Church History

Second Mount Zion Baptist Church was organized in 1929 under the
leadership of Rev. E. D. Evans. The church was located at 39th and Reno
Street. Rev. Evans pastored the church until 1935 when his health failed.
Rev. King James Carter was asked to guide the church of seven members.
The officers at that time were: Deacon J. Saulsberry, Chairman Deacon
Board; Bro. James Anderson, Chairman Trustee Board; Bro. Benjamin
Small, Church Treasurer; Bro. James Monroe, Financial Secretary; and Sis. M. L. Wright, Church Clerk.
Due to the small membership, the church moved to a smaller building
located at Warren and Sloane Street. Over the next several years,
inadequate space for effective ministry became a problem, so the church relocated three times: first to Union and Reno Street; then in 1937 to 37 th and Melon Street and again in 1938 to 36 th and Brandywine Street.
With a membership of about 300, the church moved one last time to 3814 Parrish Street. In 1942, a second building was purchased next door, and in 1963, a third building was bought - 3816 Parrish Street. Rev. Carter faithfully served as the Pastor of Second Mount Zion Baptist Church from 1935 to 1969. During these 34 years, the following men lead as Chairman of the Deacon Board: Deacons Saulsberry, Jacob, Brown, Allison and Dixon.
Rev. Carter faithfully pastored the church until he died in 1969.
Five months after the passing of Rev. Carter, in October 1969,
Rev. Joshua Grove II was called to Pastor the church. The church continued to prosper. The Deacons serving under Rev. Grove as Chairman of the Deacon Board were Deacons Allison and Dixon. The church grew and one major renovation included stained-glass windows. Rev. Grove resigned as Pastor of the church in 1973.
In December of 1973, Rev. James E. Patterson was called to Pastor
the church. Deacons serving under Rev. Patterson were Deacons Allison,
Deacon Glover, Deacon Adams. Under the strong leadership of Rev.
Patterson, the church flourished. A building next to the church was
purchased. An unscrupulous contractor stole money from the church
during that building's renovation, so the church returned the
building to the realtor. In 1994, the realtor transferred the property
back to the church. Two new auxiliaries were added: The K. J. Carter
Educational Fund and the Hospitality Auxiliary. In December of 1985, Rev. Patterson retired.
In July 1986, James Moore, Sr., was called to pastor Second Mount
Zion. Serving as Chair of the Deacon ministry at that time was Leonard
West. In the early '90s, the church acquired the current parking lot from
the Electric Company. Under Rev. Moore*\'s spiritual leadership, the church facility continued to expand. In 2009, the building at 3812 Parrish was added to the church.
During Pastor Moore's 35 years of leadership, six faithful Deacons
have been Chair of the Deacon Ministry: Leonard West, Robert Glover,
Marvin Davis, Romeo Felder and Norman Haskins. Currently, Deacon
Darren Simpson serves in this role.
To date, Pastor Moore has 3 Sons of the Ministry who serve as
pastors of other churches: Rev. Harry Moore, Sr., Rev. Dr. Edmond Sherrill and Rev. Sean Tripline.
Under Pastor Moore's dynamic and enthusiastic leadership, the
membership has continued to increase. In 2019 Pastor Moore followed
God*s direction to rebuild Second Mount Zion Baptist Church. To
accomplish this, the church had to secure an appropriate location to
worship. For 3 months beginning in January 2019, the worship services
were held at Paul Roberson High School. Over the next year, March 2019
through March 2020, Sunday services were held in a ballroom at 3801
Market Street.
In March 2020, the world suffered a devastating pandemic and like
the rest of the country, in-person church services were shut down. Not
allowing circumstances to stop the spread of God's word, Sunday services
and Bible Study were immediately live-streamed every week from Pastor
Moore's home. On the third Sunday in July 2021, services were live-
streamed from the new church sanctuary. After over two years under
construction and a 5-month delay because of the pandemic, the building
was completed. Second Mount Zion Baptist Church reopened for in-person worship in September 2021. The stained-glass window, purchased in the early 1970s, is prominently displayed in the front of the sanctuary as a part of the new edifice.