1956 – 2014
IN 1955, REV. JONAS PORTER, NOW DECEASED, PASTOR OF THE FIRST CORINTHIAN BAPTIST CHURCH IN NORTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ORGANIZED A MISSION. THIS WAS IN THE HOME OF DEACON (REV.) ISAAC JOHNSON (NOW DECEASED) IN ZION. THE MEMBERS OF THIS MISSION WERE: BRO. ISAAC AND SIS. DAISY JOHNSON, BRO. ARCHIE AND SIS EMMA WATTS, BRO. CORNELL AND SIS. MARY MAYFIELD, AND SIS. ANNIE WILLIAMS.
LATER, SADIE WATTS AND IRMA JOHNSON JOINED THE MISSION. THE MISSION WAS SO INSPIRING AND SPIRITUAL THAT THE MEMBERS DECIDED TO ORGANIZE A CHURCH. BRO. ISAAC JOHNSON TALKED WITH PASTOR PORTER ABOUT THIS MATTER AND HE APPROVED.
A MEETING WAS CALLED IN THE HOME OF BRO. ISAAC JOHNSON. THERE, THEY MADE PLANS FOR A NEW CHURCH. THERE WAS NO BLACK CHURCH IN ZION AT THIS TIME.
IN JANUARY 1956, THE GROUP CALLED IN AN ORGANIZING COUNCIL. THIS MEETING WAS HELD IN THE HOME OF SIS. SADIE WATTS AND REV. VINCENT SERVED AS MODERATOR. PERSONS PRESENT AT THAT MEETING WERE: REV. THEODORA MASON, PASTOR OF THE GOSPEL TABERNACLE CHURCH OF ZION, ILLINOIS; REV. KINGMONS, PASTOR OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF WINTHROP HARBOR, ILLINOIS; AND REV. JOHNSON. THERE WERE SIX PERSONS WITH LETTERS: BRO. AND SIS. ISAAC JOHNSON, BRO. AND SIS. CORNELL MAYFIELD, AND BRO. AND SIS. ARCHIE WATTS. ALSO PRESENT WERE: BRO. AND SIS. SAMUEL PAYNE, SR., BRO. AND SIS. GEORGE BATES, AND SIS. SADIE WATTS. AT THIS MEETING THE CHURCH WAS NAMED MT. ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
ON MARCH 4, 1956, THE AREA SISTER CHURCHES CAME TO THE CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY CHURCH, IN ZION, TO FELLOWSHIP IN THE NEWLY ORGANIZED CHURCH. REV. E. J. COLE, NOW DECEASED, WAS IN CHARGE OF THE MEETING. REV. LAWRENCE STEWART, NOW DECEASED, WAS CALLED AS PASTOR. HE SERVED FAITHFULLY FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR.
MT. ZION’S FIRST OFFICERS WERE:
DEACON ISAAC JOHNSON, NOW DECEASED
CHURCH CLERK EMMA WATTS
TREASURER SAMUEL PAYNE, SR. NOW DECEASED
PRESIDENT OF MISSION DAISY JOHNSON, NOW DECEASED
CHURCH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT MARY MAYFIELD, NOW DECEASED
B. T. U. DIRECTOR SADIE WATTS
PRESIDENT OF USHER BOARD HATTIE WYNN, NOW DECEASED
FIRST MOTHER ANNIE WILLIAMS, NOW DECEASED
PIANIST SIS. HILL, NOW DECEASED
THE YOUTH AT THE TIME OF ORGANIZATION WERE:
GEORGE BATES’ CHILDREN: MARTHA, GEORGE, BOBBIE, AND EDITH
CORNELL MAYFIELD’S CHILDREN: RONNIE AND DENISE (GAYDEN)
SAMUEL E. PAYNE, SR.’S CHILDREN: RICHARD, ROBERT (NOW DECEASED), IRENE (BASS), SAMUEL E., JR.
SADIE WATTS CHILD: PHYLISS
AFTER THE CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED, OTHERS JOINED TO HELP CARRY ON THE WORK FOR CHRIST. THE CHURCH RENTED THE FACILITIES OF THE GOSPEL TABERNACLE CHURCH AND HELD SERVICES AT 1:00 P.M. ON SUNDAYS.
