the history of new mt zion missionary baptist church

Historic New Mt.ZionMissionary

Baptist Church - Celebrating Our

100th Anniversary 1919-2019

Rev. Dr. Jimmie T. Wafer, Pastor

Historic New Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church is celebrating 100 years Celebrating the Faith of God. Our 100th Anniversary theme is:

"Micah 6:8 He has told you O' Man,what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

On December 31, 1919, a small group of Christians, a council and Moderator Reverend J. B. Glover, organized a Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. After much prayer, the founders were organized and accepted as the New Mt. Zion Baptist Church and they called Rev. Major Baldwin as the pastor.

In the beginning, the facility selected as a home for the congregation was a small storefront on Leland and Orleans. Under the leadership of Reverend Baldwin, the congregation moved from the original site to Riopelle and Leland, where they remained until July, 1923. Unfortunately, the unity of the congregation was disrupted and the church was forced to find new leadership. A recommendation for a new leader was presented to the congregation and the church called Reverend F. H. Howard as pastor and he began the job of re-organizing the church.

Reverend Howard and a supportive membership launched a program to strengthen the body, heighten spiritual zeal, increase devotion, and to raise funds to acquire a building with sufficient space to accommodate growth of the church. After raising sufficient funds, aid was acquired from the Detroit Baptist Union and a contract was signed to renovate the Leland and Riopelle facility. In 1925 the renovations were completed, and the congregation moved in, settled down, and continued to pursue the higher calling of saving souls.

For a season, New Mt. Zion was successful as they pursued the purposes of God. Unfortunately, a destructive spirit of jealously crept into the congregation, the membership split, chaos reigned, and Reverend Howard chose to leave the church. The split congregation and fractured church went to civil court in an attempt to resolve the differences. During the proceedings, the court would not allow the church to select a pastor and the void of leadership and support caused the church face eviction.After a resolution of differences, it was persistence, strong faith, and fervent prayers that sustained the membership and led the church in its search for a new leader of vision. The pastoral search was fruitful and recommended for pastor the Reverend James S. Williams Sr., the church for consideration. On January 24, 1926, New Mt. Zion called Rev. James S. WilliamsSr., he accepted the pastorate. The installation Rev. Williams was on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1926, and immediately he began to mobilize, organize, and unify the congregation. The initial auxiliaries organized and installed to serve were the Mother’s Board, Nurses Guild, and Executive Council.

Initially, Rev. Williams accepted a small salary of $30.00 per week, based on the church’s ability to pay. He proclaimed that the membership would increase, and if not, the church could cut his salary. Rev. Williams was gifted with ability and a dynamic preaching style that convicted individuals and drew them turn to Christ and membership in the Church. The membership grew exceedingly and a larger edifice was needed. Often, people were standing at all the windows, seated on tops of cars, in an attempt to hear and see the preacher. Once during a revival, conducted by Rev. Williams, there were as many people outside the sanctuary as there were inside the sanctuary.

In order to accommodate the rapid growth, Rev. Williams was encouraged by the support of the officers and membership began searching for a larger facility. After locating a suitable facility, Rev. Williams gave his recommendation for the edifice at Mack and Chene. The church purchased the facility at a cost of sixty-eight thousand dollar with a down payment of $10,000.00 which the members raised in one month. On Mother’s Day, May 13, 1928, the membership, two thousand strong, marched into there new home. Three weeks after occupying their new home, a bomb was hurled into the front door of the church and that brutal act of terrorism frightened away the majority of the members. The cowardly act created a crisis that sent the pastor and a faithful few again to their knees seeking more faith, courage, hope, and forgiveness. Rev. Williams stated, “God knows why we bought this place, I wanted a larger place to tell men about Him, and He will take care.” As policemen marched around the building day and night, worship services continued in the sanctuary of the Educational building for fourteen months. In August, 1929, the rubbish was cleared and the members again entered the sanctuary to worship God in spirit and in truth.

In 1942, dreams became a reality, the mortgage was burned, and the church marched on graciously serving God and community by instituting the Young People’s Church. The church continued to march triumphantly on until 1960; it was then that the Detroit Board of Education notified the church that a school would be located on the corner occupied by New Mt Zion. Although the membership was disheartened, Rev. Williams and the officers sought a new church home. Upon the recommendation of Rev. Williams the church purchased, at a cost of $140,000, our present edifice located at Elmhurst and 14th Street. On November 13, 1960, the membership marched into a new home amid many new challenges in a diverse and changing environment.

Rev. Williams knew that his health was failing and he wanted the best pastor for New Mt. Zion and he stated that Rev. James L. Newby, III was a good man and a dedicated family man. On November 17, 1967, Rev. J. S. Williams, Sr., our beloved pastor for more than 41 years, went home to live with the Lord. We were left in deep sorrow and mourning.

The time came for the church to select a new pastor. On November 8, 1968, after serving as acting pastor for one year, Rev. James. L. Newby, III received an overwhelming vote from the church family and was called to be our pastor.

Pastor Newby had a fervent passion to see people come to know Jesus Christ. He taught the Word of God, whether it was popular or not. He took a firm stand on what he believed the Word of God was saying to him. He was a strong spiritual leader and set a great example for his congregation as a Godly man.

There are many ministries and auxiliaries in the church; the mission of each one is to make Jesus known to others (John 17:3) through word and deeds. Under Pastor Newby’s leadership these new ministries were established:

Evangelism Ministry Nehemiah Men’s Ministry
Tuesday Morning Bible Study Ministry Support Council
J. S. Williams, Sr. Scholarship Fund Word Alive Youth Ministry
Couples Ministry Women’s Ministry
Children’s Church Manna Plus Ministry

On July 21, 2002, our beloved Pastor, Rev. J. L. Newby III went home to be with the Lord. With heavy hearts the Deacons and Trustees, prayerfully, continued to lead our grieving congregation as Pastor Newby would have wanted.

Another call went up through prayer for a new spiritual leader in 2003. On May 23, 2004 Rev. Jimmie T. Wafer was installed as our new Pastor. Pastor Wafer stated in his “Vision” for the church, “I deeply believe that our desire to be an integral part of the body of Christ will bring a message of salvation to the communities that surround us. My vision is a catalyst designed to energize the collective vision from God for this church. We pray that the Spirit of God will fan that smothering vision until it is like fire shut up inside of one unified body of Christ determined to advance the Church.”

As part of Pastor Wafer’s vision the following ministries were added under his leadership:

Children Sermon Singles Ministry
Drama Ministry Marriage Ministry (Couples Ministry)
Soldiers of Zion Steppers

New Mt. Zion will always stand as a beacon of light of Gods’ love and hope for the congregation and the community. We will “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 19, 20)

Our church has been designated as an Historical Site in the City of Detroit and a member of the Detroit Historical Society. New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church will be 100 years old on December 31, 2019..