Mount Zion Baptist Church sits on the north side of Indianapolis at 3500 Graceland Avenue, a short drive from the Indiana State Fairgrounds and the Crown Hill Cemetery where its longest-serving pastor is buried. Founded in 1869 by a small circle of former slaves and sharecroppers from Lick Creek and White Lick Colored Baptist Churches, the congregation has worshipped in three buildings over more than 150 years and now counts roughly 500 members. Its current members still speak of their forebears lifting an old tool shed up a hill to begin their first sanctuary, and the church continues to describe its work as "Ministry that Makes a Difference."
From a Tool Shed to Graceland Avenue
In 1869, seven or eight Christians from congregations south of Indianapolis met to form a new fellowship, taking the name Mount Zion Baptist Church. Their first home was a donated tool shed on Fletcher's Farm, carried by hand to higher ground by the men of the new congregation. The church moved in 1872 to a frame house at Belt Railroad and Second Street, known affectionately as "Little Zip," then built its first purpose-built edifice nearby. Under the leadership of pastors who followed one another in quick succession, the membership grew from about 90 to 350 in the 1880s.
A turning point came in 1906 with the call of Rev. G. William Ward, who led Mount Zion to build its second building at 12th and Fayette Streets near the canal and to grow to more than a thousand members. In 1960, under the long pastorate of Dr. R. T. Andrews, Sr., the congregation marched into its present cathedral-style edifice at 3500 North Graceland Avenue, where it continues to worship today.
The Andrews pastorate lasted 45 years, the longest in the church's history. Dr. Andrews led the congregation to build a daycare center, a 108-bed geriatric center, three senior apartment complexes and its own federal credit union. The boulevard leading up to the church bears his name, and his resting place at Crown Hill Cemetery overlooks the steeple.
A Sunday at Mount Zion
Sunday at Mount Zion begins with the Enrichment Hour at 8:45 a.m., followed by Sanctuary Prayer Time at 9:45 and Morning Worship from 10:00 to 11:30. The service draws on the long Black Baptist tradition, with a full choir, congregational singing, preaching and a children's moment included in the order of worship.
At 1:30 p.m. each Sunday the building opens again for Soul-to-Soul Dinner Church, an afternoon service that Pastor Philip K. James calls "a unique worship experience." The format breaks down the walls of a more traditional service: there is music, engaging fellowship and a full meal shared at the table. The name signals what is meant to happen; people come as they are, eat together, and hear the gospel in a setting meant to nourish body and soul.
On Saturday mornings, the church gathers for an Hour of Power, an hour of praying power held from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Zoom and Facebook. A prayer focus handout is shared in advance so that those joining from home can pray along with the church.
Music, Storytelling and the Spoken Word
The Music, Worship and Creative Arts Ministry sits at the heart of the Sunday experience under Minister of Music Geoffrey L. Kelsaw, a gospel musician and educator who also directs the University of Indianapolis Gospel Choir and teaches at IUPUI. The program includes the Voices of Mount Zion Choir, a Praise Team, a Dance Team, the Children's and Youth Choir, the Vessels of Praise Choir, the Mount Zion Ensemble, the Instruments of Praise and a Men's Chorus directed by Elder Levon Sanders.
Alongside the choirs, Mount Zion maintains a Biblical Storytelling Scripture-by-Heart Ministry led by Joyce E. Johnson, a Master Certified Biblical Storyteller with a Doctor of Ministry in the discipline. Storytellers of all ages proclaim epic biblical stories, including the Story of Ruth and the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, from memory as a form of proclamation during worship, special congregational events and outreach ministries. The team is connected to the Network of Biblical Storytellers, International.
Children, Discipleship and Christian Education
Children are woven into the life of the church, not separated from it. Children's Ministry includes a Children's Church on the fourth Sunday, a Children's Moment during worship each Sunday, Sunday Church School, ushering, choirs, a children's group, a fall festival, Vacation Bible School and mission projects. Minister LeWana Britt serves as Director of Christian Education and oversees the spiritual development of children, youth and adults, while also coordinating the food pantry and clothes giveaway.
