Second Baptist Church - meet our pastor
Pastor Jones Welcomes You
Vanessa Rene Jones was born in a small town in Washington, Kentucky, to the union of Alice M. Jones and Ronald L. Hill. She also has two stepbrothers Jack and Jay Woodson.
After moving from Kentucky, Vanessa was raised in Columbus, Ohio where she attended the public school system and graduated from Columbus South High School while living on the side of town, in the Lincoln Park area.
Vanessa attended Central State University. Vanessa returned home after 3 years of schooling to work in her field of studies. She currently works at the Department of Youth Services, at the Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility with 30 years under her belt.
Vanessa is the proud mother of one son, a blessing from God: David Isaiah Jones-Porter.
During her life’s journey Vanessa has graduated from Ohio Christian University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling with Summa Cum Laude Honors. The Lord redirected her path. She began her studies under the advisement of Pastor Derrick Holmes, Senior Pastor of Union Grove Baptist Church. She accepted her calling to the ministry in 2016 licensed in 2017 as an Evangelist, Interim Pastor in 2024, Elected Pastor and accepted in April of 2024, ordained in June of 2024 installed as the First Female African American Senior Pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Circleville, Ohio July 2024.
Deuteronomy 31:6 is her favorite scripture “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear, nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Vanessa believes that God can and will be there no matter what she goes through; and as long as she leans and depends on His grace she can and will get through.