Our Extended
Church History
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"Look where He has brought
us from"
In 1900, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church began in a private home in
the 400 block of 22nd Street in Newport News, Virginia by the Reverend
N. E. Nelson. Missionary Baptists from Charles City County and Richmond
worked with Rev. Nelson in carrying out religious services. The majority
of the congregation was Missionary Baptists who transferred in from
Richmond and worked in the Newport News Shipyard. They sought a minister
of the same denomination and selected Rev. Chase Patterson, who organized
them as a Missionary Baptist Church.
After serving for short time, Rev. Patterson resigned and Rev. W. M. Greene
of West Virginia was chosen. During his tenure, Rev. Greene organized a
Recognition Council to establish the congregation as an independent body.
In November 1901, recognition was granted. During this time and until 1911,
Sixth Mount Zion had 19 pastors. In 1912, Rev. W. J. Brown arrived to become
the pastor. The congregation was worshipping in a borrowed building in
the 600 block of 24th Street. Rev. Brown had been with Sixth Mount Zion
for 45 years when he passed on November 27, 1957. The church mourned his
passing but God in His faithfulness provided. Rev. James Melvin Owens was
called to pastor in 1958 and installed in June 1959. On March 28, 1959,
the church was destroyed by fire. A new church was built on the ruins of
the old lot at 643-24th Street. Rev. Owens passed on July 5, 1964, after
just 6 years as pastor.
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Sixth Mount Zion
Baptist Temple is SMZBT
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Without a pastor for almost a year, Sixth Mount Zion Church invited Rev.
M. Ivory Jefferson, as native of Logan, West Virginia to lead the church.
He was installed as the official pastor on June 19, 1966. One of his first
tasks was to organize a building fund. Because of redevelopment in the
East End area of Newport News, the church was conveyed to the city and
the necessary procedure was instituted for relocation. The congregation
worshipped in six different locations from 1973 until June 1976 when the
church purchased a site at 2003 Kecoughtan Road in Hampton and was renamed
Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple. In 1978 the building was completed. In
1980, Rev. Jefferson and the SMZBT congregation began a 30 minute radio
ministry, arranged annual trips to worship with other churches in other
states, and ordained and trained two Assistant Ministers. On June 7, 1986,
the radio broadcast was extended to one full hour on radio station WTJZ – 1270
AM.
In December 1995, at the Annual Church Meeting, Rev. Jefferson announced
his retirement, effective December 1996. In June 1996, Rev. Jefferson suffered
a stroke, but was determined that the worship and search for a new pastor
must continue. On August 18, 1996, Rev. Jefferson returned to SMZBT to
preside over the election of the future pastor.
From October – December 1996, Rev. Jerome A. Barber, a native of
Washington, D.C. served in the capacity of Co-Pastor. Rev. Barber was formerly
the Assistant Chaplain at Hampton University. The overwhelming majority
voted to elect the Rev. Jerome A. Barber to be the next pastor. On January
19, 1997, SMZBT installed Rev. Barber as pastor.
During his pastorate (1997 – Present), Sixth Mount Zion Baptist
Temple has grown from a membership of 300 to more than 4,000. Rev. Barber is instrumental
in establishing ministries in this local assembly that meet the needs of
the church and the community at large. He has a special passion for education
and those who have chosen education as their career field. His yearly recognition
of educators has evolved into a bi-annual gathering of what he has coined, “Educarers,” a
ministry established to bring attention to the needs of educators and students
and which stresses the caring and compassionate aspect of the teaching
profession.
Since July 2000, Pastor Barber has been involved in mobilizing the 4000
member congregation of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple to take the gospel
to the world. In addition, he has mobilized teams from the United States
of pastors, medical professionals, educators and youth to conduct revivals,
crusades, bible seminars, youth and women’s conferences, teacher
workshops, and medical clinics throughout the Nairobi area. SMZBT is linked
with the Harvest Fellowship Center, Bishop Philemon Wachara of Nairobi,
Kenya and with numerous ministries throughout Kenya. Our newest connection
is with Pastor Keith Jefferson in Salvador Bahia, Brazil.
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Farewell ....but
not Good-bye
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With the rapid growth of the church, our worship services outgrew our Kecougthan
Road location. Under the leadership of Pastor Barber, in January 2001,
moved into their present location at 3100 Butternut Drive in Hampton. In
May 2002, Rev. Barber along with the assistant pastor, Kevin G. Swan founded
The Six House, Inc. which is a non-profit organization. The Six House was
created to help people of all ages gain the knowledge and skills necessary
to produce a better quality of living for themselves, their individual
families and community. SMZBT is very active in the community
working with and making substantial donations to various
organizations.
Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple (SMZBT)
is continually growing spiritually and many souls have been added. The
presence of the Lord is in this house
and to Him we give all the glory and honor.
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