NEW MT. ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH LAKELAND
April 1929
1930’s
1957
1968
August 1997
1998
2019
January 2020
2020
REVEREND EDWARD L. QUARY, JR
2021
CHURCH HISTORY - UPDATED OCTOBER 2022
It is incredible to witness how God has kept New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Lakeland together for more than 93 years. With each year, the church becomes more vital in fulfilling its mission. Our continued growth is a testimony of God’s Favor and Grace. His Grace has been sufficient to guide and sustain the church and we give Him all the Glory.
This historical narrative highlights the church’s pastoral leaders’ tenure, leadership, and corporate accomplishments. However, God’s generational grace shines upon all the Saints of God, past, and present, who mentored others and role-modeled what it means to be a faithful servant of God. The church honors and respects the spiritual legacy of these Saints and affirms its thankfulness for the Kingdom’s impact they made.
OUR HUMBLE BEGINNING
New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church was organized in Lakeland, Florida, in April 1929 by a small group of Christian believers who fellowshipped together in a tent on West Fourth Street. The Holy Spirit led them to form New Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church from this humble beginning.
Reverend A. Darby was called as the pastor and served the church from 1929 through 1932. Under his leadership, the church was changed from New Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist church to New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. After Reverend Darby’s leadership tenure, Reverend Lawrence Smith served as the new pastor.
NEW MT. ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 1930’s
The church moved from the tent into a six-room house on the corner of Texas Avenue and Fourth Street. The church remained at this location for one year under the leadership of Reverend “Jumping Joe” Williams. The church was again relocated to a building on West Sixth Street and Texas Avenue under the leadership of Reverend Brooks. Under his leadership, the church purchased a building on the corner of Third Street and Ohio Avenue for fifty dollars. Reverend Lattimore and later Reverend Wilson served as the pastor.
NEW MT. ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 1945-1968 THIRD AND OHIO
In this location, Reverend David Smith served as the pastor from 1938 to 1941. He was followed by Reverend D. Dukes, who served as pastor from 1941 to 1945. The church was chartered during this time. New Mt. Zion was without a permanent pastor from 1945 to 1954. The church worshiped with Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church of Lakeland during this time.
REVEREND CALVIN HENRY BOLDEN’S ERA OF LEADERSHIP
PASTOR C.H. BOLDEN
REVEREND CALVIN HENRY BOLDEN served as the part-time interim pastor of the church in 1954. During this time, the church had approximately 80 members. Reverend Bolden became the full-time pastor in 1957. Under his leadership, the membership soared from eighty to Three hundred fifty members.
The church became affectionately known as “Holy Ghost Headquarters.”
NEW MT. ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WEBSTER AVENUE LOCATION- 1968
The church moved from its Third Street and Ohio Avenue location to the current location on Webster Avenue and West Ninth Street in 1968. During his leadership, the church building was paid off in 1968. Many other remarkable changes occurred during his tenure. Most importantly, he encouraged the members to put on the “whole Armor of God.”
He stressed the importance of Christians being spiritually active, civic-minded, and concerned with the whole man.
THE SONS OF NEW MT. ZION
THE END OF AN ERA
PASTORS WHO CONTINUED TO ANSWER THE CALL
A NEW WORSHIP FACILITY
NEW MT. ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH- AUGUST 1997
Under Reverend Hardies’ leadership, our present worship facility, which seats approximately one thousand people, was built. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 17, 1996. Construction began in 1996, and the building was completed in August 1997.
THE C.H. BOLDEN FELLOWSHIP HALL
The “old church was completely renovated in 1998. The building was dedicated and named the C.H. Bolden Fellowship Hall in memory of Reverend Bolden. The building is still in use today. Pastor Hardies’ tenure as pastor ended on April 28, 2009.
REVEREND KENDRIX J. GARDNER, SR., of Valdosta, Georgia, was called to pastor New Mt. Zion on Tuesday, June 8, 2019, after a period of deliberation, fasting, and prayer.
The church family held a welcome celebration for the new pastor and his family on July 11, 2010, with the theme of “God’s Rainbow for New Mt. Zion.” Pastor Gardner was officially installed on Sunday, September 19, 2010.
The church experienced tremendous growth, spiritually, financially, and numerically under Pastor Gardner’s leadership. The church was organized into ministries, a radio ministry was established at WWAB, and the church launched its first website. The church, now valued at more than one and a half million dollars, was refinanced in 2013. The refinancing saved the church more than one million dollars in interest.
Property improvements and enhancements included renovating the C.H. Bolden Fellowship Hall, repaving the main parking lot, and purchasing an additional parking lot between West 7th and 8th Street. A state-of-the-art sound system was installed and lifesaving AED equipment was placed in the church buildings during this period.
DEACON EMERITUS CEREMONY
New Mt. Zion held its first ceremony and dinner in honor of four retiring Deacons on January 24, 2016. Webster Broderick, William Gatlin, Nathaniel Robinson, and Jimmy Ward were chosen for this designation. These Deacons were elevated to Deacon Emeritus status by Pastor Gardner.
