OUR HERITAGE
Mount Zion Baptist Church had its beginning in the year 1875 when a group of people in the Bowman Community began worship services in a “Brush Harbor.” Pastor Elliott Alfred McDaniel and Pastor Corbitt, of the nearby Four-Hole Community, led the services. A few years later, property was given to the Church by the family of Jake and Jurge Elliott. The building of a wooden Church was started in 1878 and completed in 1879. The material for the construction of the Church building was taken from the local forest on the property of the members. Two local sawmills owned by the Elliott and Jenkins families sawed the lumber. The officers and members of the Church did all the carpentry work. During this time, the essential officers were Brantley Dickson, Jake Elliott, Glenn Jenkins, Sam Jenkins, Perry Jones, Alfred McDaniel, Abb Shuler, and Capers Williams.
PASTOR CHARLIE ADAMS
Charlie Adams from Orangeburg, South Carolina was elected the first salaried pastor of Mount Zion around 1919. The salary given to him by the officers and members were items such as groceries, clothing, but very little money. In 1921, Mount Zion purchased a horse and buggy for the pastor, and in 1924, the congregation purchased the pastor a Model “T” Ford automobile. Charlie Adams served loyally as the pastor for many years. A Pastor Wells became the pastor for a short period of time.
PASTOR JAMES GLOVER SR.
James Glover Sr. was elected as the pastor in approximately 1935. In approximately 1943, there was a division among the members of Mount Zion Baptist Church. From that division some members moved away and formed another church. Pastor Glover served faithfully for 18 years.
PASTOR REEDY WILSON
Reedy Wilson, of Holly Hill, South Carolina, was elected as the pastor in 1952. During his administration the flooring of the Church was replaced, new pews were purchased, and the Choral Choir was formed. The Church’s officers were Robert Davis, Robert Haigler, Richard Mack, Joseph McDaniel, Samuel McDaniel, Archie Rush, Charlie Shuler, Freely Williams, Bassie Williams, Daniel Rush, Lover Rush, and J.C. Elliott. Pastor Wilson served well as the pastor of Mount Zion for approximately 19 years.
Reverend Paul Zimmerman, a member of the Church, and a licensed and ordained minister served as one of the interim ministers in the early 1970’s while Mount Zion was again without a pastor.
PASTOR C. L. ULMER
In 1972, C.L. Ulmer, of Orangeburg, South Carolina, was elected as the pastor. During his administration many changes were made to improve the Church. The time of the 2nd Sunday service was changed from early afternoon, to 11:00 am. An educational building was added. The Church was remodeled in 1975. The Deaconess Christian Club and Angelic Choir were formed. Five deacons were added as officers. In 1972, McKinley Daniels and Tom Shuler were ordained. In 1980, Anderson Davis, George Wideman, and Leroy Zimmerman were ordained. Pastor Ulmer served faithfully for 9 years.
PASTOR WALTER BUTLER
In June 1981, Walter Butler, of Saluda County, was elected as the pastor. Under his pastorate, the Church made great progress. The church began having services every Sunday. To enhance the work and worship of the Church, the following items were obtained: a computer, copy machine, piano, organ, cushioned pews, and a public address system. The following programs and activities were also organized: Bible Study classes, Pre-Class for new members, the Mass Choir, Family and Friends Picnic, Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving, Toys for Tots on Christmas, Tutorial Program, Youth Development/Activities Program, Missionary Services Home and Abroad, Men’s Choir, Membership and Attendance Committee, Church Library, New Hymnal and Bibles.
Also, under Pastor Butler’s leadership and divine guidance four members from Mount Zion were ordained as ministers. They are Steve O. Bulloch, Kenneth Carson, Curtis Johnson, and Jacqueline Johnson. Officers serving during his administration were Robert Davis, John Felder, George Felder, Morris Jenkins, McKinley Daniels, Anderson Davis, Tom Shuler, George Wideman, Leroy Zimmerman, Roger Smith, George Zimmerman, and Andrew Fogle. Pastor Butler served faithfully and well for nearly 16 years.
In 1998, Mount Zion once again was without a pastor. Jacqueline Johnson, one of the Mount Zion’s associate ministers, and other ministers assisted the Church during this interim period.
PASTOR ARTHUR W. GOFORTH III
Later in the year of 1998, Arthur W. Goforth III was called as pastor. Deacons serving or having served under the current administration are Leroy Zimmerman, Roger Smith, Andrew Fogle, George Zimmerman, Andrew Johnson, Darrell Elliott, George Wideman*, Tom Shuler*, and Robert Cunningham*. (*Deceased)
Following the Lord’s leading, the following ministries have been formed: Prayer Partners, Greeters Ministry, Food Service Ministry, Transportation Ministry, Pastor’s Aid Ministry, Building and Property Committee, Victorious Living Radio Ministry, Men of Zion, Women of Zion, Young Adult Ministry, Little Saints in Praise, Scholarship Ministry, Pulpit Aide Ministry, Media Ministry, Civic & Social Concern Ministry, Bereavement Ministry, and the Little Daughters of Zion.
In January of 2000, Attorney Akim A. Anastopolis donated 12 acres of land to the church as a gift. In May 2001, 12+ acres of land was purchased from Bernard Spigner, the heir of the late Charlie Shuler. It is the shared vision of Pastor Goforth and the Mount Zion Church Family to use this land to extend God’s Kingdom by building a Community Family Life Center to minister to the many needs in the Bowman community.
Today, Mount Zion is located four (4) minutes and three (3) miles from Interstate 26. We are a church who continues to reach people for Christ through its weekly radio broadcast. To God be the glory!
