Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Institutional Church

Celebrating 120 years of ministry in Orlando, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Institutional Church traditions are highlighted in this article:

"The Rock of Parramore" by John T. McCann, Black Family Today, October/ November 2000, pages 26-28.

Excerpt: To appreciate Mount Zion's longevity is to understand that it was a Central Florida fixture roughly eight decades before Walt Disney scoped out the area in the 1960s. It existed before Eatonville became the country's first incorporated black township in 1887.

Orlando itself dates back to 1830. But the city wasn't incorporated till 1875, just five years before Mount Zion began as a place of worship.

The church has staying power.

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Institutional Church Presentation to the Historic Preservation Board, City of Orlando, on June 6, 2007 and updated for the 130th Church Anniversary by Lillian Lancaster, Church Clerk.

Excerpt: In the last quarter of the 19th century in an area of Orlando that included Robinson Street and the East side of Division Street, a few believing Christians met together weekly to pray, to teach from God's word and to praise God for how He had brought them such a mighty long way. Many years later their story would be passed down to their children, and it would sound something like this.

These are the voices from the past:

The time was 1880, nearly 127 years ago. It was just five years after Orlando was incorporated as a town with 85 inhabitants. Later Mt. Zion would come to be known as the oldest African American Baptist church with continuous service of worship and teaching and serving in the Central Florida area.

The year 1880 there were just 8 families of us and we would gather together every Sunday....

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Institutional Church Commemorates L. Claudia Allen Day, Sunday, July 28, 2015. View commemorative booklet.

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Institutional Church Commemorates L. Claudia Allen Day, Sunday, July 28, 2015. View commemorative booklet.

L. Claudia Allen started Boy Scout Troop 87 and Girl Scout Troop 87, the first scout troops for black children in Orange County.

She also organized the Orlando Council for Retarded Children in 1957 to care for retarded Negro children in the community.

Excerpt:

Upon beginning her teaching career in Orange County, L. Claudia Allen was soon to unite in membership with Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church where she further distinguished herself as an outstanding teacher of Sunday School and a leader in fellowship. She became its first and only director of Religious Education for a period greater than thirty years....

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Institutional Church 133rd Church Anniversary Celebration, Sunday April 28, 2013.

VIEW commemorative booklet of church history and letters from Governor Rick Scott, Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Sheriff Jerry Demings, Mayor Buddy Dyer, Chief of Police Paul Rooney, and Commissioner Daisy Lynum. VIEW part II.

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Institutional Church Commemorates L. Claudia Allen Day, Sunday, July 28, 2013.

L. Claudia Allen started Boy Scout Troop 87 and Girl Scout Troop 87, the first scout troops for black children in Orange County.

She also organized the Orlando Council for Retarded Children in 1957 to care for retarded Negro children in the community.

Excerpt:

Upon beginning her teaching career in Orange County, L. Claudia Allen was soon to unite in membership with Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church where she further distinguished herself as an outstanding teacher of Sunday School and a leader in fellowship. She became its first and only director of Religious Education for a period greater than thirty years....

LISTEN as Adelma Wallace recalls L. Claudia Allen as a great leader at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Institutional Church and as someone very gentle who was always willing to help others. (Oral history interview excerpt 14 min. 56 seconds.)

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Institutional Church 133rd Church Anniversary Celebration, Sunday April 28, 2013.

VIEW commemorative booklet of church history and letters from Governor Rick Scott, Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Sheriff Jerry Demings, Mayor Buddy Dyer, Chief of Police Paul Rooney, and Commissioner Daisy Lynum. VIEW part II.

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Institutional Church: 104 Years, 1880-1984, Reflecting-Rejoicing-Reaching Out for the Lord.

Commemorative church anniversary booklet with church history and pastors. VIEW.

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Institutional Church: One Hundred and One Years, "A Journey with Jesus christ- Step by Step through Faith and Prayer", 1880-1981.

Commemorative church anniversary booklet with church history and pastors. VIEW.