Throughout the span of 100 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 and our current pastor, Rev. Dr. Kimberly S. Credit.

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 here 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 come 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.