Significant Events

Our first President and Founder, Professor James S. Lee was a man of vision. He was an educator and the principal of John Marshall Elementary School. Professor Lee was the first Sunday School superintendent at First Church, Newport News. He was once a Deacon and served as Chairman of the Board. Professor Lee served the Peninsula Baptist Union from 1900 to 1930. At that time, there were only eight churches in the Union: Abyssinia Baptist, Ivy Baptist, Second Baptist East End, Second Baptist 32nd Street, First Church of Newport News, Sixth Mt. Zion, and Zion Baptist.

Our founders had laid the foundation 118 years ago for all churches to work together. They had put together a handbook as a guide for the Union to operate and conduct their ministry. Most of all, they did not forget about the youth in all of the Union churches by providing a King and Queen Rally, which is still active today, to raise monies to go back to the churches for scholarships for their students going to college.

As of today, our youth also participates in a local Oratorical Contest in preparation to participate on the state level. On the state level, we send both adults and youth to the Baptist Sunday School and BTU congress at Virginia State University. In addition to helping the youth, the Union instituted a program called Children Helping Children. Twice a year, the Union presents workshops and seminars to bring together our youth of various Churches.

The Peninsula Baptist Union annually hosts a Sunday School Teacher of the Year Banquet. The banquet is a time when all of the union churches come together for honoring our Sunday School teachers from each church. It is a time each year that others can know how well that teacher has served at the church which he or she attends. They are made to feel like Kings and Queens for an entire evening.

Serving 13 churches, in 2018, President Rev. Gregory A. Woods passed his legacy on to Rev. Frank C. Belton. Under the leadership of President Rev. Belton, he promises to continue uniting churches together on the Peninsula for the uplifting of God's Kingdom, while examining the relevance of the PBU programs and the activities of our communities, along with the needs of our church schools. Let us Glorify God, edify the saints and evangelize the lost. Amen!