IT MUST BE NOTED IN OUR RECORD THOUGH, THAT AS THE YOUNG CHURCH STRUGGLED TO SURVIVE, THERE WERE THOSE WHO LOOKED ON AND CRITICIZED.
IN 1957, REV. ROOSEVELT TART, NOW DECEASED, WAS CALLED AS PASTOR. MORE JOINED TO HELP CARRY ON GOD’S WORK. PASTOR TART AND THE DEACONS SAW THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A BETTER PLACE TO WORSHIP, AND THEY WANTED TO WORSHIP AT THE REGULAR 11:00 O’CLOCK SERVICE TIME. THE CHURCH MOVED TO THE BOOKER T. WASHINGTON CLUB ON ROUTE 173 IN ZION.
SOON, THE CHURCH WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE LAND, WHERE THE CHURCH IS NOW LOCATED AT 2500 WEST 30TH STREET. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PASTOR TART, THE CHURCH WAS ABLE TO BUILD A PARTIAL PART OF THE PRESENT LOWER LEVEL. PASTOR TART SERVED FAITHFULLY FROM
1957 TO 1963.
IN FEBRUARY OF 1964, REV. B. J. GASTON, FROM MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, WAS CALLED AS PASTOR. WITH A PORTION OF THE LOWER LEVEL AND A DIRT FILLED PARKING LOT, PASTOR GASTON HAD WORK TO DO. THERE WERE MANY DAYS AND NIGHTS THAT PASTOR GASTON AND SOME OF THE MEMBERS HAD TO PUSH WATER OUT OF THE BASEMENT IN ORDER TO HAVE WORSHIP SERVICE. THEY ALSO HAD THEIR SHARE OF GETTING STUCK IN THE MUDDY PARKING LOT. INSPITE OF IT ALL, MORE AND MORE SOULS WERE BROUGHT TO CHRIST.
WHEN YOU ARE JUST GETTING STARTED, IT ISN’T EASY TO GET A LOAN FROM A LENDING INSTITUTION. PASTOR GASTON HAD BEEN TO BANK AFTER BANK AND LOAN COMPANY AFTER LOAN COMPANY AND COULD NOT SECURE A LOAN TO HAVE THE CHURCH BUILT. IN 1971, MRS. ROSE GASTON (NOW DECEASED) ASSISTED IN PROVIDING FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MT. ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. NOW, THE CHURCH WAS ABLE TO GET A LOAN FROM ZION STATE BANK (NATIONAL CITY BANK). IN 1972, PASTOR GASTON, THE OFFICERS, AND THE MEMBERSHIP MARCHED INTO THEIR NEW CHURCH.
UNDER PASTOR GASTON’S LEADERSHIP, THE CHURCH HAS:
1. PAID OFF SMALL BILLS AT THE ZION STATE BANK (NATIONAL CITY BANK) OF $1,200.00
2. PURCHASED AND PAID FOR A NEW $3,000.00 ORGAN
3. PAID OFF MORTGAGE THREE YEARS AHEAD OF TIME FOR THE LOWER LEVEL
4. THE ANNUAL FINANCE HAS COME FROM $2,600.00 TO $350,000.00
5. COMPLETED THIS BEAUTIFUL SANCTUARY AT A COST OF $100,000.00 TO WORSHIP THE LIVING GOD
6. PURCHASED PEWS FOR THE SANCTUARY AT A COST OF $9,000.00
7. FINISHED THE PRESENT PARKING LOT AT A COST OF $16,000.00
8. REMODELED THE LOWER LEVEL AT A COST OF $7,000.00 (BATHROOMS, FLOOR TILE, AND CEILING ) 2008 REMODELED FOR
$126, 000.00 FOR A TOTAL OF $133,00.OO
9. PURCHASED AND PAID FOR LAND ON 29TH STREET VALUED AT $60,000.00
10. PURCHASED LAND AND HOUSE AT 2511 WEST 30TH STREET, AT A COST OF $52,000.00
11. PURCHASED FURNITURE, CHAIRS, AND TABLES FOR THE CHURCH AND HOUSE AT 2511 WEST 30TH STREET, AT A COST OF $4,000.00
12. INSTALLED CENTRAL AIR AT A COST OF $8,000.00
13. PURCHASED A PERSONALIZED COMPUTER, GESTETNER STENCIL DUPLICATING MACHINE, A GESTEFAC STENCIL CUTTER MACHINE, AND A COPY MACHINE ALL AT A COST OF $8,200.00
