Order
Of Services | History | Directions
Zion Baptist Church
offers a wide range of worship opportunities that everyone
can participate in. Listed below is a complete list of services
that are held at Zion Baptist Church.
| Early
Morning Sunday Worship Service |
|
7:45
a.m. |
| Sunday
Church School (Adults & Youth) |
|
9:00
a.m. |
| Sunday
Morning Worship Service |
|
10:45
a.m. |
Youth Sunday |
|
Every 1st Sunday Morning |
Baptism |
|
Every 2nd Sunday Morning |
Holy Communion |
|
Every 3rd Sunday Morning |
Child Dedication |
|
Every 4th Sunday |
Zion Cares Worship
Service |
|
Every Sunday at 1:30
p.m. at Zion Educational Annex |
Saturday Church School (Youth) |
|
9:00 a.m. at Zion Educational Annex |
Evening Bible Study & Prayer Meeting |
|
Every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. |
Youth Bible Study |
|
Every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. |
Prayer Line |
|
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays |
|
 Zion Baptist Church was originally started as a missionary prayer meeting in 1882 by Reverend Horace B. Wayland in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Simms. In 1883, Reverend Wayland was ordained and the prayer meetings moved to a hill at 13th and Popular Streets. The membership grew causing a number of relocations, which finally settled at 13th & Wallace Streets. This last move was an awesome purchase of $16,000 and typically Zion took on the challenge. But even more so, by the time Reverend Wayland passed in 1896, the debt had been reduced to $6000. This was a remarkable feat for this dynamic minister and his congregation.
Reverend Elbert W. Moore
was called to the pastorate in 1897 from Denver, Colorado.
He encouraged youth to "pursue positive goals through
education and stressed Black economic development." Under
Reverend Moore, the church secured a charter, installed a
new organ and initiated action to acquire properties between
Wallace & Melon Street, with the 13th & Melon Streets
site purchased first. He retired in 1915 and passed away in
Pasadena, California in 1941.
Reverend William Henry
Moses was called to the pulpit in 1916. While he was deeply
interested in the scriptures, Reverend Moses' tenure also
showed leadership in financial matters. He led Zion in liquidating
a number of debts, as well as spear-heading an $11,000 fundraiser
not long after the installation. Reverend Moses left Zion
for a pastorate in New York, where he passed away in 1941.
Reverend William Benjamin
Reed became the pastor in 1923. During his administration,
Reverend Reed headed negotiations for the purchase of the
grounds of which the church stood. He also encouraged the
development of the Baptist Young Peoples Union. Reverend Reed
died in 1925.
Reverend Robert J. Langston
joined Zion in 1926. He pastored the church until his death
in 1942. Under his ministry, the following organizations were
established; The Langston Chorus, The Sunlight Club, and The
Emergency Club. He had dreamed and had initiated steps towards
the construction of a Christian community center near the
church; however, it was unfortunately postponed due to the
outbreak of World War II.
In 1945, Reverend Authur
W. Jones came to Zion from Riverton, New Jersey. He purchased
a new parsonage and raised about $10,000 toward the purchase
of a new church building, but the congregation in that building
decided not to sell at that time. Reverend Jones left in 1949
for Newark, New Jersey.
Reverend Leon H. Sullivan
joined Zion in 1950. In 1955, Zion moved from 13th & Melon
to Broad & Venango Streets, purchasing the St. Paul's
Reformed Episcopal Church for $225,000. This mortgage was
settled in 1958. In 1969, Zion purchased Trinity Reformed
Church of Philadelphia at a cost of $220,000.
It was transformed into
an urban Christian center. Reverend Sullivan was the true
"Lion of Zion." Through his leadership, membership
grew from 600 to 6,000. The following programs were initiated:
a day care center, credit union, community center programs,
employment agency, retirement home, adult education courses,
reading classes and family counseling. Other community and
social initiatives include Opportunities Industrial Centers,
10-36 Program, Progress Plaza, Zion Gardens and Opportunity
Towers I & II.
Tragedy occurred in
1970 when the church was totally destroyed by fire. Reverend
Sullivan promised that the church would rise like "a
phoenix from the ashes." Worship services were held in
the Zion Community Center. In 1973, the new cornerstone was
laid. Again financially astute Zion settled its mortgage in
record time by paying off in ten years. Reverend Sullivan
retired in 1988.
Reverend Gus Roman became
the eighth pastor in 1988. Reverend Roman made several contributions
to the church and the community such as the Zion Center for
Corresponding Biblical Studies, weekly Bible Study, Transportation
Ministry, Puppet and Clown Ministry, spiritual retreats, leadership
workshops, Zion Outreach Support Ministry and the Human Services
Center.
Reverend William James
Key became pastor in 1995 with an emphasis in community development
and developing Christian youth leadership. Reverend Key came
to the pastorate with close to twenty years of service to
Zion having served as the church's Youth Pastor and Executive
Director for Zion Community Center. During Reverend Key's
administration, he founded New Dimensions, a ministry for
Christian young adults to focus on spiritual, social and economic
issues; he strengthened funds for the Capital Fund Drive,
an initiative for the church's properties; and emphasized
the importance of giving through tithing. In 2000, Reverend
Key left Zion to accept an administrative position with the
American Baptist Churches Southern Division.
Zion welcomed Reverend Dr. Daly Barnes, Jr. as its tenth pastor, in July 2002. Reverend Barnes placed an emphasis on proclaiming the word of God. During his tenure the Fountain of Faith Broadcast Ministry was launched. Through television and radio broadcasting, the ministry allowed the church to evangelize and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to many homes throughout the Delaware Valley. He was also instrumental in the upgrading of the church’s sound system. Reverend Barnes left the church in June 2009.
Please enter your starting point and our church address for
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Zion Baptist Church
3600 N Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19140-4108
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