Church Profile

Our History
Mount Zion Second Baptist Church was founded in April 1868. It is the second oldest black church in Atlanta, Georgia and is the mother of six great churches- Mount Olive Baptist, Beulah Baptist, Tabernacle Baptist, Butler Street Baptist, Mount Carmel Baptist, and Young Street Community Baptist. The early organizers of the church were members of the Friendship Baptist Church. Because of the distance that these brothers and sisters lived from Friendship Baptist, they peacefully, and in a Christ-like spirit, requested letters from Friendship Baptist Church in order that they might organize a church in a section near where they lived. The letters were granted and our founding fathers left Friendship Baptist Church with its best wishes and prayers.
Founding members worshiped in a brush arbor for four years before constructing its first small, wood frame building in 1872 at Piedmont and Baker. In 1880, fire consumed the church and the members worshiped in a railroad boxcar until 1881. The church was rebuilt on the same site at Piedmont and Baker. In 1926, a fire consumed the building again, and services were held at the Holmes Institute on Hilliard Street near Forest Avenue. In 1927, the church marched into their newly rebuilt edifice on the same property at Piedmont and Baker. In 1956, due to the construction of Interstates I-75 and I-85 the church was forced to move. The location chosen was 137 Boulevard NE at the corner of Irwin St. In November 1956, members marched into their present house of worship.
With the completion of the new church in 1956, the sanctuary accommodates seating for 1000+ and the attached building includes several multipurpose rooms.

Mount Zion’s pastors in chronological order:
1868-1869: Rev. Dock Phillips
1869-1872: Rev. Owen George
1872-1880: Rev. A.W. Watson
1880-1885: Rev. W. R. Clemmons
1886-1890: Rev. E. L. Jones
1890-1892: Rev. S. A. McNeal
1892-1893: Rev. W. H. Tillman
1893-1899: Rev. W. H. Tuggle
1899-1903: Rev. J. S. Kelsey
1903-1903: Rev. Rucker
1903-1914: Rev. W. H. Tuggle
1914-1915: Rev. M. L. Gleen
1915-1917: Rev. C. C. Ailer
1917-1949: Rev J. T. Dorsey
1947-1950: Rev. William J. Farrell (Interim)
1950-1986: Rev. Emory R. Searcy Sr.
1986-1992: Rev. Larry Jones
1992-1993: Rev. Charles Sargent (Interim)
1992-1993: Rev. Emory R. Searcy Jr. (Interim)
1993-2001: Rev. Marty Henderson
2001-2003: Rev. Henry W. Jones (Interim)
2003-2021: Rev. Henry W. Jones
Mount Zion Family Tree - The Mother Church of Six Congregations:
Young Street Community Baptist, Est. 2001
Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Est. 1916
Butler Street Baptist, Est. 1903
Tabernacle Baptist Church, Est. 1899
Beulah Baptist Church, Est. 1891
Mount Olive Baptist Church, Est. 1885

About Us
Church Demographics:
Member Count: 130+ members
Seniors(55+): 65%
Adults(41-54): 12%
Young Adults(18-40): 10%
Youth (17 & Under): 13%
Seating: 1000+
Parking Spaces: 60+

Building Makeup:
Chapel
Childrens’ Nursery
Multipurpose Classrooms
Several Multipurpose Rooms
Fellowship Hall with stage and attached kitchen
Library
Museum
Lounge
8 Restrooms
Church Office
Office & Study for Pastor
Robe Room
Finance, Treasury Rooms
Baptismal Pool
Sanctuary


Present Ministries/Auxiliaries/Committees/Teams:
Birthday Guild
B.S.M. Ushers
Capital Campaign
Deacons’ Ministry
Deaconess’ Ministry
E.R.S. Courtesy Guild
E.R.S. Choir
Finance Committee
Kitchen Committee
L.B. Williams Gospel Choir
M.L.S. Ushers
Male Chorus
Men’s Ministry
MZ2BC Youth Choir
Outreach Ministry
Pastor Search Committee
Prayze Dance Ministry
Progressive Ushers
Senior Ministry
Senior Mothers’ Ministry
Senior Ushers
Sunday School
Trustee Ministry
Transportation Ministry
HWJ Youth for Christ Ushers
Ward One
Ward Two
Ward Three
Ward Four
Ward Five
Ward Six
Ward Seven
Youth Ministry


Adages over the Years
“The Church of the Open Doors”
“I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me” Philippians 4:13
“The Difference is Worth the Distance”

Our Church Life
Discipleship
Sunday School - classes meet before the worship service
Special Drama programs are staged for Easter, Christmas, and other occasions
Vacation Bible School
Revival

Fellowship
Fellowship with other churches

Mission Projects
Benevolence
Collection of non perishable items/clothing
Feeding of the homeless
Angel Tree (Our House) - Christmas Time
Trinity House
Carver Bible College
Morehouse School of Religion
PNBC Global Mission

Church Outreach
Thanksgiving Basket giveaway
Mentorship with Hope-Hill Elementary
Prison Outreach Ministry
Visitation of sick and shut-in

Christian Education
Church-wide:
Sunday School
Bible Study
Workshops
Retreats
Conventions
Affiliations
Atlanta Missionary Baptist Association (AMBA) - Local
New Era Missionary Baptist Association - Statewide
Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC) - National
David T. Howard High School Alumni Association, Inc.
Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU)

Our Worship Life
We govern ourselves by the Holy Bible, the Baptist Doctrine, and our Church Constitution.
We adhere to the Baptist Ordinances: Communion and Baptism.
The Baptist Church Covenant is read during service on the first Sunday of the month.
Annually, we celebrate with special services, marking key events on our Church calendar: Exit-Entrance Day, Church Anniversary, Men’s Day, Women’s Day, Youth Day, Mission Day, and Pastor’s Anniversary.