About
Dr. Ed Young was born and raised in Laurel, Mississippi. Following graduation from high school, he entered the University of Alabama to study engineering. Midway through his freshman year, he was challenged by an atheist in his dorm who questioned his belief in God. As a result of that confrontation, he began to seek God’s purpose for his life. Six months later he felt led by God to become a pastor, and enrolled at Mississippi College to continue his education. Dr. Young’s preparation for the ministry continued at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
His first pastorate was at First Baptist Church in Erwin, North Carolina, where he remained until 1963. He subsequently became pastor of First Baptist Church, Canton, North Carolina (1963-1969); First Baptist Church, Taylors, South Carolina (1969-1971); First Baptist Church, Columbia, South Carolina (1971-1978); and Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, where he serves today. Dr. Young was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1992 and again in 1993.
During his thirty plus years at Second Baptist, the church has experienced tremendous growth, with a current membership of over 52,000. Under Dr. Young’s leadership, the church pioneered the concept of one church in multiple locations. Second Baptist opened a second campus in West Houston on October 3, 1999, and a third campus in Northeast Houston on January 25, 2004, following its merger with Forest Cove Baptist Church in Kingwood. In 2006 the Pearland and Cypress campuses were opened, making Second Baptist one church in five locations.
Dr. Young is the author of many books including Living under the Rainbow, Standing on the Promises, Total Heart Health for Men, Total Heart Health for Women, The 10 Commandments of Parenting, and The 10 Commandments of Marriage. He is also a gifted and dynamic communicator, seen and heard across the country and throughout the world on Winning Walk, Second’s broadcast ministry.
Dr. Young’s ministry always has had an impact on the communities in which he has served. Most recently he was instrumental in the creation and organization of Houston’s relief work following Tropical Storm Allison and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Houston Partnership. He is a much sought after speaker on church growth, leadership principles and moral issues facing today’s culture.
He and his wife, Jo Beth, have three sons, all in the ministry; Ed, married to the former Lisa Lee and pastor of the Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas; Ben, married to the former Elliott Carter and associate pastor at Second Baptist Church, Houston; and Cliff, married to the former Danielle Glenn and Director of Creative Media and Communications at Second Baptist Church, Houston, and founding leader of the contemporary Christian group Caedmon’s Call. They have ten grandchildren: LeeBeth, E.J., Laurie and Landra, born to Ed and Lisa; Nicole and Claire, daughters of Ben and Elliott; and Rachel, Susannah, Benjamin, and Rebekah, children of Cliff and Danielle.
