Second Baptist Church raises funds to repair structure, receives National Trust for Historic Preservation award

Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles Image courtesy of secondbaptistchurchla.org

The balcony in the sanctuary of the Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles is suffering from structural problems, and the church is attempting to raise money to repair it. It is expected that $1.2 million will be needed to complete the repair, which involves replacing wooden trusses that have collapsed due to wear and tear.

Raises Funds To Repair Structure

As Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles suffers from structural problems, in Feb. 2021, the church decided to look into the damage done to the balcony and have John A. Martin and Associates, Inc. (JAMA) compile a report on their findings.

The JAMA discovered that two of the wooden trusses were broken, and all seven of the trusses require maintenance in some way. JAMA reinforced the first and second trusses to prevent any additional collapse of those structures.

According to the Los Angeles Sentinel, the SBC is trying to raise finances by soliciting donations and applying for grants. 

It also stated that to this day, the SBC has received two awards totaling $200,000: the grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which was awarded just this past month, and the Council District 9 Community Grant, which was awarded just this past May.

In addition, the church applied to the National Park Service's Historic Preservation Fund. 

Meanwhile, they thank Councilmember Curren Price and the National Trust for Historic Preservation for acknowledging the importance of preserving and repairing the Second Baptist Church's historic features.

As per the report, since its founding in 1885, the church has maintained a continuous presence in the wider Los Angeles community and has continued to meet the requirements of the region's evolving demographic makeup.

The long tradition of SBC's commitment to humanitarian work and advocacy for social justice continues to this day.

About Second Baptist Church

Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles is a congregation of people who believe in Christ and bear witness to the truth of God's presence in the world and the community of Los Angeles. This presence is one of redemption and reconciliation.

The objective of SBC is to carry on the work that Christ started by establishing ministries geared toward meeting the requirements of the modern world.

Rev. Dr. William Saxe Epps is leading the SBC. According to the church's website, the Reverend Doctor William Saxe Epps, born and raised in Rochester, New York, started working at Second Baptist Church on Thursday, Oct. 1, 1987. 

On Sunday, Jan. 31, 1988, he was only the eighth pastor in the church's history. 

It also stated that the attainment of a Bachelor of Science degree from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas, in 1966 and a Master of Education degree from Columbia University in New York City in 1970 were the first steps in his preparation for a career in the ministry.

In 1987, Epps attended St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, for his doctoral studies and graduated with a degree in ministry. In addition, he received his education from Boston University and Andover-Newton Theological Seminary, both located in Massachusetts.

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