Guthrie’s Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church will be celebrating its 129th Homecoming on Sunday, November 13th at 11:00 a.m. during morning worship. The theme will be “Grateful for a Gracious God.”
This historic congregation began in Guthrie’s infancy, before Oklahoma’s statehood. Starting in a small group of spirituallyminded people with a passion for mission work, the group met in different homes around 2nd Street and Coyle’s Row in 1892.
The first site was established in 1893 at 723 West Perkins under the leadership of Reverend A. P. Jordan. Chartered members of the formal congregation included Sister Susanna Wiley and Brother George House.
Throughout the years of its ministry, Mt. Zion has endured hardships and blessings. When the church edifice was destroyed by fire in 1921, the congregation rebuilt and restored it, purchasing their own machine to make new stones and refurbished both the basement and the sanctuary to continue with worship. Instruments for musical worship were purchased a few at a time over the years, until a full band was built up.
The first Women’s Missionary Society was established, and the church has also been a fertile and productive environment for training young men for ministry. In 1993, the church added the name “Missionary” to its title to emphasize its charge and mission.
More about the history of the church as well as a list of the Pastors of the congregation and their contributions can be found at the Mt. Zion website at: mzmbaptistchurch. worthyofpraise. org/historical-sketch Current Pastor, Dr. Vernon L. Jones, has led the church since January of 1990. Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church holds worship services each Sunday at 1314 East Vilas Avenue in Guthrie.
For more information, go to: mzmbaptistchurch. worthyofpraise.org or visit them on Facebook at: facebook. com/mzmbaptist