On the last night in the year of 1913 at 10:00 p.m., The Reverend Charles Wallace Gregory along with four Christian women, met in his modest home on South Markoe Street, Philadelphia, for the purpose of organizing a church in Southwest Philadelphia. The other four interested persons were his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Gregory, Mrs. Sarah Knockett, Mrs. Mary Breeze, and Miss Ethel Davis. At midnight, these five knelt in prayer to invite God’s blessings on their feeble efforts. These devoted persons worked directly in this crusade for Christ.
In April 1914, the first Revival was held. This Revival added eight more souls. With these thirteen persons, Mount Zion was formally organized, receiving her charter in October 1914. The first officers of the church were as follows: Chairman of the Deacon Board, Deacon Asa Freeman; Chairman of the Trustee board, Mr. Blackwell; Treasurer, Mrs. Mary Davis; Secretary/Church Clerk, Mrs. Sarah Knockett. The first collection was 20 cents; the first expenditure, $25.00 for the purchase of 50 chairs. The Lord blessed this effort and in November 1914, a $50.00 down payment was made on the property at 47th Street and Linmore Avenue. This became the second home of Mount Zion.
Amy Randolph. In 1922, Mount Zion’s members marched up Woodland Avenue and installed themselves on the corner. Now, Mount Zion with expanded space and facilities could be of greater service to Mercy Hospital that was directly across the street. The community could also be served more effectively.
Through the years various clubs were organized. Some groups have played a remarkable part in shaping the lives of the young people in this vicinity. The Chairman’s Board, consisting of the chairmen of the various organizations, was organized in 1925 for the purpose of furthering the program of the church. The first President of the Board was Mrs. Mary Watts. The Chairman’s Board year was climaxed by a Church Convention in June that became one of the major annual efforts.
Through the combined efforts of the church organization, Mount Zion burned her mortgage in 1943. Every year we have celebrated a Church Anniversary in October, where the pastor and people have rejoiced and feasted together for the work accomplished during the year. In 1944, a Benevolent Fund was set up to aid the deserving of our church and community or wherever the need might arise. The committee recommended that each member give one dime each Sunday for the Benevolent offering. Today the Benevolent Fund continues. In 1948, Deacon Cornelius Evans introduced the idea of having an Annual Men’s Day in September. In 1950, Mrs. Louvenia Killebrew introduced Women’s Day to the Chairman’s Board. By this time The Reverend Gregory saw the need for further expansion to support Mount Zion’s primary mission of soul saving. The congregation had again outgrown its quarters and facilities. Accordingly, in 1949, a $90,000 Building Campaign was launched. In 1949, all clubs and auxiliaries were budgeted to achieve the goal of expansion. On November 17, 1954, our Founder passed on to his great reward leaving a membership of 950 and $100,000 in the church treasury.
Seven years of faith, prayer and hard work saw this dedicated group grow from the Faithful Five to the point that The Reverend Gregory was again forced to seek a larger building to house his fast-growing congregation. After much deliberation, The Reverend Gregory considered the church building for sale at so” Street and Woodland Avenue for the new church home. This site was accepted at the suggestion of Mrs.
By divine providence, the Reverend Hiawatha Coleman joined the Mount Zion Baptist Church in March 1947 under the pastorate of the late the Reverend C. W. Gregory. Here, he served as an Associate Minister, the Assistant Pastor and the Acting Pastor. In March of 1955, he was called to the pastorate of the Mount Zion Baptist Church. Reverend Coleman inherited the members, the treasury for a new building and The Reverend Gregory’s dream for a new edifice.
During the first week of August 1956, God showed Reverend Coleman in a vision what He wanted His people in this branch of Zion to do: join the old church to the new. Reverend Coleman heard the voice of the Lord, as He spoke to Joshua saying, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee ... Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law ... turn not from it to the right hand or to the left... be not afraid, neither be dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:5b, 7b, 9b). Reverend Coleman carried the message from God to the people and they had a mind to work. God led us on. On July 21, 1957, ground was broken for our new edifice. On August 5, 1957, the contract was signed for the erection of a new building that would be connected to the renovated old building at a cost of $275,000. On May 25, 1958, the cornerstone of our new edifice was laid. Our new church was dedicated on November 2, 1958. In 1964, the mortgage was burned. Under the leadership of Reverend Coleman, the Lord allowed Mount Zion to flourish like a green bay tree. Under the chairmanship of Deacon John H. Smith, an organ fund was organized.
