Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, a St. Petersburg Anchor on 20th Street South Since 1928
On the 900 block of 20th Street South in St. Petersburg, Florida, Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church has held a steady presence since a small group of community leaders walked out of a prayer meeting and resolved to start a new congregation in 1928. Nearly a century later, the church is the largest African-American congregation in the city, with a sanctuary, a Family Life Center, a Human Services building, and a Christian Academy all within a short walk of one another. Its members are known as Mt. Zionites, and the church's vision is to bring about effective change within a two-mile radius of its doors and beyond.
A Church Built by Mt. Zionites Since 1928
The story begins when a group of community leaders devoted sincere thought and much prayer to forming a new church in 1928. They elected the Rev. Robert Lewis as the first pastor and named the new body Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. Most of the founding members came from the First Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church on 22nd Street South. The congregation first worshipped in a small frame building in the 900 block of 20th Street South.
Successive pastors shaped the property and the people. Rev. C. Dean and Rev. J.E. Harris led worship in the original frame building. Under Rev. C.H. Mobley the sanctuary was enlarged, a parsonage was built, two adjoining lots were purchased, and in 1946 a new sanctuary was constructed at 948 20th Street South, which also housed the Mt. Zion Children's Center. After serving the church as Assistant Pastor, Deacon, Trustee, Superintendent of Sunday School, Choir President, and church clerk, Rev. Louis S. McCree, Sr., became the longest serving pastor in Mt. Zion's history. His tenure brought the sanctuary to its full size, construction of a new annex, modern kitchen equipment, a kindergarten, a transportation van, three additional lots for parking, and the purchase of a Hammond organ for the sanctuary.
Rev. Wilkins Garrett, Jr., followed and broadened the church's reach, overseeing construction of the current sanctuary in 1990, the Human Services building in 1995, and the Family Life Center adjacent to the sanctuary in 1996. Outreach missions during his pastorate reached the Caribbean, Ethiopia, Haiti, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and he co-founded the IMA Credit Union with other local pastors.
Rev. Louis M. Murphy, Sr., the current Senior Pastor, was installed in May 1999. He brought with him a track record that included serving as Drum Major for the Florida A&M Marching 100, four years as a District Executive for the West Central Florida Council of Boy Scouts of America, and prior service as a non-commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps. Under his leadership the congregation has grown into the largest African-American congregation in St. Petersburg, the $2.1 million church mortgage was paid off seconds before the new year of 2006 rang in, and the Mt. Zion Christian Academy opened in August 2012. He also helped seed a $100,000 loan that produced Tangerine Plaza, the first private investment venture in Midtown St. Petersburg in thirty years, co-chaired the Power On! voter turnout campaign in 2004, helped assemble four thousand men in the Calling the Men Home initiative of 2006, and birthed the Seven x7 revival that united forty-nine congregations across south St. Petersburg.
Sunday Mornings at the Main Sanctuary
Sunday School meets at 9:00 a.m., and two Sunday worship services gather in the Main Sanctuary at 7:45 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. The 7:45 a.m. service runs about seventy-five minutes, and the 10:00 a.m. service runs roughly ninety to one hundred twenty minutes. Holy Communion is observed on the first Sunday of each month. Teen Church meets in the Youth Chapel at 10:30 a.m., and the Teen Center opens at 10:00 a.m. for students to gather before the service.
The services blend contemporary and traditional elements, supported by a Sanctuary Choir that has earned the 2014 Hoodie Award and a 2015 choir competition win, a Young Adult Choir, a Male Chorus that leads contemporary and classic gospel selections, and a Joyful Sounds Children's Choir for elementary-aged singers. The Mime ministry, Warriors of Praise, opens the floor to all ages, and three dance ministries - the Adult Dance Ministry, Petals of Praise for ages five and up, and Pure Expressions for teens - interpret worship through movement.
Worship is livestreamed online, and a deep archive of recorded messages is available on the church's YouTube channel.
Children and Youth: From Masterpieces to One80 Teens
The Children and Youth Ministry operates under the motto of training children and youth who are Spiritually Connected, Socially Conscious, and Smart and Cultured. Three programs cover the full range from infancy through twelfth grade.
Masterpieces serves infants through Pre-K and introduces little ones to basic Bible scriptures, Bible characters, a relationship with Jesus Christ, and the importance of social responsibility. King's Young Divine Servants (KYDS) welcomes kindergarten through fifth grade, walking students through a basic overview of the Bible, helping them rehearse and recite the books of the Bible, and reinforcing the same spiritual and educational goals. One80 Teens continues the work with sixth through twelfth graders. The middle school years focus on the structure of the Bible and the doctrines of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and man, while the high school years add a survey of every book of the Bible and the Gone in 60 Seconds method of sharing the gospel.
Children and Youth Ministries also offers Wednesday night Bible Study and Small Groups for KYDS and Teens at 6:30 p.m., and a media and speaking track called Youth Anchors For Christ trains middle and high school students ages ten through seventeen in audio, video, and on-camera broadcasting.
Equipping Believers: Bible Study and Spiritual Growth
Wednesday Bible Study meets at 12:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The midweek study walks through books of the Bible in order and is supplemented by a six-month Boot Camp to Commission journal, a chronological Bible reading plan, and the Our Daily Bread devotion. Children and Youth Ministries offers its own Wednesday night Bible Study and Small Groups at 6:30 p.m.
