On a single block of 1400 Eighth Street in Berkeley, California, a Missionary Baptist congregation has gathered for worship, Bible study, and community work since 1961. Berkeley Mt. Zion Baptist Church, organized in 1946 and still active in its eighth decade, is led today by its fifth senior pastor, Rev. Brian D. Hunter, whose vision for the church is captured in a single line: Empowering the People of God to Live Out Their Faith Beyond Sunday Morning.
Eight Decades on Eighth Street
Berkeley Mt. Zion traces its beginning to 1945, when Rev. Neal Lee Peterson felt called to start a Baptist church in the Codornices Village area straddling Berkeley and Albany. On March 31, 1946, the church was organized in the home of Sister Maxine Lyons with Rev. Peterson as pastor and a small group of charter members, including Deacon Fred Williams. Services in those first months were held in members' homes.
In 1949 the young congregation purchased property at 834 Camelia Street as its first permanent home and filed incorporation papers in Sacramento on October 7 of that year. By 1954 the members had acquired the current site on Eighth Street, and construction began that year. In January 1961 the congregation moved into the new church building, which has been the center of Berkeley Mt. Zion's ministry ever since.
A cornerstone dedication was held in 1976. Major renovations between 1980 and 1983 lifted the building's value to roughly $750,000, and a second wave of work in 2014 renewed the exterior and sanctuary. In 1992 the Mount Zion 2000 Project refocused the church on evangelism, sanctuary improvements, and renewed Christian education.
Through the decades five pastors have shepherded the flock. Rev. Neal L. Peterson organized the first ministers and deacons from 1946 to 1959. Rev. Luther Williams followed in 1960 and 1961 and added 84 members. Rev. L.B. Hands pastored from 1961 to 1966 and added another 150. Then came the long tenure of Rev. Dr. M.T. Thompson, who served nearly forty years, expanded the ministries, licensed more than one hundred preachers, and ordained sixty deacons. Under his leadership Berkeley Mt. Zion earned the nickname the church where the Holy Ghost rules. In 2005 Dr. Thompson retired and the congregation marked his Legacy of Love year.
In 2006 the church called Rev. Brian D. Hunter as its fifth senior pastor, and he began serving in 2007. The church continues to look to Jeremiah 29:11 as its guiding verse.
Pastor Brian D. Hunter and the Vision Beyond Sunday Morning
Brian D. Hunter is a third-generation preacher. Born and raised in Long Beach, California, he began preaching in 1989 and was licensed at True Worshippers of God Baptist Church in Gardena under Pastor Willie L. Radcliff. He earned a Bachelor of Theology from Sacramento Bible College and Seminary, a Master of Practical Theology from Winebrenner Seminary, and is a doctoral candidate at Talbot Theological Seminary. He has taught at Sacramento Bible College and Seminary, Vision University International, and Oakland Bible College, and currently teaches at the Leadership Institute at Allen Temple. He is also a certified church planter and pastors coach with Converge PacWest.
In 1999, at twenty-nine, Hunter was called to pastor the historic Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in West Oakland, where he served for seven years. He then moved to Berkeley Mt. Zion, where he had previously served for five years as youth minister under Dr. M.T. Thompson and where he was ordained in 1995. He is married to Sister Lori Broom-Hunter, and the couple has four children: Imanni, Joseph, Imarra, and Imannul. He is the author of Illustrations That Connect and the Transformation Planner.
Soon after his arrival Hunter and the congregation adopted the vision Empowering the People of God to Live Out Their Faith Beyond Sunday Morning, and in 2008 ministry was reorganized around what the church calls the Five W's: Worship, Word, Witness, Work, and With One Accord.
What Sundays Look Like at BMZ
The Sunday rhythm begins online at 8:30 a.m. with the Virtual Sunday Learning Institute, the church's Sunday school class streamed on Facebook Live. People gather at the Eighth Street campus for the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship Celebration, the central weekly service of the congregation.
Children have their own place at 10:00 a.m. Children's Church meets at the same hour as the main service for children five years old and up, offering age-appropriate Bible teaching, songs, crafts, and activities. Teenagers meet at the same hour for Teen Takeover, a gathering for ages twelve to eighteen that blends elements of traditional worship with activities geared to their world. Both Children's Church and Teen Takeover meet every week except fourth Sundays, when families worship together in the sanctuary.
Visitors planning a first visit can use the Plan Your Visit form on the church's site so that the congregation can prepare a welcome. Services are also livestreamed on the church's Facebook page and YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person.
Wednesday and the Daily Hour of Power
Midweek formation happens on two tracks. Wednesday In the Word meets at 7:00 p.m. on Facebook Live and YouTube, with the pastor offering teaching that the church describes as practical, thought provoking, relevant, and at times humorous.
For those who want a daily touchpoint, the Hour of Power Noon-Day Bible Study meets every weekday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. on Zoom, providing a midday pause for Scripture, prayer, and encouragement. The Zoom room (ID 869 6983 5286, passcode 032760) is open to anyone who wants to join.
Ministries for Every Age and Stage
Berkeley Mt. Zion organizes most of its life through ministries that cover the whole arc of a person's life.
Children and teens. The GenNext Ministry nurtures the faith of young children through age-appropriate Bible teaching, games, songs, crafts, and stories, led by Sister Lequisha Smith. The Pathfinders Young Adult Ministry gathers adults roughly eighteen to thirty-five for fellowship, service, and mentorship, led by Corey Smith.