In 1983, two women were accepted on the Trustee Board, Mrs. Marie Williams and Mrs. Wanda Wimberly Evans. The Reverend Coleman was aided in his ministry here in Mount Zion by two loyal wives, Mrs. Dorothy Coleman and Mrs. S. Louise Coleman, who have gone on to be with the Lord. The Lord blessed Reverend Coleman with nine sons in the ministry. Seven of them currently serve as Pastors.
One is deceased, Reverend Timothy Ruffin. After thirty-one years of leadership, Reverend Coleman retired on November 30, 1986, becoming Pastor Emeritus to enjoy his retirement with his lovely wife, the former Marie Morgan. The Reverend Samuel Moore, a dedicated and capable assistant to Reverend Coleman, was elected Interim Pastor. During this transitional period, Reverend Moore maintained the spiritual direction of the church as it began the process to search for a Pastor.
A pulpit committee, chaired by Deacon Elvis Malone and twelve members, began an extensive search for a new Pastor. After reviewing many resumes, the name Reverend Willie E. Robinson was presented to the pulpit committee by Trustee William Flournoy. On March 1, 1988, Reverend Robinson was elected the third Pastor of Mount Zion. He was an associate minister at St. Paul Community Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. He and his wife, Michelle Lincoln Robinson, and their three daughters, Lanice, Melissa and Alisha moved to Philadelphia to become the third “first family” in Mount Zion’s history.
Early in Reverend Robinson’s pastorate, on November 30, 1989, the church mourned the home going of the Reverend Hiawatha Coleman. He left a membership of 1,500. The church was without debt. His favorite words of wisdom were: “Keep on keeping on.” Reverend Robinson continued onward determined to uphold the tradition of excellence and growth so familiar to Mount Zion. Mount Zion continues to be blessed with tremendous growth. The church has attracted a broad based membership. Many are answering the call to Christian Discipleship, finding praise and love at Mount Zion. Ministries and service groups were organized, including the addition of the Higher Ground Bible Institute to the Education Department. The Institute had its first graduation class in June, 1999, matriculating a class of 41 students. Reverend Robinson’s ministries included preaching, counseling, teaching Wednesday Evening Bible Class and discipleship classes, and visiting the sick members and bereaved families.
Through his 19 years as our Pastor, Reverend Robinson was supported by eight associate ministers. The Reverend Damone B. Jones, Sr. was ordained November 5, 1993 and the first ordination service under Reverend Robinson’s leadership. Reverend Jones is now Pastor of the Bible Way Baptist Church. Reverend Robinson’s pastorate was marked by several milestones, including the purchase of the Nurse’s residence property at 1450 South 50th Street for $150,000 in 1994. Reverend Robinson’s vision was to build a senior housing complex, establish a community development center, and provide affordable housing in the community. In 1999, the Child Guidance Center was donated to Mount Zion and is being used as a community outreach center to house the Human Services Department, the Counseling Ministry, the computer lab, the food pantry and the Community Development Corporation.
In 2007, Reverend Robinson accepted a call to Pastor in Twin Oaks, Pennsylvania. On December 13, 2007, Deacon Curtis Johnson led the pulpit committee to seek the fourth pastor of Mount Zion. Through September 2009, Mount Zion was ably led by Deacon William Myers, Jr. Chairman of the Deacon Board, and Trustee William Evans, Chairman of the Trustee Board.
In 2008, Mount Zion bought and demolished three houses at 1415, 1417, and 1419 South 50th Street. A temporary parking lot was built in that area for the safety of the church.
On January 17, 2009, Mount Zion witnesses the birth of the Reba Brown Residence at 1450 South 50th Street. To God be the Glory!
Mount Zion with the rest of the world rejoiced as we witnessed the Inauguration of our first African American President, Barack Hussein Obama.
On June 26, 2009, a Service of Triumph was celebrated for the Reverend Dr. Lee Edward Peace, a son of Mount Zion, who had been licensed by our founder, the late Reverend C. W. Gregory.
State Representative Kenyatta Johnson opened a satellite office in our Community Center building located at 5015 Woodland Avenue on August 15, 2009. This is the first office of its kind in the Southwest area of Philadelphia.
On September 24, 2009, Mount Zion Baptist Church elected its fourth Pastor, the Reverend Cedric Hughes Jones, Jr.
Mount Zion remains to be a blessing to its members and the community. Souls continue to be brought to Christ through many ministries, including Sunday worship, Wednesday evening Bible Study and Prayer meeting, the Prison Ministry and many Sunday afternoon worship services. All came because of God’s word being preached to us through our associate ministers and guest preachers. Mount Zion will continue to be steadfast and unmovable. All was attained through prayer, the advice and counseling from the sons of Mount Zion and Seasoned ministers. We praise God from whom all blessing flow.