14. WAS FOUNDER OF THE MCKINLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, NORTH SHORE BRANCH
15. PURCHASED A HAMMOND ORGAN VALUED AT $2,000.00
16. IN MAY OF 1987, RECEIVED A CHARTER FROM THE STATE TO OPERATE THE MT. ZION CREDIT UNION; ADDED AN ADDITIONAL ROOM IN THE LOWER LEVEL FOR THE CREDIT UNION OFFICE AT A COST OF $365.00
17. THE MT. ZION SHEILA DAY CARE CENTER OPENED IN AUGUST OF 1988. THE COMPLETE COST AND CONSTRUCTION WAS $305,000.00
18. WAS AWARDED $2,007,500.00 BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) FOR THE B. J. GASTON BETHESDA VILLAGE 40 UNIT ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED SUBSIDIZED HOUSING FACILITY LOCATED AT 2400 29TH STREET
19. HAD THE SANCTUARY RE-CARPET AT A COST OF $5,675.00
20. PUT IN A NEW PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM, AT A COST OF $4,000.00
21. HAD A MURAL PAINTED ON THE BACK WALL OF THE SANCTUARY, AT A COST OF $2,000.00
22. IN MARCH OF 1991 STARTED A RADIO BROADCAST MINISTRY “WALKING WITH THE KING”, (NO LONGER ON THE AIR ) WKRS IN WAUKEGAN
23. HAD THE PARKING LOT REPAVED AND STRIPED, AT A COST OF $15,000.00
24. FOUNDER OF THE NORTH SHORE BIBLE COLLEGE AND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, INC., NOW CALLED NORTH SHORE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, INC.
25. PUT IN A NEW FURNACE AT A COST OF $9,200.00
26. HAD A NEW ROOF PUT ON, AT A COST OF $10,900.00
27. PURCHASED NEW PULPIT CHAIRS AT A COST OF $8,900.00
28. HAD THE CHURCH RE-CARPETED AT A COST OF $11,700.00
29. PURCHASED A NEW YAMAHA CLAVINOVA PIANO AT A COST OF $12,800.00
30. PURCHASED A DIALTA COLOR COPIER AT A COST OF $8,000.00
31. CHURCH SIGN INSTALLED ON FRONT LAWN AT A COST OF $3, 126.00
ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1987, THE LORD BLESSED US TO BURN THE MORTGAGE ON THE CHURCH.
IN JANUARY 1988, PASTOR GASTON THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO PURCHASE THE LAND ADJACENT TO THE MT. ZION SHEILA DAY CARE CENTER. HE BROUGHT THE IDEA TO THE CHURCH AND THE CHURCH VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PURCHASE THE LAND.
PASTOR GASTON CONTACTED MRS. BERNICE HOLMES, THE OWNER OF THE LAND, AND ASKED IF SHE WANTED TO SELL THE LAND. MRS. HOLMES’ WORDS WERE, “YES, MAKE ME AN OFFER”. PASTOR GASTON OFFERED HER $16,000.00. MRS. HOLMES STATED SHE WANTED $20,000.00.
PASTOR GASTON ASKED HER TO GIVE HIM A FEW DAYS. HE HAD THE LAND APPRAISED BY LEECH AND ASSOCIATES. THE LAND APPRAISED FOR $37,000.00. PASTOR GASTON CONTACTED MRS. HOLMES AND OFFERED
HER $20,000.00 FOR THE LAND. MRS. HOLMES TOLD HIM TO GET HIS ATTORNEY TO DRAW UP THE CONTRACT, HAVE A TITLE SEARCH, AND PAY THE TAXES, BECAUSE SHE WANTED $20,00.00 CLEAR MONEY. PASTOR GASTON AGREED AND CALLED ATTORNEY BROADNAUX AND ASKED HIM TO DRAW UP THE CONTRACT. HE CALLED THE CHICAGO TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY TO DO THE TITLE SEARCH. THE ATTORNEY’S FEE WAS $500.00 AND THE TITLE SEARCH WAS $325.00.
AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, MRS. HOLMES AND PASTOR GASTON AGREED TO MEET TO CLOSE THE DEAL. MRS. HOLMES CAME IN EARLY AUGUST OF 1988, WITH HER DAUGHTER, SHEILA. SHE ANNOUNCED THAT SOMEONE FROM OUR CONGREGATION HAD CALLED HER AND SAID THAT PASTOR GASTON WAS BEATING HER OUT OF HER LAND. THEREFORE SHE HAD DECIDED TO HOLD ON TO HER LAND. ON THAT SAME DAY, PASTOR GASTON, MRS. HOLMES, AND SHEILA MET WITH KEN DEXTER (NOW DECEASED) , THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FIRST OF AMERICA BANK OF ZION (NOW NATIONAL CITY BANK). KEN DEXTER TRIED TO PERSUADE MRS.HOLMES TO LET PASTOR GASTON HAVE THE LAND. HE TOLD HER THAT SHE WOULD BE HELPING HER PEOPLE AND THE CHURCH, AND THAT HE WOULD LET PASTOR GASTON HAVE ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HE WOULD NEED . SHE SAID SHE WOULD THINK ABOUT IT. THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED. AFTERWARDS, ATTORNEY BROADNAUX WAIVED HIS FEE.
IN JANUARY, 1990, SHEILA HOLMES CALLED PASTOR GASTON AND STATED THAT HER MOTHER HAD “FELL DEAD OF A HEART ATTACK WITHIN TWO MONTHS TO THE DATE FROM THE MEETING FOR THE CLOSING AT THE BANK.” SHE ASKED PASTOR GASTON IF HE WAS STILL INTERESTED IN THE LAND. HIS ANSWER WAS, YES. SHEILA ASKED FOR $20,000.00 FOR THE LAND. PASTOR GASTON AGREED. SHE INSTRUCTED PASTOR GASTON TO CALL HER BACK IN TWO WEEKS. WHEN HE CALLED HER, SHE ASKED FOR $25,000.00 FOR THE LAND. HE AGREED. FROM THIS POINT ON, SHE WOULD TELL PASTOR GASTON TO CALL HER IN TWO WEEKS. THIS WENT ON THROUGH APRIL. FINALLY SHE HUNG UP THE PHONE IN PASTOR GASTON’S FACE.
PASTOR GASTON LATER CALLED JULIAN COLEMAN, THE CHURCH’S ACCOUNTANT. HE ASKED HIM TO CONTACT SHEILA HOLMES AND OFFER TO BUY HER LAND. MR.COLEMAN DID CONTACT MISS HOLMES AND SHE AGREED TO SELL THE LAND TO MR.COLEMAN. PASTOR GASTON AND MR.COLEMAN SIGNED A CONTRACT BETWEEN MR. COLEMAN AND THE CHURCH WHICH STATED THAT ONCE THE LAND WAS PURCHASED, IT WOULD BE DEEDED OVER TO THE CHURCH WITH A WARRANT DEED.
AFTER NEGOTIATING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, SHEILA HOLMES SOLD THE LAND TO MR. COLEMAN FOR $21,500.00. ON JANUARY 15, 1991, THE DEAL WAS CLOSED. THE PRICE PAID FOR THE LAND WAS $21,500, PLUS $500.00 FOR MR. COLEMAN’S ATTORNEY FEE, AND $1,000.00 FOR MR. COLEMAN’S SERVICES; MAKING A TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE OF 23,000.00.
IN MAY 1991, PASTOR GASTON HAD THE LAND GRADED BY THE LAKE COUNTY GRADING COMPANY, AT A COST OF $3,500.00. IT HAS SINCE BECOME THE SITE FOR OUR CHURCH’S ANNUAL SOCIAL OUTING.
IN 1993, CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON THE MT. ZION MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING. EACH MEMBER WAS ASKED TO GIVE $100.00 TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION LOAN. ANY MEMBER THAT WOULD GIVE A $1,000.00 DONATION WOULD HAVE THEIR PICTURE HUNG IN THE ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING. THOSE MEMBERS WERE: PASTOR B. J. GASTON, REV.ISAAC JOHNSON (NOW DECEASED), SIS. EMMA CHRISTIAN (NOW DECEASED), SIS. JUANITA WINFREY, BRO. WILLIS PAYNE, SR., DEA.HERBERT MCCOY, AND BRO. JEFFREY JONES, SR. THE MT. ZION MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING HOUSES THE PASTOR’S STUDY, CHURCH OFFICE, CLASSROOMS, BANQUET ROOM, KITCHEN, AND GARDEN ROOM .THE BUILDING WAS COMPLETED ON JULY 19, 1994, WITH A CONSTRUCTION COST OF $503,000.00 AND FURNISHINGS AT A COST OF $10,000.00, MAKING A TOTAL COST OF $513,000.00. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE FIRST EVENT TO BE HELD IN THE NEW BUILDING WAS PASTOR AND MRS.GASTON’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET.
ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2004, THE CHURCH PAID OFF THE MORTGAGE ON THE MT. ZION MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING IN LESS THAN HALF THE TIME GIVEN TO PAY IT OFF. BECAUSE PASTOR GASTON STILL SEES THE NEED FOR THE TRAINING OF MINISTERS AND LAYPERSONS IN THE NORTH SHORE AREA, WE ARE ONCE AGAIN EMBARKING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH SHORE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
IN JUNE, OF 2008, PASTOR GASTON PRESENTED THE IDEA OF REMODELING THE CHURCH’S LOWER LEVEL. HE FELT THAT THE MEMBERSHIP, PARTICULARLY THE WOMEN, DESERVED UPDATED REST ROOM FACILITIES.THE CHURCH VOTED IN AGREEMENT AND THE REMODELING PROJECT FOR THE LOWER LEVEL BEGAN IN
FEBRUARY OF 2009. THE PROJECT INCLUDED A NEW KITCHEN, NEW REST ROOMS, NEW FLOORING, NEW CEILING, AND A MEMORIAL DISPLAY FOR MEMBERS CONTRIBUTING $1, 000.00 OR MORE..
ON NOVEMBER 17, 2010, PASTOR GASTON CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING TO ANNOUNCE HIS RETIREMENT. IT WAS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT THE CHURCH ACCEPTED HIS RESIGNATION EFFECTIVE MAY of 2011. UPON HIS RECOMMENDATION, THE CHURCH VOTED TO CALL REV. ROBERT E. WILLIAMS, ONE OF OUR ASSOCIATE MINISTERS AS PASTOR. PASTOR GASTON CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON.
ON MAY 22, 2011 REV. ROBERT WILLIAMS WAS INSTALLED AS THE 4TH PASTOR OF THE MT. ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. PASTOR WILLIAMS IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF MT. ZION AND BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN LAID. SOULS CONTINUE TO COME TO CHRIST UNDER PASTOR WILLIAMS’ LEADERSHIP. PASTOR WILLIAMS IS VERY CONCERNED AND INVOLVED WITH THE YOUTH OF THE CHURCH. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP MT. ZION HAS BEGUN ITS ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY YOUTH CONFERENCE, HELD IN FEBRUARY. FOR THREE YEARS RUNNING IT HAS BEEN A SPIRITUAL AND FINANCIAL SUCCESS. IN JULY, OF 2012, PASTOR WILLIAMS INSTITUTED “HIGH NOON PRAYER”. MONDAY THRU FRIDAY, MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO GATHER TOGETHER TO PETITION GOD. PASTOR WILLIAMS FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYER. (JAMES 5:16B) IN JUNE OF 2013 PASTOR WILLIAMS ENCOURAGED THE WOMEN OF MT. ZION IN THEIR FIRST ANNUAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE,, ”ORDER MY STEPS”. IT WAS WELL ATTENDED AND WAS A HUGE SPIRITUAL SUCCESS. IN FEBRUARY OF 2014 , PASTOR WILLIAMS BEGAN THE “CHANGE TO CHANGE A GENERATION” INITIATIVE. THE CHURCH IS ASKED TO DONATE THEIR CHANGE TO GO TOWARD OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND. HE IS ADAMANT THAT WE SPEAK EXCELLENCE AND EXPECT EXCELLENCE FROM OUR CHILDREN; WE EXPECT THEM TO GO TO COLLEGE AND WE WILL HELP THEM.
WITH PASTOR WILLIAMS AT THE HELM, IT IS OUR PRAYER, MT. ZION WILL CONTINUE TO “MOVE FORWARD WITH PURPOSE AND LET OUR LIGHT SO SHINE THAT MEN AND WOMEN MAY SEE OUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY THE FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.”
THE CHURCH THANKS AND PRAISES GOD FOR THE BLESSINGS HE HAS BESTOWED UPON US
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