Loyalty Day History 44 Years of Celebration Ground breaking services for the New Zion Baptist were held on Sunday, May 16, 1954, under the pastorate of the Late Rev. B.]. Washington. Some two years later, March services were held in the new church. 25, 1956, the first Each year since that time (Palm Sunday) New Zion celebrates its Church Anniversary. A New Zion church dedication service took place October 20-24, 1958 and on the Fourth Sunday, October 26, 1958. A dedication musical was held that Sunday night. Guest ministers for the week included the late Reverends L.D. Williams, M.L. Shakespeare, W.1. Monroe, Ira Lee Martin, Elder David Griffin, and the Sunday sermon was by the late Dr. Wendell T. Liggins. That service acquired the name of Loyalty Day. Each year on the Fourth Sunday in October, New Zion holds this special dedicatory service, usually preceded by a revival... and today marks number forty-four.