Rev. Doug Slaughter celebrates 30th pastoral anniversary

TAYLOR BELTZ, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

Oct. 3—The Second Baptist Church and Aiken community came together to celebrate the Rev. Douglas Slaughter's 30th pastoral anniversary on Oct. 1.

The weekend began with a banquet on Friday to raise funds for the church and celebrate Slaughter.

On Sunday, a worship service was held at Second Baptist Church where Slaughter's family and mentors spoke and led the worship service in his honor.

"And for every word that has been spoken tonight about the ministry that God has allowed me to do, I am more grateful than I have the words to express," Slaughter said at the end of the service. "I don't have enough love and awe to express to you, each and every one of you, how much I love you. And for allowing me to have a glimpse of what the kingdom of God is supposed to look like."

Some of the highlights of the service were the "Gospel through Dance" performance, led by Minister Kadarius Thomas, and the Mass Choir, which included a combined performance with the First Baptist Church of Aiken.

Bishop Johnny Ray Youngblood from the Mt. Pisgah Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., preached and anointed Slaughter.

"You took the teachings that worked for you and made all of the glory go to Jesus," Youngblood said to Slaughter.

Many visiting pastors came to give words of affirmation, including Deacon Roddie Fair, the Rev. John Carroll and the Rev. Anthony Bennett.

"Thank you for the insight and wisdom to recognize that in our community's welfare was your welfare and the welfare of your church," Carroll said to Slaughter during his words of affirmation. "Time will again fail us to name all of the ways that your sacrifice and generosity and the sacrifice and generosity from this congregation has returned to you, tenfold."

Slaughter was born in Pulaski, Va., and attended William & Mary. He received his Master of Divinity from the Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta. He has been the pastor at Second Baptist Church since 1992 when he became the 11th pastor in the church's history.

Since becoming senior pastor at Second Baptist Church, Slaughter started a Christian preparatory school and is the founder of the Second Baptist Church Community Development Corporation.

"Jesus's ministry, he started at 30," said his wife, Kelley. "He's at 30 (years), so he's just starting out here."