Spiritual Growth and Outreach gathers several ministries under one banner. Adult and Family Ministries includes the Couple's Ministry, which prepares and enriches Christ-centered marriages; the 55+ Helping Hands Ministry for Seasoned Saints; a Men's Ministry; a Singles Ministry; and a Women's Ministry. M.A.N.T.L.E. Ministries bring together the Hospitality Ministry that greets visitors and members, the Parking Ministry that directs cars across the church's lots, the Transportation Ministry that runs the bus fleet, and the Ushers Ministry.
Outreach Ministries include Evangelism, which conducts door-to-door visits, street ministry, and social media outreach within a two-mile radius of the church; Intercessory Prayer, which gathers on Zoom at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays; the Nursing Home Ministry that visits facilities throughout Pinellas County; and the Prison Ministry that shares the Gospel with incarcerated men, women, and children and those recently released from the penal system.
Generation Restored focuses on young adults, with Bible study, community outreach, and social activities for young professionals, college students, military members, singles, and couples.
Reaching Beyond the Walls: Outreach and Community
Mt. Zion's campus extends well beyond the sanctuary. Mt. Zion Progressive Christian Academy opened in August 2012 and offers scholarships through its Step Up program. Mount Zion Human Services is housed in its own building on the campus. Mt. Zion Progressive C.A.R.E. - Choosing Addiction Recovery Effort - addresses substance abuse recovery. A separate Ministry House and Band House support the church's ministry and musical operations. The Family Life Center sits adjacent to the sanctuary and hosts church and community life.
The Family Touch Team Ministry divides the congregation into zones, with Zone Captains who make weekly contact with members and their families. A Crown Financial course runs for ten weeks and covers the Bible's teaching on money along with practical personal finance. A Spiritual Enrichment ministry, led by Rev. Carlea Jordan, walks members deeper into the Word.
Music, Mime, and Movement
Worship at Mt. Zion is supported by a large performing arts family under the banner of MPAC Ministries - Music Performing Arts and Choirs. Min. Kevin Parrott serves as Minister of Music and directs the Sanctuary Choir, the Young Adult Choir, and the Male Chorus. Sis. Stephanie Godbee directs the Joyful Sounds Children's Choir and serves with Sis. Teresca Ferguson and Sis. Staci Pollock as a contact for Warriors of Praise Mime Ministry. The Adult Dance Ministry is led by Sis. Shanequea Johnson, and Sis. Michelle Mann directs both Petals of Praise for ages five and older and Pure Expressions for teens.
Behind the scenes, the Media Ministry supports amplified sound, video recording, livestreaming, and web communications; Bro. Brian Young leads this work. Members can also read the newsletter, review the annual report, download fillable event reservation forms, food services requests, media services requests, ministry helps requests, purchase requests, room set up requests, and vehicle use requests, and submit prayer requests electronically.
What to Expect When You Visit
Worship is open to all. On a typical Sunday, attire ranges from suits and dresses to slacks and jeans; the church's dress code is described as casual but modest. Children are welcome in service or in any of the age-appropriate Children and Youth Ministries. Holy Communion is shared on the first Sunday of each month.
Parking is ample across five onsite lots, with six accessible spaces and six visitor spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis in Lot A. Parking lot shuttles bring visitors to the front door of the church. Limited bus pickup is available for the surrounding area, with calls to the church office needed by Friday at noon to reserve a ride for Sunday morning worship.
Visitors who decide to join are invited to come forward at the close of service, visit the New Members room at the back of the sanctuary on the west side after Sunday service or Wednesday Bible Study, or complete the New Member Profile online. Members can choose Christian Experience, Watchcare, or Candidate for Baptism as their path to joining.
Beliefs and Core Values
Mt. Zion teaches that the Bible is God's inerrant Word, written by men and inspired by the Holy Spirit. The church confesses one God in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and teaches that Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for humanity, was resurrected, ascended to heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. The Holy Spirit is affirmed as the one who leads, guides, teaches, and empowers holy life. Salvation is taught to be wholly of God by grace, through the redemption of Jesus Christ and not on the basis of human works. The church also teaches regular attendance at worship and a heartfelt commitment to tithing.
The five core values are Love, Give, Serve, Grow, and Witness, each anchored in a scripture - 1 John 3:16, Luke 6:38, 1 Peter 4:10, Ephesians 4:15, and Acts 1:8. The mission is to impact the world by equipping believers to reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the vision is to bring about effective change within a two-mile radius of the church and beyond.
Connecting and Giving
Giving can be made online through the church's Realm giving page, by texting MZPROGRESSIVE to 73256, through Tithe.ly, Givelify, or Cash App at $MtZionProgressive, by mail to 955 20th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712, by bank bill pay, or in person during worship services or by drop-off at the drop box on the east side of the campus. A mobile app is available in the Google and Apple Play stores under the name Mount Zion Progressive.
Members and visitors can stay connected through the weekly e-bulletin, the church newsletter, the annual report, the events calendar, the YouTube archive of messages, and the church's Facebook and Twitter feeds. The church offices are open during the week at 955 20th Street South, with the main line at (727) 894-4311 and a secondary line at (727) 822-1591, and email reaching the office at info@mzprogressive.org.