Severna Park Baptist Church Is Growing Godly Generations

Severna Park Baptist Church (SPBC) is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year. Started by Glen Burnie Baptist Church to establish a Baptist presence in the area, SPBC was created when the founders purchased 6.4 acres of land for $13,000. They held revival services in a house on the property and later a Vacation Bible School (VBS).

The church began to grow, and members thanked God for his blessings. After the first year, the church clerk wrote, “With hard work, sacrificial giving, and earnest devout prayers, the members of this church press on toward a great church in this community.”

Today, SPBC continues to press on.

Through the years, church leaders built their sanctuary and added a building for classrooms. They sold a portion of their land, which is now the Bendale community. They helped launch other churches, including Crofton Baptist Church and Elvaton Baptist Church. They also established a preschool, known as the Wee Center, which operated for 40 years.

Since its founding, SPBC has been served by eight pastors, two of whom have had significant tenure: Lawrence Baylot, who led for 23 years, and current pastor Dave Brown, who has served with his wife, Danielle, since 2009. Baylot led during a time of significant growth in the church, and many people say the ministry was a time of joyful fellowship.

Dave Brown has led the church in an emphasis on “growing Godly generations,” and he and Danielle helped kick off that emphasis. He said, “When we got here, we had two daughters, and they were the first ones who had been in the nursery for a long time.” It got even more exciting in the church when, just a few months later, the couple announced they were expecting their third child.

Danielle said, “There were mostly senior adults then, but that was fun. They were all so excited to see the kids. It was like having lots of grandparents around.”

More families joined as the Browns and others began engaging the community. Today, Dave and Danielle have five children — Alethia, Amiyah, Audry, Avee and Zeke — who are all actively involved in the church.

Over the past 15 years, the congregation has transitioned not only to be multigenerational but also to reflect the ethnic diversity of the community, comprising members of Anglo, African American, Hispanic and Asian backgrounds.

Beyond family ministry, SPBC has also prioritized missions work, both locally and abroad. Members have served in Nicaragua for seven years, in partnership with Glen Burnie Baptist Church and later Life Connection Church. SPBC later served in the Dominican Republic and Cuba, as well.

Locally, SPBC engages with the community through its annual VBS programs, its Easter journey and trunk-or-treats. The church also has multiple active ministries, including youth, men’s, and women’s groups, as well as a fairly new outreach, Park 60, which ministers to seniors in the community, many of whom are residents at the Severna Park Brightview senior living facility.

SPBC also financially supports SPAN and has started a unique ministry to supplement community services by providing bags of food, baby kits with diapers and other baby needs, and hygiene kits. This outreach is spearheaded by Alethia Brown, Dave and Danielle’s oldest daughter. It’s her capstone project (similar to an Eagle Scout project) through American Heritage Girls (AHG).

Explaining AHG and Trail Life groups, which meet at the church, Dave said, “They’re faith-based programs, and families from all backgrounds participate. It’s a great way to connect with the community.”

These Scout-type programs draw about 100 people to the church each week. Some families involved in these programs have begun attending SPBC.

Danielle said she is amazed at the connections the church has made with the community through AHG and Trail Life, past car shows, Independence Day parades, pumpkin sales, VBS and family gatherings.

“It’s crazy how many people are connected,” she said. “We have so many people who either know us from being a part of the preschool, or they got married here 30 or 40 years ago.”

Dave said, “The highlight for me has been seeing the transformation of families and young people over the years. We’ve seen toddlers grow up, graduate, and remain connected to the church. That’s what we want: to pass the gospel from one generation to the next.”

The church celebrated its anniversary on May 25 with a worship service featuring video tributes from current and former members, testimonies, and reflections centered on Psalm 100, which honors God’s faithfulness across generations.