Mount Zion Baptist Church had its beginning in the year 1875 when a group of people in the Bowman Community began worship services in a “Brush Harbor.” Pastor Elliott Alfred McDaniel and Pastor Corbitt, of the nearby Four-Hole Community, led the services. A few years later, property was given to the Church by the family of Jake and Jurge Elliott. The building of a wooden Church was started in 1878 and completed in 1879. The material for the construction of the Church building was taken from the local forest on the property of the members. Two local sawmills owned by the Elliott and Jenkins families sawed the lumber. The officers and members of the Church did all the carpentry work. During this time, the essential officers were Brantley Dickson, Jake Elliott, Glenn Jenkins, Sam Jenkins, Perry Jones, Alfred McDaniel, Abb Shuler, and Capers Williams.
PASTOR CHARLIE ADAMS
Charlie Adams from Orangeburg, South Carolina was elected the first salaried pastor of Mount Zion around 1919. The salary given to him by the officers and members were items such as groceries, clothing, but very little money. In 1921, Mount Zion purchased a horse and buggy for the pastor, and in 1924, the congregation purchased the pastor a Model “T” Ford automobile. Charlie Adams served loyally as the pastor for many years. A Pastor Wells became the pastor for a short period of time.
PASTOR JAMES GLOVER SR.
James Glover Sr. was elected as the pastor in approximately 1935. In approximately 1943, there was a division among the members of Mount Zion Baptist Church. From that division some members moved away and formed another church. Pastor Glover served faithfully for 18 years.
PASTOR REEDY WILSON
Reedy Wilson, of Holly Hill, South Carolina, was elected as the pastor in 1952. During his administration the flooring of the Church was replaced, new pews were purchased, and the Choral Choir was formed. The Church’s officers were Robert Davis, Robert Haigler, Richard Mack, Joseph McDaniel, Samuel McDaniel, Archie Rush, Charlie Shuler, Freely Williams, Bassie Williams, Daniel Rush, Lover Rush, and J.C. Elliott. Pastor Wilson served well as the pastor of Mount Zion for approximately 19 years.
Reverend Paul Zimmerman, a member of the Church, and a licensed and ordained minister served as one of the interim ministers in the early 1970’s while Mount Zion was again without a pastor.
PASTOR C. L. ULMER
In 1972, C.L. Ulmer, of Orangeburg, South Carolina, was elected as the pastor. During his administration many changes were made to improve the Church. The time of the 2nd Sunday service was changed from early afternoon, to 11:00 am. An educational building was added. The Church was remodeled in 1975. The Deaconess Christian Club and Angelic Choir were formed. Five deacons were added as officers. In 1972, McKinley Daniels and Tom Shuler were ordained. In 1980, Anderson Davis, George Wideman, and Leroy Zimmerman were ordained. Pastor Ulmer served faithfully for 9 years.
PASTOR WALTER BUTLER
In June 1981, Walter Butler, of Saluda County, was elected as the pastor. Under his pastorate, the Church made great progress. The church began having services every Sunday. To enhance the work and worship of the Church, the following items were obtained: a computer, copy machine, piano, organ, cushioned pews, and a public address system. The following programs and activities were also organized: Bible Study classes, Pre-Class for new members, the Mass Choir, Family and Friends Picnic, Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving, Toys for Tots on Christmas, Tutorial Program, Youth Development/Activities Program, Missionary Services Home and Abroad, Men’s Choir, Membership and Attendance Committee, Church Library, New Hymnal and Bibles.
Also, under Pastor Butler’s leadership and divine guidance four members from Mount Zion were ordained as ministers. They are Steve O. Bulloch, Kenneth Carson, Curtis Johnson, and Jacqueline Johnson. Officers serving during his administration were Robert Davis, John Felder, George Felder, Morris Jenkins, McKinley Daniels, Anderson Davis, Tom Shuler, George Wideman, Leroy Zimmerman, Roger Smith, George Zimmerman, and Andrew Fogle. Pastor Butler served faithfully and well for nearly 16 years.
In 1998, Mount Zion once again was without a pastor. Jacqueline Johnson, one of the Mount Zion’s associate ministers, and other ministers assisted the Church during this interim period.
PASTOR ARTHUR W. GOFORTH III
Later in the year of 1998, Arthur W. Goforth III was called as pastor. Deacons serving or having served under the current administration are Leroy Zimmerman, Roger Smith, Andrew Fogle, George Zimmerman, Andrew Johnson, Darrell Elliott, George Wideman*, Tom Shuler*, and Robert Cunningham*. (*Deceased)
Following the Lord’s leading, the following ministries have been formed: Prayer Partners, Greeters Ministry, Food Service Ministry, Transportation Ministry, Pastor’s Aid Ministry, Building and Property Committee, Victorious Living Radio Ministry, Men of Zion, Women of Zion, Young Adult Ministry, Little Saints in Praise, Scholarship Ministry, Pulpit Aide Ministry, Media Ministry, Civic & Social Concern Ministry, Bereavement Ministry, and the Little Daughters of Zion.
In January of 2000, Attorney Akim A. Anastopolis donated 12 acres of land to the church as a gift. In May 2001, 12+ acres of land was purchased from Bernard Spigner, the heir of the late Charlie Shuler. It is the shared vision of Pastor Goforth and the Mount Zion Church Family to use this land to extend God’s Kingdom by building a Community Family Life Center to minister to the many needs in the Bowman community.
Today, Mount Zion is located four (4) minutes and three (3) miles from Interstate 26. We are a church who continues to reach people for Christ through its weekly radio broadcast. To God be the glory!