to be “The Church for All People!” On August 6, 1983, God granted Rev. Dr. John P. Ladson rest from all his work but Second Canaan marched onward.
Following the leadership of our founding Pastor, Rev. Henry L. Smalls served as Second Canaan’s second pastor from February 1985 - December 1992. He encouraged the development of spiritual gifts and ordained several deacons during his tenure.
Rev. Dr. Henry Pinckney Davis, III served as Second Canaan’s third pastor from March 1994 to August 2000. During his pastorate, Second Canaan transitioned to “A Church Christ Centered, Bible Based, and Spirit Led” as he organized various ministries such as Men’s Fellowship, Women’s Prayer Ministry, and Scholarship Ministry along with a Prayer Room.
Rev. Derick Brennan served as Second Canaan’s fourth pastor from March 2002 to June 2006. Under his leadership, Second Canaan became a “Church Committed to Seeking God through Worship, Evangelism, Discipleship and Community”.
In 2006, Second Canaan again sought the Lord for His choice of a pastor for this branch of Zion. God sent us Rev. Wesley W. Wilson Jr. to teach the Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting & Bible Study. The Assembly grew fond of Rev. Wilson’s teaching and contagious passion for God and it was not long before Second Canaan accepted him as our Interim Pastor. In the midst of its search for a new leader, Second Canaan recognized that God had already answered their prayers in Rev. Wilson and called him to be the fifth pastor of Second Canaan in May 2008.
Pastor Wilson’s joy and tremendous love for God, His word and His people has never wavered. Under Pastor Wilson’s leadership, Focused Ministries were reorganized for increased effectiveness and evangelism was promoted extensively.
In April of 2017, with God’s leading and a leap of faith, Pastor Wilson negotiated and embarked on a $25 MM Joint Venture Project, that along with residential spaces, provided for a state-of-the-art Worship Facility.
Celebrating our Grand-Reopening on December 29th, 2019, the church now includes administrative offices, a banquet hall/configurable multi- purpose meeting spaces and a restaurant-grade kitchen facility. As a result of this endeavor, all of Second Canaan’s debts were paid and we were blessed to purchase a wheel-chair accessible bus, and a 15- passenger van.
On May 19, 2024, the church voted to accept the succession plan where Pastor Wesley W. Wilson, Jr. would become pastor Emeritus and Rev. Wes Wilson, III would become Pastor Elect.
Rev. Wes Wilson, III was not a stranger to Second Canaan. In 2017, he joined Second Canaan for a yearlong Field Study while in pursuit of his graduate degree from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Rev. Wilson III returned to Second Canaan in January of 2023, to serve as our Assistant Pastor.
On September 29, 2024, Rev. Wes Wilson, III was installed as the sixth pastor of Second Canaan Baptist Church.
Second Canaan Baptist Church honors its past, praises God for its present and looks forward to its future as a church committed to the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
We remain committed to “Advancing the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.” Amen.