New Zion Baptist to celebrate its 155th anniversary

New Zion Baptist Church in the Trigg Community will have its 155th anniversary at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The speaker will be the Rev. Warren Smith III of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. All are welcome.

The New Zion Baptist Church was organized in 1862.

The first meeting was held in a brush harbor, located near the old Fulce Place. It was under the leadership of the Rev. Monroe Hawkins, who was the first minister of record for the church.

The Rev. Nelson Winn of Ashdown, Ark., was the first licensed minister. The church was moved from the brush harbor to a small, framed, wooden white house, believed to be this location or very near. Services were held in this building until the deacons and the men of the community decided to lay a foundation for a sanctuary.

Several were instrumental in financing the sanctuary by donations of bales of cotton and $25. The land was donated by a plantation owner, John Summerhill.

Beginning in 1919, New Zion Baptist Church hosted the Sunday School Convention for several years. The Rev. Weston served as moderator of the Sunday School Convention with J.C. McCoy as president. Weston was the minister with the longest church service record. He remained with New Zion Baptist Church for 50 years, serving until his death.

Under the leadership of Rev. Turner, New Zion Baptist Church was destroyed by a storm. A large sanctuary was constructed. The pews and podium were built by the Standard Lumber Co. of Texarkana, Ark., and were transported by Theodore Paxton and Willie Mitchell by mule and wagon. Some of the original pews were used until 1981. At a later date, additional pews were built by the late Duff Johnson.

In 1938, the committee elected the Rev. Chester A. Davis, who is credited with renewing the charge and youth endeavors. He holds the record for bringing the most youth into the church. The sanctuary was remodeled during his ministry. The cemetery plot was enlarged by the donation of additional land from Cal Hervery, a plantation owner.

New Zion was again remodeled with the late Pankey Miller donating the first $50. It was Miller’s dream to see the project completed but he did not live to do so. Two bathrooms, a pastor’s study and the choir lounge were added.

Under the leadership of the Rev. Elmer Bruce Jr., who served for 16 years, a new church was built in 1987. Dedication services were held July 12, 1987. The cornerstone was laid April 1990 and the mortgage burning held Nov. 24, 1996.

Minsters who have pastored New Zion Baptist Church since 1862 are the Revs. Monroe Hawkins, Nelson Winn, Henry Weston, Sims, F. Dade, J.T. Brown, Z. Broadus, Tim T. Turner, Chester A. Davis, Clarence B. Lampkins, Howard Knight and Elmer Bruce Jr. Darnell Johnson.

The current pastor, the Rev. Willie Harris, was elected Sept. 7, 2013.

The church is at 69 Miller County Road 379.

For more information on the event, call 903-793-4287 or 870772-7390.