CHURCH HISTORY
Throughout the span of 104 years, the Mount Zion Baptist Church has continuously prospered under the leadership and guidance of former pastors, Rev. David R. Russell, Rev. Peter N. Wilkins, Rev. Owen W. Rogers, Rev. Rodney T. Francis, Rev. Robert Harris-Pendelton, Rev. Clinton Parker III, Rev. Dr. Kimberly S. Credit, and our current pastor, Rev. Dr. Lisa A. Clayton.
Mount Zion Baptist Church was organized March 15, 1918 in a hall on Main Street in the Town of Boonton, New Jersey. Under Pastor Russell, the congregation of Mount Zion relocated to a room at the Community Church of Mountain Lakes where the pastor was Rev. Dr. W. A. Scolten. All programs and church services were held there for eleven years.
The Founding Deacons were Deacon Carson Adams, Deacon Bruce Clark, Deacon Jordan Walton, Deacon Arthur Foster, and Deacon William Chavous.
The Trustees were Chairman James L. Jackson, Trustee Tom Ferguson, Trustee Jordan Walton, Trustee Bruce Clark, Trustee William Sterling, Trustee William Chavous, and Trustee Kay Douglas.
Pioneer women, who paved the way, were Sister Nellie Clark, Sister Mamie Monroe, Sister Rosie V. Foster, Sister Marie G. Chavous, Sister Josephine Walton, Sister Iris Boyce, Sister Eliza Jackson, and Sister Josephine Russell.
During the early formative years, a building fund was in progress. A tract of land was purchased in Boonton Township with the ground breaking taking place in 1929. The many friends of the Mount Zion Baptist Church, and the Community Church contributed donations, time and energy toward the building effort. Construction began on the original sanctuary in 1930. It is noted that the original choir stand was completed by Mr. Sam Garrett and Mrs. Rosie V. Foote.
On October 9, 1932, the founding trustee names were submitted to James V. Beam, Attorney at Law of New Jersey, for the establishment of Mount Zion as a religious corporation. On January 9, 1933, the Trustee Board met at the home of Attorney Beam. Those trustees in attendance were Bruce Clark, Kay Douglas, Ed Davis, Jordan Walton, Walter Monroe, Carson Adams and Nancy Roche. In 1933, the church became a religious corporation of the State of New Jersey and filed with the County of Morris. In 1937 the original church building was finally completed.
The Twentieth Annual Founders Anniversary of the Mount Zion Baptist Church was held March 14-20, 1938. Visiting churches that were a part of this celebration were New Point Baptist Church, Newark, N.J. (Pastor R. Moses), Bethel A.M.E. Church, Boonton, N.J. (Pastor M.W. Smith), Pilgrim Baptist Church, Summit, N.J. (Pastor H.R. Cooper), and Community Church, Mountain Lakes, N.J. (Pastor W.A. Scolten). Auxiliaries, such as the Sunday School, the Missionary Board, Usher Board, Senior Choir, Gospel Chorus, Junior Choir, and the Bazaar Club were an active and vital part of the existing church. The Bazaar Club was a great venue toward the fundraising of the church, in addition to other fundraisers and events. The proceeds went towards the building effort.
Rev. David R. Russell served as the first Pastor for nearly twenty years (1918-1938) until his departure.
Rev. Peter N. Wilkins became itinerant pastor (1939 – 1951). Regular worship service was held at 3:00 pm on Sundays since Rev. Wilkins pastured the Bright Hope Baptist Church in Montclair, NJ during their 11:00 am service. Under Rev. Wilkins, the summers found the church enthusiastically involved in Vacation Bible School (VBS). The VBS was headed by the combined efforts of Rev. Dr. Laurel Pancake, D.D., pastor of the Community Church of Mountain Lakes, assisted by Mrs. Redfern, visiting bible instructor of the United Methodist Church, and Mount Zion.
Rev. Owen W. Rogers served as pastor of Mount Zion for nearly 43 years (1952-1994). Under his pastoral guidance, the Junior Church was introduced in the mid 1950’s and comprised of the Junior Deacons, Junior Trustees, Young Adult Choir, the Rosebuds (Junior Choir), Junior Missionaries, and Junior Ushers. The Junior Church became an intricate facet of the church involving the youth in every aspect of church worship, decorum and procedures. The training received then has proven to be the impetus of those adult leaders that serve us today.
Because of our growth during the mid 1960’s, we again found it necessary to enlarge the facility. We embarked on a second building fund project, which took several years. In June of 1966, the church purchased two lots to provide additional parking for the anticipated facility. One lot was purchased from Mrs. Margaret Sims of Boonton, and a second lot from Mrs. Patricia B. White of Boonton Township. Both lots are located adjacent to Church Road. During the mid 1960’s, the building fund effort was enhanced by the emphasis on tithing.
The Mount Zion Baptist Church celebrated its Fiftieth anniversary October 27, 1968. The entire surrounding community was invited to share and participate. The celebration included the Mayors of Boonton and Boonton Township, and Senator Harry Sears of the State of New Jersey.
