Mt. Zion Baptist ChurchCHURCH HISTORY
The birthright of Mt. Zion Baptist Church dates back as far as 1897 when Pastor George Watham and his congregation decided to shelter their faith. The land purchased from Jacob Bukey, and the congregation was faced with many trials and tribulations, yet the Lord has been faithful and has never failed us.
1944, Mt. Zion called Pastor James E. Carroll as their pastor and for thirty-three years he kept the congregation together putting love and understanding before everything. “Pray first, then act” is his line of saying. Pastor Carroll’s pastorship saw him standing by his members in sickness and distress. Words cannot express how the congregation felt about their former pastor, who passed from this life in September 1999. The Mt. Zion Church family will always have a very special place in their hearts for Pastor Carroll.
1977, Mt. Zion called Dr. Charles Baker. In his 4-1/2 years as pastor, Dr. Baker’s vigor instituted several programs for the young and old, along with simulating the Church’s financial status.
1983, Mt. Zion called Pastor Michael N. Smith, who came to us with enthusiasm and dedication to the Lord. Pastor Smith inspired Sunday school and Bible Study. Pastor Smith began mid-week service and assisted in organizing the Usher Board. Pastor Smith worked very closely with the youth choir teaching them and instructing them. Under his leadership Mt. Zion grew spiritually and added many new members.
On July 1, 2005, Pastor Billy G. Jenkins, Jr., began serving as Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Pastor Jenkins and his wonderful family have made a beautiful connection with the Mt. Zion Family. Pastor Jenkins strongly believes that the Word of God is the lamp to our feet and light for our path.
Pastor Jenkins has placed special emphasis on equipping the church through expository teaching and preaching in Sunday Morning Worship, Bible Fellowship, and Mid-Week Bible Study “Equipping U.”
Under Pastor Jenkins’ leadership the Lord has blessed Mt. Zion to liquidate its church mortgage, obtain properties, beautify, and enhance the worship facility, and develop the church’s first set of By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation. In addition, at the encouragement of Pastor Jenkins, Mt. Zion petitioned and was voted in as the First African American Church in the Nelson Baptist Association.
2020 brought with it a global pandemic and presented challenges to reach our families, members, community, and guests with the Word of God. God provided an opportunity, and we broadened our reach and began streaming and posting our worship services and Bible studies on Facebook, SoundCloud, YouTube, and X. While this is never meant to take the place of assembling with the saints, we enjoy our social media presence, as we have connected with many brothers and sisters in Christ and embraced those seeking the truth of the Gospel. And the Lord continued to save, as He moved upon the hearts of many, and we baptized and added new Christians to the family of God, and to the Mt. Zion congregation.
2021, Mt. Zion began the year with additional Christian converts and baptisms. No pandemic would stop our great God’s plan to save those seeking salvation. In June, after thirteen years of serving Mt. Zion and the surrounding community, we had the privilege of installing Pastor Keith Meriwether Jr. as pastor of Bible Community Fellowship Baptist Church in Louisville Kentucky. We are proud of the work Pastor and Sis. Meriwether are doing in their new community and are blessed by the expansion of our church family and ongoing fellowship.
2022, Mt. Zion unwaveringly kept its hand in the Lord’s as we continued to assemble together on the Lord’s Day to hear His Word and to give Him praise. We also continued to meet for Equipping U (Bible Study) to study the Word together. Because of our social media presence, we persist in sharing the Gospel with many who seek a relationship with The Lord.
2023, Mt. Zion’s commitment to growing in the Word and living out the Truth of the Gospel grows in the lives of the members. Through the taught and preached Word, Pastor Jenkins empowers us to study for ourselves and be the church. We are encouraged to go deeper in the Word by reading through the Bible in a year. Getting more of the Word in us, we can live out the Word on a daily basis and advance the Gospel in our areas of influence. Social media has been a great source of edification for many we know, but so many more that the Gospel has been able to reach all over the world. All praise to God for His far-reaching Word.
Our goal to R.E.A.C.H. others for Christ by being Relational, Encouraging, Accountable, Cross-Centered, and Hospitable remains. Evangelizing the unsaved for Christ, Equipping believers for Christian living and discipleship, Engaging in Christian fellowship and service, and Exalting the Savior through prayer, praise, and the proclamation of the Gospel is our continual mission. By practicing the truth of the Gospel our purpose from Scripture to let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16) is ever before us. By doing so we trust and believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will forever extend throughout the community of Shepherdsville, but also reach our entire commonwealth, country, and world. With the Lord guiding us by His infallible Word, we give Him glory for what He has done and for what is yet to come.
2025, We celebrated Pastor Jenkins’ 20th Year Anniversary. With a humble, faithful, servant’s heart, Pastor Jenkins continues to lead us through God’s Word. By teaching and preaching expositionally through the Bible, the saints continue to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to confidently share the Gospel. Pastor Jenkins encourages and equips us to operate in our God given spiritual gifts, edifying the body of believers, and glorifying The Lord. And we have benefited greatly. The Lord is preparing us to do a mighty and glorious work for Him as we move forward to develop new and innovative ways to enhance ministry. God is faithful and greatly to be praised!
