Our Extended Church History

Uganda

"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.

In 1966 the Rev. Dr. M. Ivory Jefferson was called to lead SMZBT and served faithfully until declining health caused him to retire in 1996.

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.

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 with numerous ministries throughout Kenya and Uganda. 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.

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, co founder, 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. In 2003, SMZBT obtained ownership of WTJZ 1270 AM “The Lighthouse” and continues to spread the gospel over the radio air waves.


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.