[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17439]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      ON THE 110TH ANNIVERSARY OF SIXTH MOUNT ZION BAPTIST TEMPLE

                                  _____
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a 
historic institution of faith in the Third Congressional District. This 
November, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple will celebrate its 110th 
anniversary, and I would like to highlight some moments from the 
history of the church and its contributions to our community.
  The seeds of Sixth Mount Zion were originally planted in 1900, when 
transplanted citizens from Charles City County and Richmond, working in 
the Newport News Shipyard, sought to establish a Missionary Baptist 
Church in the area. The first services, officiated by Rev. N.E. Nelson, 
were held in a private home on 22nd Street in Newport News. Rev. Chase 
Patterson assumed control of the church for a brief period, and started 
to organize Sixth Mount Zion as a Missionary Baptist Church.
  Third Pastor Rev. W.M. Greene continued to organize the church, 
founding a Recognition Council to establish the congregation as an 
independent body, and in November 1901, that recognition was granted. 
After this initial establishment, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church went 
through 19 pastors until the church installed Rev. W.J. Brown as pastor 
in 1912. During this era the church worshipped in a borrowed building 
on 24th Street.
  Rev. Brown served Sixth Mount Zion faithfully for 45 years until his 
death in 1957. He was succeeded by Rev. James Melvin Owens, who was 
installed as pastor in 1959. That same year, a fire destroyed the 
church building, but through the faithfulness of the congregation, a 
new building was built in the footprint of the old one at 643 24th 
Street.
  Rev. Owens passed away in 1964 after 6 years of service to Sixth 
Mount Zion. The search for the next pastor took over a year, but on 
June 19, 1966, Rev. M. Ivory Jefferson was installed as the official 
pastor. One of his first actions, the establishment of a building fund, 
proved to be essential, when the redevelopment plans of the city of 
Newport News forced the church to relocate. Sixth Mount Zion met in 
several different locations from 1973 to 1976. In June of that year, 
the church purchased a site at 2003 Kecoughtan Road in Hampton, and the 
church was renamed Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple. The building was 
finally completed in 1978.
  The move to Hampton was not the only change under Rev. Jefferson. 
During his tenure, the church also began a radio ministry, arranged 
annual interstate worship trips, and trained and ordained two Associate 
Ministers. Rev. Jefferson retired in 1996, and Sixth Mount Zion elected 
Assistant Pastor Rev. Jerome A. Barber to serve as head pastor in 1997.
  The church has grown significantly from 300 to over 4,000 members 
since Rev. Barber's installation. The church has also been involved in 
outreach ministries in both Virginia and abroad. Sixth Mount Zion has 
mobilized action in Kenya, Uganda, and most recently Brazil, providing 
medical clinics, teacher workshops, and conferences for women and 
youth.
  With its rapid, recent growth, the church outgrew its Kecoughtan Road 
location. In January 2001 the church moved to its present location at 
3100 Butternut Drive in Hampton. In 2002, Rev. Barber established the 
Six House at the Temple's old Kecoughtan Road location, where the 
church holds education programs for children, young adults, and 
lifelong learners.
  As Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple gathers to celebrate its 110th 
anniversary, the church can truly remember its past, celebrate its 
present, and focus on the future with great expectations. I would like 
to congratulate Rev. Barber and all of the members of Sixth Mount Zion 
Baptist Temple on the occasion of their 110th anniversary. I wish them 
many more years of dedicated service to the community.

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