Construction of the present facility began in the fall of 1976 and completed six months later. During the interim, church services were held between the John Hill School, Lathrop Avenue, and the Bethel A.M.E. Church, Plane Street, of the Town of Boonton, N.J.
With a great spirit of Gratitude to our Heavenly Father, we moved into our new edifice on July 10, 1977. Because of God’s guidance, grace, and mercy, we were soon set free from all indebtedness. The mortgage was burned seven years later in a glorious praise service on October 21, 1984.
Some of the outreach ministries of the church included visitation to various nursing homes, street evangelism, prison ministry where souls were saved/reclaimed/restored, and the ministry of giving food and clothing to various needy social organizations. Rev. Rogers saw fit to license Associate Minister Aran McCullough Sterling (deceased) and Minister Carolyn Simms Aiken for the preaching of the gospel, on August 1, 1993. They were the first women to be licensed in Mount Zion. The ministerial staff included Rev. David Able (deceased), Rev. Lawrence Cheatham (deceased), Rev. Alexander McDonald III (Pastor), Rev. Theodore Foote, Sr. (deceased), and Rev. LeRoy Aiken, Sr.
Rev. Rodney T. Francis, M.Div. of Palatka, Florida, served as pastor of Mount Zion for ten years (1996 – 2006). His pastoral accomplishments included the creation of new ministries, church organizations, spiritual and physical growth, conferences and workshops, and community and corporate partnerships. Pastor Francis, gifted in discernment and assessment of the spiritual needs of the church, accomplished new vision and leadership to advance the Gospel. He strived to fulfill his calling, do the Master’s will and always acknowledged great is the faithfulness of almighty God.
Rev. Robert Harris-Pendelton served as pastor of Mount Zion from July 1, 2007 through November 24, 2011 when he departed this life. The Sacred Obsequies services were held Friday, December 2nd and 3rd, 2011. Pastor Pendelton and his family were former members of the Community Baptist Church of Englewood. He was gifted with great energy, teaching, preaching, leadership and visionary ability. Through his leadership and vision the following ministries were birthed: Worship on Wednesday (WOW), Women of Encouragement Ministry, Men of Integrity Ministry, Two Shall Become One Couples Ministry, and “No More Boundaries” (Reaching Outside the Walls Outreach Ministry). Pastor Pendelton was responsible for spearheading the ordination of Minister Carolyn Simms Aiken on September 22, 2013. She was the first woman to be ordained by Mount Zion. Pastor Pendelton’s life scripture was “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”. (Romans 1:16, NIV)
Rev. Clinton Parker III served as pastor of Mount Zion from 2012 – 2014. He was gifted in teaching and preaching. His life scripture was “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV)
Rev. Dr. Kimberly S. Credit served as pastor of Mount Zion from December 19, 2015, as the seventh and first female pastor, through April 5, 2021, when she departed this life. The Sacred Obsequies services were held on Friday, April 16, and Saturday, April 17, 2021. Rev. Credit was passionate about preaching, lecturing, praying, evangelism, Christian Apologetics, and leadership training. She was the Founder and Director of the Preaching Lab and was well sought after to preach, train preachers, and lecture throughout the world. Rev. Credit served as Vice President of the African American Clergy Association of Morris County, NJ. She was the first female preacher to present in many venues, including the E.K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference and the National Conference on Christian Apologetics, and the first African American female to lecture in the National Conference On Christian Apologetics (2014). On April 4, 2019, she was inducted into the MLK Board of Preachers by Morehouse College. Rev. Credit authored “Prophetic Apologetics: Exegeting the Culture; Equipping the Church,” and “Fifty Shades to Being a Female Preacher.” In the short time that she served as pastor, she had a media room built, had the church upgraded technologically, revived existing ministries, started Rock the Worship (RTW) services every second Sunday totally led by our youth, teen and young adults, instituted a new bible study paradigm, grew the ministerial staff from two to eight ministers, and ordained the first female deacons. Pastor Credit was a godly woman of integrity, who was sincere, compassionate, praying and simply wanted to be known as “the girl who is about her Father’s business”.
On January 8, 2022, Rev. Dr. Lisa A. Clayton was voted as the eighth pastor and second female pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. She was an associate minister under the leadership of the late Rev. Dr. Kimberly Credit. Rev. Clayton is an inspiration to women in many capacities. Her ability to relate has been felt by women and men of all ethnicities, religions and cultural backgrounds. She served the women and the faith community faithfully for 15 years as Women’s Ministry Leader of St. Luke Baptist Church, and Minister to Women at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. She is a mother of four adult children, enjoys traveling and ministering to hurt women.
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30 KJV
We have come to a significant milestone in the distinguished history of the Mount Zion Baptist Church. What a continued rich heritage and tradition we enjoy! It is our sincere desire and prayer that Mount Zion Baptist Church will continue to grow and prosper in the name of Jesus. We pray that all those that come behind us stay committed to the course and call of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Rev. Carolyn Simms Aiken, Church Historian