THE MULTIPURPOSE CENTER- JANUARY 2020
A house located behind the fellowship hall at 924 W. 9th Street was purchased on May 19, 2019. The house was completely renovated as a multi-purpose center. The Center is a positive asset that will be used to satisfy the various needs and services of the church and community for years to come. The renovation was completed in December 2019, and the building was dedicated on Sunday, January 19, 2020.
Pastor Gardner resigned on March 1, 2020, after serving ten years as pastor.
Pastor Edward L. Quary, Jr.
A NEW ERA – A SON COMES HOME
PANDEMIC LEADERSHIP AND BEYOND
REVEREND EDWARD L. QUARY, JR., a Son of New Mt. Zion and a lifelong church member, was called as pastor on September 19, 2020, during the historic and unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. He began his pastoral leadership on November 1, 2020, and was officially installed on Sunday, July 11, 2021. His inaugural theme was “God Did It.”
While the membership of many churches declined during the pandemic, and many closed their doors permanently, New Mt. Zion has soared to new heights spiritually, numerically, and financially under Pastor Quary’s leadership. The church has moved forward by faith. Despite the pandemic, his inspirational teaching series has generated a spiritual revival within the membership.
During the church’s closure for in-person worship, Pastor Quary implemented the Park and Praise Outdoor Worship Ministry and enhanced our virtual footprint to reach a worldwide audience. During this time, Sunday School continued to be held every Sunday via a telephone conference line.
REOPENING THE CHURCH
Pastor Quary implemented a return to church COVID protocol to successfully and safely re-opened the church for in-person worship. The church reopened on May 2, 2021, more than one year after the initial closure. Since its re-opening, the church has continued to grow and maintain a robust virtual presence facilitated by establishing an Audio-Visual Ministry.
THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH
While church growth continues to decline in many churches, New Mt. Zion continues to soar. The pathway to our growth has been enhanced by a growing number of young families and especially the youth. God’s generational grace has kept the church strong.
GENERATIONAL GRACE AND LEADERSHIP
While emphasizing generational grace and recognizing the five generations of members within the church, Pastor Quary implemented a plan to focus on developing new and emerging leaders. Another primary focus has been to move outside the church’s walls to evangelize and engage the Lakeland Community and beyond. Many souls are being saved.
MOVING OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE CHURCH TO EVANGELIZE AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY
Under Pastor Quary’s anointed leadership, the church has developed a vital evangelism ministry to share the good news of salvation, forgiveness, and grace. Without Jesus, we would all be lost without hope and a savior.
COMMUNITY OUTING AND TENT REVIVAL AUGUST 29-31,2022
OUTDOOR WORSHIP SERVICE
New Mt. Zion endured the effects of the unprecedented COVID-19 worldwide pandemic that changed many cultural traditions at our church; however, it did not change our mission. New Mt Zion closed its doors for in-person worship services in March 2020. During this time, the church continued to worship, teach God’s Word, and support the members through live-streamed services.
HEALTH-RELATED COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Pastor Quary believes in caring for the whole person and that we prosper in health while using our bodies as temples. Therefore, the church is actively involved in community health initiatives.
VACCINE AND BOOSTER CLINIC
During the pandemic, New Mt. Zion maintained community-wide leadership and partnered with the local health department to test, vaccinate, and provide boosters for upwards of two thousand community members.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS COMMUNITY SEMINAR -HONORING SURVIVORSHIP WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
FORTY FOR FORTY MORTGAGE PAY-OFF GOAL
Pastor Quary implemented the Forty for Forty plan to pay the church’s mortgage in forty months. The church also obtained 501c3 tax status. In addition, communications have been improved by implementing Dail My Calls and Zoom.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
The church’s foremost goal is to provide a safe and secure place of worship where members and visitors may worship comfortably with the assurance that all reasonable measures are being taken to ensure their safety.
Under the prayerful leadership of Pastor Quary, Jr., comprehensive corporate-wide safety and security program was implemented on September 18, 2022. The program was developed in response to threatening conditions or situations. These situations may present themselves in many ways, including weather conditions, physical violence, property thefts, disruptive individuals, and crimes against children.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS HAVE LED US TO GREAT SERVICE- PUTTING GOD FIRST
While New Mt. Zion started from humble beginnings, the Lord has shown us abundant favor and generational grace throughout the years. Our Spiritual journey began in 1929 and continues to reveal itself as the years go by. We know that God will continue to lead, guide, and bless our church. Let us continue to demonstrate our thankfulness and steadfast support.
The songwriter wrote the following verse that describes our church’s faith journey.
- We have come a long way.
- Sometimes it was an uphill journey.
- Sometimes on the rough side of the mountain
- But we have come a long way
- Leaning and depending on Jesus.
- We look forward to many years of Christian Leadership and service under Pastor Quary.