History
Our legacy of faith and worship
Mount Zion Baptist Church was incorporated on February 18, 1894.
Rev. Calvin Williams of Fort Smith, Arkansas served as the pastor and services were held at the Naturalist’s Hall at 4th and University.
1916 Church Building
1890 – 1912
In 1890, one year after Washington became a state and thirty-eight years after Seattle was established as a city, a small group of African Americans held prayer services in their homes. These prayer services became the Mount Zion Baptist Church. Some of the church founders had been members of the predominantly white congregation of the First Baptist Church. Mount Zion’s founders received assistance from Rev. George T. Burchett, pastor, Deacon John Keith and the members of the First Baptist Church who donated the use of a store at 14th Avenue and East Madison Street for Sunday School and worship services.
Prior to 1920, Mount Zion’s members worshiped at several locations including the Peoples Church at 3rd and East Madison (1896), 2nd and Spring (1899), and 9th and Olive (1903).
In 1906, Mount Zion’s first building was erected when property was purchased at 11th and Union; it was a one room wooden structure.
A pot-bellied stove in the center of the room provided heating; backless benches were used for pews. The Mount Zion church building was later elevated on stilts to create space for a partial basement used primarily as a dining facility and fellowship hall.
During the first twenty-two years of the church’s history Mount Zion had many pastors resulting in considerable fluctuation in the church’s membership. The following minister’s served for periods ranging from three months to two years: Reverend R. W. Jennison, Reverend Simons, Reverend J.C. Pegram, Reverend Price, Reverend Eugene Harris, Reverend George Maney, Reverend Gordon McPherson, Reverend Walker, Reverend Wiggins, Reverend R. H. Thomas, Reverend Lyman Smith, Reverend William Hammond, and Reverend William Berry.
For an overview of the Mount Zion pastors over the years, go to our Pastors page.
1912 – 1925
1920 Church Building
Under the capable leadership of Reverend W.D. Carter from Clarksville, Missouri (1912-1925), the fruits of our struggle and the testimony of our faith became evident.
In 1918, Mount Zion purchased an eight-room house at 19th and East Madison Streets. The membership worshiped at a temporary site at 21st and Jefferson during construction of the parsonage and sanctuary (valued at $30,000). Two years later, the 700-seat capacity edifice was complete. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held to celebrate; members sacrificed, giving generously to pay off the mortgage.
Mount Zion quickly became a central meeting place for religious, political, educational and community events.
Rev. Carter’s wife, Corrine Carter, organized the first African American branch of the YWCA in Seattle.
1925 – 1932
When Reverend Sterling Moore (1925-1932) arrived in Seattle from Iowa, he continued Reverend Carter’s legacy of community activism. Importantly, he was instrumental in relieving the church of some the indebtedness incurred by the building of the sanctuary and parsonage. Remarkably, the congregation accomplished this without securing bank or traditional loans.
1940 – 1953
From 1940 to 1942, Reverend Fountain Penick was Mount Zion’s pastor.
Mount Zion was Seattle’s only African American Baptist church; the city’s black population was less than 5,000 and Mount Zion’s membership was recorded as 200 persons.
During this period the Brotherhood was organized and the church purchased two lots adjacent to the church under an expansion plan developed by and voted on by the congregation. Reverend Penick left Mount Zion to organize People’s Institutional Baptist Church.
Reverend Davis was eloquent and forward thinking. He organized a building committee and stated raising funds to expand the church grounds and facility. Reverend Davis worked hard to provide religious training programs, actively involving youth and families in worship. He purchased a Sunday School bus and began the church’s nursery school program. To enrich the Music Ministry, a director of music was named and Senior, Children, Gospel and Youth choirs were organized. The Women’s Society, already active, got new energy and support through its organization into circles named for women of the Bible, became active in missionary outreach programs and established an affiliation with the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. A special person was needed to provide stability during World War II. Seattle’s African American population had steadily increased as a result of the military personnel transferred to the region and employment seekers who moved to the area to work in the aircraft and shipping industries. Church membership doubled under the leadership of Reverend F. Benjamin Davis, the new pastor (1942-1953).
