Church Bidtory “Even as Christ is the head of the Church: and He is savior of the body.” ~ Ephesians 3:23 A church being a band of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, may be located in the wilderness or any place in between. In the Beginning... The Wall Avenue Baptist Church was organized in Ogden, Utah as a mission in 1918. It was a red brick bungalow style chapel with a small steeple, erected in 1918 and dedicated in May 1919. This building seated approximately 100 members and was located at 2701 Wall Avenue. There were several clergymen who stood in John’s shoes from 1917 - 1929. At a meeting on December 23, 1925, it was decided to incorporate the church and on February 10, 1926 it came to pass and the following officers were elected; Bro. James E. Moore, Chairman; Bro. 0. H. Parry, President; Sis. Nellie Hamilton, Secretary; Sis. Florida Robinson, Vice-President and Sis. Bernice Johnson, Treasurer. After years of dedicated service, the church was later closed until 1929. The Wall Avenue Baptist Church was reopened with Sunday School classes being conducted by Sis. Georgia Holt of Los Angeles, California. As the church continued to progress, it was the consensus of the congregation to extend a call for its first Pastor. Our First Pastor... On October 2, 1930, the Rev. Luscious A. Platt of Ontario, California became the Pastor of the Wall Avenue Baptist Church. He pastured for six years with several who succeeded him. By God’s grace and mercy the church flourished and the call of pastor was accepted by Reverend Benjamin J. Washington in 1952. Under his leadership the congregation grew into the need of a new church building. Through this effort, Wall Avenue Baptist Church became the New Zion Baptist Church at the proposal of the late Sis. Jimmie Lee Bell. Rev. Washington pastured at New Zion for approximately 10 years. The Church Grows... Grounding Breaking Servic@s2..s...ccccses ee saree Laying Of the COPREISIONG .\7....0.cceccrccsancncocrs Laying of the FOUNGGEION ..........0.scscscsoseoryeteanaens ma igs. 3, i Dedication SOFVICES cc iccc....--+-+esecececssesssseres+see May 16, 1954 October 21, 1954 November 1954 March 25, 1956 eee O, 1956 The anniversary of the first church service is celebrated each year on Palm Sunday in the form of Church Anniversary Service and the dedication is celebrated each year on the fourth Sunday in October in the form of Loyalty Day Service. Current Leadership... | Dr. Bruce Davis, Sr. of Hattiesburg, Mississippi accepted the call to serve as Pastor of the New Zion Baptist Church. Dr. Davis and his lovely wife, First Lady Sabrina W. Davis, arrived in December 2007 and he preached his first sermon on Sunday, December 16, 2007. Under his leadership, New Zion continues to experience increased membership, souls being baptized, Christian Education being instructed, a positive and influential presence in the local and surrounding communities impacting various echelons of government, ecumenical faith and the educational and civic arenas as well. New Zion remains standing on the firm principles and precepts of God’s Word as we embark on an exciting future and continue to faithfully serve God, meeting the needs of the “total person” spiritually, socially, economically and physically as we go forth in all that God has ordained us to accomplish.