Around Christian Education, the church has built an adult Discipleship Ministry, a Crisis Ministry for those in urgent need, a Mission Department, a Banner Ministry, a Diaconate Ministry and Harambee, a Swahili name meaning "pulling together," that reflects the congregation's commitment to shared work. A small-group culture runs through the week, with Bible study, prayer circles and seasonal studies meeting in homes and at the church.
The Pastor and His Team
The Reverend Doctor Philip Karl James has served as pastor since February 1998. Born and raised in Jamaica, New York, and the son of a gospel preacher, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Master of Divinity from Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio, and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, where he was a Samuel D. Proctor - Otis Moss Jr. Fellow. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity by Franklin College in 2012 and has been named an Affiliate Professor at Christian Theological Seminary.
Pastor James came to Mount Zion from Beautiful Plain Baptist Church in Binghamton, New York. He instituted the discipleship ministry, the praise team ministry and a health and wellness ministry, led the church to hire a full-time minister of music, brought in seminary students to serve as youth ministers, and expanded children's church. He is the most recent past president of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial State Convention of Indiana.
Minister Douglas Hairston serves as Assistant to the Pastor, focusing his ministry on "Building Bridges In and To Our Community." The leadership team also includes the Reverend Joseph H. Finnell, Ed.D., whose pastorate from 1989 until his death in 1997 is remembered for its emphasis on youth ministry and Christian Education.
Senior Housing, Daycare and the Credit Union
Mount Zion's reach extends well beyond its sanctuary. The church sponsors three senior apartment communities, each owned by a separate not-for-profit corporation and managed by Triangle Associates since 1985. Andrews Gardens, built in 1969, is a 3-story elevator building with apartments for eligible elderly, handicapped and disabled residents. Mt. Zion Apartments, completed in 1971, offers efficiencies and one-bedroom units in the near northwest area. Mt. Zion Suburban Apartments, completed in 1974, consists of two 3-story elevator buildings with 118 one-bedroom apartments. All three provide coin-operated laundry, community rooms, monthly bus trips to shopping malls and grocery stores, and periodic on-site health screenings.
Mt. Zion Daycare, sharing the church's north-side campus, cares for children during the work week and can be reached at (317) 923-3343. Mt. Zion Federal Credit Union, founded as another expression of the church's community mission, offers savings, loans, mortgages, credit cards and financial education to its member-owners. Its motto, "Not for Profit - Not for Charity - But for Service," reflects the cooperative principles that guide it.
Scholarships and the College Connection
Mount Zion takes seriously the call to send its young people into higher education. The R. T. Andrews Scholarship Commission, established in 1970 as a memorial to the longtime pastor, awards a $5,000 scholarship each year to a graduating high school senior who has been active in the youth program. Almost 90 scholarships and book awards have been given since its founding. The Ann M. Grissom Book Scholarship, named for an African-American educator and longtime member of Mount Zion, provides a $1,000 award each year to an Indianapolis minority public high school senior planning to study Education at an Indiana college or university. Members of the church currently attend or have attended Ivy Tech, Ball State, Indiana University, the University of Indianapolis, Indiana State and IUPUI.
Mission, Beliefs and Outreach
The mission statement at Mount Zion is short enough to memorize: to preach God's Word, teach God's Word, nurture God's people and reach the unchurched and unsaved for Christ. The congregation describes itself as "a nurturing community of believers; where persons and families feel love; participate in worship; develop their God-given gifts in ministry and committed discipleship, in order to meet the spiritual, physical and social needs of the congregation and community, to the glory of God."
The same conviction is lived out through the food pantry and soup kitchen, the clothes giveaway, prison ministry carried on through the biblical storytelling team, support for the Ten Point Coalition in Indianapolis, and the church's involvement in both the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis. Volunteer opportunities in the Dinner Church, Children's Ministry and Young Adult Ministries are listed for those who want to join the work, and online giving is available through the church's giving page.