1955 – 1957
Reverend Gil B. Lloyd (1955-1957) and his wife, Doris Watts Lloyd, helped to strengthen the building fund, music department and Women’s Society. They left Mount Zion to organize Cherry Hill Baptist Church. Reverend Rex Jones, Reverend Kenneth Redgard and Reverend Robert H. Davis assisted Mount Zion during its period of transition.
1958 – 1998
1963 Church Building
The social status of African Americans had changed significantly following the war and Mount Zion sought a minister capable of leading the church into the future. Reverend Samuel Berry McKinney (1958-1998), formerly of Olney Street Baptist Church of Providence, Rhode Island, was recommended by the pulpit committee. His achievements are legendary.
Through Reverend McKinney’s spiritual leadership, scholarly focus, and social and political activism, Mount Zion flourished. Church membership grew from 800 to 3,000.
In his first year as pastor, Reverend McKinney founded the Mount Zion Baptist Church Credit Union, the first Protestant credit union in the state of Washington, to provide the congregation and community with a member-owned and operated cooperative financial institution. With the help of his wife, Louise Jones McKinney, he organized a young married group. Reverend McKinney started the Prayer Band, taught theological classes on Baptist faith, initiated new members classes for children and youth who had joined the church, formed a Social Action Committee, held a monthly “Pew to Pulpit” hour to respond to parishioner concerns, established the Memorial Chapel Plan, strengthened the lay development program, built the educational unit of the church, conceived the unique design for the Afri-centric sanctuary, founded and served as President and CEO of the Seattle Opportunity Industrialization Center (SOIC) and on the directorial boards of many community organizations.
A focus on educational excellence was a hallmark of Reverend McKinney’s tenure. Church programs for youth expanded to include the Mount Zion Pre-School and Kindergarten, an accredited preschool and kindergarten. Mrs. McKinney, an educator, served as the first director. Later educational programs included the Ethnic School (later named the Louise Jones McKinney Learning Center), the Educational Excellence Program, the Youth Credit Union (Y-CUP; one of the country’s first youth credit unions), and a nationally recognized scholarship program.
Mount Zion created community partnerships with local churches. An evening service was initiated with First A.M.E. Church and a Parish Partnership was created with Plymouth Congregational Church.
Reverend McKinney constantly reminded church members that, like Christ, they must focus their personal ministerial efforts on society’s least, last, lost, locked up and left out through unconditional love, spiritual fortitude and political savvy.
1975 Church Building
Facility expansions during this forty-year ministry included the dedication of a $300,000 Education Unit that houses administrative offices (1963), the building of an $850,000 Africentric sanctuary (1975) and the 64 unit Samuel Berry McKinney Retirement Manor (1998).
Community economic development has been a significant component of Mount Zion’s ministry. The Northwest Baptist Federal Credit Union has granted loans in excess of $15,000,000 and has assets of nearly $5,000,000.
Reverend Dr. Samuel B. McKinney retired on April 26, 1998 and the church approved the appointment of Reverend Dr. Samuel Pinkston, Pastor Emeritus of the Antioch Baptist Church in San Jose, California, to serve as Interim Pastor. Dr. Pinkston, recommended by the Ministers-at-Large Program of the American Baptist Churches, USA, arrived in Seattle with his wife, Esther Miller Pinkston. For the large congregation, thirty ministers, and fifty ministries, they provided spiritual guidance and stability while the church sought a permanent pastor.
1999 – 2005
On May 24, 1999, the congregation voted to approve the selection of Reverend Dr. Leslie David Braxton, pastor of the First Shiloh Baptist Church of Buffalo, New York. Arriving with his wife, Sheila and two children, he delivered his first sermon on August 29, 1999.