Men and women. The King's Men's Ministry, led by Brother Donald Dones and Brother Ed Carrington Jr., brings men together for Bible study, prayer, mentorship, service projects, and retreats. The Daughters of Zion Women's Ministry, led by Sister Lequisha Smith and Lady Lori Broom-Hunter, supports women spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. The women's ministry includes G.A.L.S. (God's Army of Loving Sisters) for women eighteen to twenty-four on the fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Zoom, S.I.S. (Sisters in the Spirit) for ages twenty-five to thirty-five, S.O.P. (Sisters of Promise) for ages thirty-six to forty-nine on the second Monday at 7 p.m. on Zoom, J.A.S.S. (Joyfully Anointed Sisters in Service) for ages fifty to sixty-four on the fourth Monday at 7 p.m. on Zoom, and W.W. (Wisdom Warriors) for women sixty-five and older on the fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
Marriage and family. The BMZ Marriage Ministry, led by Sister Linda Mosely and Michael Mosely, hosts marriage enrichment workshops, mentoring, and group discussion on communication, conflict resolution, intimacy, and spiritual growth. The Marriage Ministry Game Night is a recurring fellowship opportunity for couples.
Seasoned Saints. The Seasoned Saints Ministry, led by Sister Phyllis Smith and Brother Anthony Stingley, addresses the spiritual, social, and emotional needs of older adults with Bible study, fellowship, and service opportunities.
Grief and Grace. Minister Lynette Calvin and Sister Rita McIntyre lead the Grief and Grace Ministry, which walks alongside people through loss and bereavement with support groups and prayer.
Prayer. The S.O.U.L. Prayer Ministry (Supplication for Others with Unconditional Love), led by Minister Lynette Calvin, gathers the church for prayer meetings, prayer chains, and special prayer events.
New members. The New Member Connection Ministry, led by Sister Johanna Landers, guides newcomers from first visit through new-member orientation and helps them connect to small groups and service.
Christian Education. Sister Phyllis Smith leads Christian Education, which organizes Bible studies, Sunday school, discipleship groups, and workshops for every age, including the ROOTED Bible Study Series, a foundational introduction to Scripture.
T.O.U.C.H. The T.O.U.C.H. Ministry (Team of United Christian Hands), also led by Sister Phyllis Smith, keeps members who are sick, shut-in, recovering from surgery, or homebound connected through visits, cards, and other acts of care.
Worship, Culinary, Ushers, and Safety
The Worship and Arts Ministry, led by Brother Ernest Dayce, cultivates an environment of worship that the church says should extend beyond the four walls of the building. It gathers the worship choir, the praise ensemble, musicians, the audio-visual team, the live stream videographer, the praise dancers, the mime ministry, and the drama ministry into one body.
The Culinary Ministry, led by Sister Linda Moseley, prepares meals for church gatherings, special celebrations, and outreach activities, reflecting the hospitality of Christ through cooking.
The Ushers, Greeters, and Nurses Ministry, led by Sister Pat Frazier and Sister Jennifer Mason, creates the warm first impression that visitors encounter at the door, supports worship services and special events, and assists with homegoing celebrations.
The BMZ Ambassadors Ministry, led by Brother Ed Carrington Jr., focuses on the safety and well-being of the congregation, staff, and visitors through monitoring, crowd control, parking, and emergency response.
The Audio/Visual Ministry, led by Brother Aaron Broom, manages sound, lighting, video, and live streaming, training volunteers to serve across all of the church's technical needs.
Helping Hands and Community Outreach
Outreach has been a hallmark of the church since 1991, when the Helping Hands of Zion Outreach Ministry was launched under Dr. Thompson. Today the Helping Hands Item of the Month program collects needed supplies for the community throughout the year. The Outreach Ministry, led by Sister Cierra Preer, organizes food drives, community service projects, homeless assistance, evangelism, and partnerships with local organizations.
Vacation Bible School is a recurring outreach of the children's ministry, and the church hosts a Black History Book Giveaway at Stege Elementary School each February, supporting literacy and community connection.
What BMZ Believes
Berkeley Mt. Zion teaches historic evangelical Christian doctrine in a Baptist frame. The congregation affirms one eternal God existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Old and New Testaments are received as the divinely inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God and the final authority for doctrine and life. Human beings were created in the image of God, but voluntary disobedience brought sin and death into the world; salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, who died for humanity. The church practices baptism by immersion as an outward expression of inward faith and observes the Lord's Supper with bread and wine in remembrance of Christ's redeeming work on the cross.
The church believes that the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in 1 Corinthians 12 to 14 continue today and that believers receive an indelible seal at salvation. The church is understood as the body of Christ, both in its local expression and as the universal community of believers. Discipleship is pursued through prayer, gathering, fellowship, teaching, and service, following the model of Jesus. The church also confesses the second coming of Jesus Christ and a final judgment whose day and hour are unknown.
Eight core values shape daily life at BMZ: Bible-centered preaching and teaching, valuing every person as made in God's image, servant leadership, Christian education, tithing and generous giving, praise and worship, evangelism, and committed Christian discipleship.
Plan a Visit, Connect, and Give
Berkeley Mt. Zion welcomes visitors warmly. The Plan Your Visit form on the church's site lets newcomers share who is coming so the congregation can prepare. Worship services are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube for those joining from home.
Those who want to belong can fill out a New Member Connection form to learn more about the church's mission and to begin the journey toward baptism and membership. The church also celebrates baby dedications for parents who want to present their children before the congregation.
Giving supports the church's ministries and community work. Gifts can be made online through the church's giving platform, by Zelle to give@bmzmbc.org, by text message to 510-924-0042, or by mail to the church's Eighth Street address. Checks should be made payable to Berkeley Mt. Zion M.B.C.
For office inquiries the church can be reached at (510) 524-1204 or berkeleymtzion@sbcglobal.net, and Pastor Hunter can be invited to speak at outside events through a form on the church's site. Eighty years after a small group of believers met in a member's home, Berkeley Mt. Zion continues to gather on Eighth Street for worship, study, service, and community.