History of Greater Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church
Several years after the Civil War, a few dedicated members met in their homes and organized what was then known as Little Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Shortly, thereafter, a few more members were added to the fold and the church began to grow in spirit as well as in numbers. These members saw the need for a larger worshipping place, so they purchased a house on the corner of Lincoln and Hubbard Street. The walls of the house were torn down and later the decision was made to turn the entrance around to face Lincoln and Trimble Street.
The church continued to grow and more room was needed, so they bought a larger house on Rutledge Hill, now known as University Court. The church then purchased Old Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church on Row Mill Hill off of Hermitage Avenue and at the same time, the church purchased the lot located at 37 Trimble Street. Under the leadership of Pastor Charles Vanleer, the deacons labored day and night to complete the building. Upon completion in May 1951, the members moved in. The congregation marched from Lafayette and University Street singing, shouting, and giving praises to God. They had a Hallelujah time and they demonstrated what God can do with a few committed people working together for kingdom building. With God all things are possible. The Church has been blessed to have as its Pastors: Rev. B. Harris, Rev. Benton Murray and Rev. Charles Vanleer.
In July, 1993, Reverend Harold W. Finch, Sr. was called to pastor. He was officially installed October, 1993 and through the inspiration of the scriptures to do greater things, Pastor Finch initiated a name change. The name was changed from Little Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church to Greater Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Under Pastor Finch’s leadership, new members, programs, and ministries have been added. Some of these ministries include: an outreach ministry to adopt families in our communities, a food bank, a Love Kitchen (clothing and food for those in need), the Walter Lee Owens Scholarship Fund, a married couples ministry, a singles ministry, a youth ministry, a van ministry, and a church newsletter (Greater Visions), just to name a few. Also, land was purchased for additional church parking.
As a result of tumultuous flood waters that occurred in 2010, the church was blessed to relocate to the Patricia Hart Building and continue worship for eighteen months. During this period, Pastor Finch implemented a Board of Trustees (Rev. Marius Rush, Bro. Demetrius Braddock, Bro. Ashford Reed, and Bro. Harold Finch, II) to work with him to secure necessary funding to renovate and enhance the damaged church facility. Those enhancements included improved bathroom facilities, a conference room, pastoral study, enhanced audio/visual capability, sound room, and other aesthetics for the purpose of enhancing the worship experience and to better serve the community.
On November 7, 2010, the GMZ family was blessed to return to our enhanced facility to continue “Building Families for the Work of the Lord”. These blessings represent some of the many accomplishments that the Greater Mt. Zion church family has enjoyed under the divine leadership of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and Pastor Harold W. Finch, Sr. , who humbly serves as our under shepherd. Our strong commitment to do greater things and to serve all of mankind continues.