Reverend Braxton started the Christian Education Academy, infusing the congregation with considerable excitement for Christian learning.
He began the Summer Fun program, a youth activities program and created a parish partnership with South London, South Africa. Reverend Braxton resigned in 2005 and started the New Beginnings Christian Center in Renton, Washington.
In August 2005, Reverend Dr. Samuel McKinney, Pastor Emeritus of Mount Zion Baptist Church, was unanimously voted out of retirement by the congregation to serve his former church the until a permanent pastor is called into service.
2008 – 2017
Reverend Aaron Williams, a native of Augusta, Georgia, became Mount Zion’s 25th pastor in May 2008. He was licensed to preach in 1988 and ordained in 1992 at the age of 24. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Paine College and a Master of Theology with an emphasis in Systematic Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.
While serving as Assistant to the Pastor of Old Storm Branch Baptist Church in Clearwater, South Carolina, he met his wife, Michelle Watkins, also a native of Augusta. They were married in 1992. Reverend Williams served four years as President of the Women’s Ministry and Ministry of Christian Education.
Prior to coming to Mount Zion, Reverend Williams was the advisor of the Senior and Young Adult Ministries at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church in Garland, Texas. Known as a humble man of God who worked to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, he led a men’s Bible study class and Wednesday Bible study class before Prayer Service. He served as Dean of the North Pacific Baptist Convention, served on the Seattle Police Search Committee, and was Vice
President of the United Black Clergy. He focused on reconciliation and established small group cadres to address some of the pressing issues during this transition period. He resigned in 2017.
2018–2020
On December 8, 2017, the congregation unanimously approved a Covenant of Affirmation with Reverend James O. Stallings of New York to serve as Mount Zion’s Interim Pastor Specialist. Recommended by the American Baptist Churches USA, Retired, from the New York Regional office of American Baptist Churches, he delivered his first sermon to the congregation on January 14, 2018. The affirmation with Reverend Stallings was dissolved in 2020.
2020–2022
The Diaconate and Leadership Team assumed administrative responsibilities for the daily operation and maintenance of the church facility. Associate Ministers provided sermons for Sunday services coordinated by Reverend Dr. Patricia L. Hunter, Interim Minister of Worship.
The impact of COVID-19 resulted in the closure of the church for in-person services, ministry meetings, funerals, and community events. Although in-person services resumed in July 2021, Zoom, livestream services, emails, Zionews mailings, and phone calls were used as communication tools to keep members connected and informed.
2023
Reverend Dr. Patricia Latrice Hunter was elected as Interim Pastor in December 2022 and served from January to July 2023. She was the first woman to be licensed and ordained at Mount Zion 41 years earlier by the late Reverend Dr. Samuel B. McKinney. She served as Assistant Pastor and Theologian in Residence and Pastor of Education and Outreach at Seattle First Baptist Church. While working for the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board (MMBB), Dr. Hunter became the first African American woman to receive her designation as a Certified Financial Planner.
Dr. Hunter earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Seattle University in Business Administration, a Master of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. Reverend Dr. Hunter provided spiritual leadership to Mount Zion and other faith communities throughout this nation with dignity, wisdom, and the love of
God in her heart.
On June 11, 2023, the congregation voted to affirm Reverend Dr. Paris Lee Smith, Sr. as the next Senior Pastor of Mount Zion. The congregation voted to accept the compensation package on June 28, 2023. His bio is printed on page two.
On August 7, 2023, our church family welcomed Reverend Dr. Smith and First Lady Kya Strader Smith to Seattle. Today, Mount Zion celebrates the installation of its 26th Senior Pastor.
Mount Zion’s past is a glorious story of perseverance and achievement. Members survived hardships and difficult times, leaning on the Everlasting Arms. Each individual contribution helped form a collective testimony of God’s greatness and goodness. It began with prayer. The tradition continues… We’ve come this far by faith.