About New Zion Baptist Church

Our History

The church began worshipping in an attic room at 37 Washington Avenue, the home of Mr. and Mrs. B. Span. Those present were Mrs. Ella Mae Harrington, Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Eason, and Mr. and Mrs. B. Span. Sister Harrington suggested that they use the name of their mother church since all of them were members of the New Zion Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia. Thus the present New Zion Baptist Church was born and organized on July 18, 1917. The late Reverend McDonald Harris served as the first pastor.

They continued to serve at the above address, but as the congregation grew they were able to move to larger quarters located at 804 Elizabeth Avenue. The church again moved to 28 Center Street and remained there for seven years. In 1918 the church was incorporated.

The late B. J. Kendrick helped to ordain the late W. H. Culberth, who became the second pastor, and gave thirteen years of service. In 1922 they purchased property on Atlantic Street near Third Avenue, on which to build a church. In 1925 the church was relocated to 89 Miller Street. In 1926, the congregation started a drive to raise twenty-five hundred dollars to build a church and to make payments on a parsonage. After serving seven years Reverend Culbreth was called to Jersey City. In that interim, the church gained its third pastor, Reverend Benjamin Boyd Burgess. He continued the drive to raise funds to build a church. Reverend Burgess served for one year. Reverend Culberth was recalled and served until 1930. In 1930, the building at 89 Miller Street was sold and the congregation moved to a building located at 535-537 East Jersey Street. Reverend E. D. Davis was called and served one year. From 1930 until 1932, the late Reverend E. T. Hampton served as Supply Pastor, and in 1933 the membership called him as Pastor. In October 1936, the property at 89 Miller Street was repurchased and remodeled. The entrance was changed to 91 Division Street. The membership grew and the building was enlarged. A balcony was added. The membership marched into the new completed structure at 91 Division Street on Sunday, May 26, 1946.

The property next door to the church was purchased. Property was also purchased at the corner of Lafayette and Livingston Streets. The Reverend John H. Green who was ordained by Reverend Hampton later purchased the property at Livingston Street. This is now the site of the St. Paul's Baptist Church.

The Junior Choirs and Junior Ushers were organized. It was during Reverend Hampton's leadership that New Zion made their greatest growth. The membership increased greatly. Reverend Hampton served faithfully for thirty-two years until his health failed. Reverend Marion Jackson, who was ordained by Reverend Hampton, served as Interim Pastor.

Reverend Benjamin J. Whipper was called to New Zion and installed as Pastor on Sunday, July 29, 1962. He served diligently as a leader, a friend, and counselor to the members of the church and community. Under his leadership, New Zion established a scholarship fund, known as the Courtesy Guild, a credit union; the Fellowship Chorus, the Nurses Unit, and he staffed the church office with an active secretary. Also under his leadership, improvements were made on the basement, property was purchased on Adams Avenue for a parsonage and property was acquired in Hazlet, New Jersey. Reverend Whipper added Brothers J. Corbitt, Thomas Blair, Lawrence Sampson, and Ernest Pryor to the Deacon Board. Brothers Tom Maye, Bonnie Brown, Jacob Payne, Jr., Marion Burns, Edward Elam, Robert Blowe, Manasses LeMaye, Johnnie Jones, and John Wilson, Srl, were added to the Trustee Board.

After serving for pastor for ten years, Reverend Whipper resigned to accept the call to the Southern Baptist Church of New York city, New York. The church then called Reverend William E. Brockett who had been ordained on October 2, 1969 by Reverend Whipper. On December 1, 1972, Reverend Brockett was installed as Pastor. Most noted achievements under his pastorate were the organization of the Men's Club and Male Chorus, the first church fair, the Junior Choir was re-established as the New Generation Choir, the New Inspiration Choir was organized, and the Pastor-Presidents membership meetings were formed. Reverend Brockett sold the property located on Adams Avenue in Elizabeth, the property in Hazlet, New Jersey and the property at 91 Division Street. Property was purchased on Flora and Anna Streets. On May 30, 1976, the ground was dedicated. After five years of service, with much pride, the congregation marched into the newly erected New Zion Baptist Church at 800-822 Flora Street. After almost nine years of service, Reverend Brockett resigned.

In the spring of 1982, Reverend Elliott Cuff became the pastor of New Zion. Under his leadership the church purchased a van, changed the name of the Young Adult Choir to the New Zion Chariots, and the Sewing Circle was changed to the Willing Workers Society. Under Reverend Cuff's leadership, the church mortgage was paid off, structural enhancements were made to the balcony, and the chancellor area was remodeled. The ladies room was beautified, and mirrors were added to the baptismal pool. As part of a community outreach, a prison ministry was organized. After five years of service, Reverend Cuff resigned on January 31, 1987.

Reverend James Slaughter was installed as pastor of New Zion in January 1988. Property located at 40 Hillside Road in Elizabeth was purchased. He served the congregation for one year.

In May of 1990, the church extended the call to the Reverend Johnnie M. Green, Jr. On the fourth Sunday in July 1990, he was installed. Under Reverend Green's administration the church became a vital part of the community. Several new ministries were initiated. The Drug Ministry, the Youth Ministry, New Members Orientation, and a Counseling Ministry were formed. A ministerial team was formed consisting of two seminary trained ministers, and one student minister from Princeton Theological Seminary served each school term as Field Education Minister. The property located at 40 Hillside Road in Elizabeth was sold. After serving the congregation for 16 years, Reverend Green resigned in June 2006. Reverend Valerie Hunter served as Interim pastor until November 2007.

On November 1, 2007, the church extended the call to Reverend Kevin James White. On Saturday, December 15, 2007, he was installed as the Senior Servant of New Zion.