Who We Are

The Shiloh Baptist Church has become one of Kentucky’s largest and most progressive predominantly African American congregations. Shiloh Baptist Church exists to glorify God by growing authentic community, compassionately communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ, charitably giving to the advancement of the Kingdom of God, and passionately worshipping Jesus Christ.

What We Believe

The Bible

We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires and trusted in all that it promises.

The Person of Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus— Israel’s promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.

About God

At Shiloh Baptist Church, we believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory. We believe that God has revealed Himself to us through His Word, the Bible, and through the person of Jesus Christ.

The Work of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him, they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips, and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.

The Church

We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.

Church History

In 1878, Rev. William Gray served as the pastor of Main Street Baptist Church. In that year, he and 75 members of the Main Street Baptist Church withdrew from the church and began worshiping in the old courthouse. After worshiping there awhile, they moved to the old engine house on North Limestone Street and remained there for more than a year until they move to another location on Corrall Street. In 1883, Rev. Gray’s health failed, and Rev. Alfred Thomas succeeded him as pastor.

While on Corrall Street, a large frame church was erected. The church was given the name of Lancin Burr after a white Baptist minister. The name was later changed to the Liberty Baptist church, and it continued to grow until Rev. Thomas was called to a larger ministry field. The church called Rev. Jessie Steward and served the congregation for many years. The Liberty Baptist church experienced several pastoral changes and church fire. After the church burned, it was never rebuilt and the congregation worshiped from place to place until it purchased a building on Goodloe Street. They called Rev. Lucion Holloway, who served for some time. After a disturbance with the membership of the church, the original workers who left Main Street Baptist church left Liberty Baptist church.

They had no place to worship and they drifter from place to place holding prayer meeting. While worshiping at the Ladies Hall on Church Street, the Rev. Titus Buckner was called to take charge. He found an old racehorse barn on Thomas Street and moved into it to worship. On August 5, 1897, a council was called, and the Shiloh Baptist Church was organized.

During the 20 years of Rev. Buckner’s pastorate, a frame church building was erected and used as a place of worship. On November 17, 1917, the Rev. Marshall Moore became pastor. Under his administration advances were made in church organization and the membership expanded numerically. In 1922, under his leadership a new brick building was erected, and a pipe organ was purchased. Through this capable guidance and the cooperation of the congregation, both were paid for and mortgage burned in May 1926.

In January 1932, the Rev. T. H. Smith, accepted the pastorate of Shiloh. His administration was marked by numerical, spiritual, and material expansion. The entire church had been organized; the Sunday School departmentalized, a modern educational building added, spacious dining facilities provided, business office modernly equipped and efficiently operated, a new organ and piano purchased, and a parsonage purchased.

The church was intricately involved in the local, state, and national denominational work. For many years, through the Foreign Mission Board, Shiloh supported the wok of many island pastors. In October 1962, Rev. J. B. Haile became the pastor of Shiloh church. Under the leadership of Rev. Haile, the church purchased the building located at 237 E. Fifth Street from the Felix Memorial Baptist church. The church moved from its Thomas Street location to its current building.

In 1965, Rev. G. H. Childs Sr. was called to the Shiloh church and led the congregation for 31 years. Rev. Childs was known for his community activism and involvement in social justice issues affecting the Lexington community. Under his administration, Shiloh continued its denominational work and impact in the community until his passing in April 1996.

The church called Rev. Theodore Rogers in August 1997. But after a brief sudden illness, Rev. Rogers passed away leaving the church to heal following the loss two significant losses.

The Shiloh church called Rev. Dr. Joseph L. Owens in September 1999 to become the 7th pastor in the church. Dr. Owens helped the congregation heal through its pastoral losses. Under the leadership of Dr. Owens, the congregation continued its enduring legacy of making impact in the community. He was actively involved in denominational work as he served as the moderator for the Consolidated Baptist District Association. Dr. Owens served the congregation for 24 years before retiring in September 2024.

In November 2024, the Shiloh Baptist Church called its 8th paster, Rev. Marvin King Jr, to serve the congregation and to continue its mission of impacting the community through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and community activism. Pastor King has a heart to create vibrant and resilient communities through the love of Jesus Christ.

Pastoral History

Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, eight (8) pastors have been called to lead our congregation as “under shepherds” since October 1896. We salute the following pastors who God sent to lead our congregation:

• Rev. Titus Buckner (August 1896 – October 1914)
• Rev. Marshall Moore (November 1914 – October 1931)
• Rev. T.H. Smith (January 1932 – September 1962)
• Rev. J.B. Haile (October 1962 – May 1965)
• Rev. G.H. Childs Sr. (September 1965 – April 1996)
• Rev. Theodore Rogers (August 1997 – August 1998)
• Rev. Joseph L. Owens (September 1999 - September 2024)
• Rev. Marvin King (December 2024 - present)