Zion Missionary Baptist Church is at 888 Zion Circle in Roswell's Groveway community. Organized in 1871, the congregation is known for the motto "A Refuge from the Storms of Life" and the mission to win souls and build up the body of Christ. Zion is a diverse, multigenerational church where people worship, grow, serve and give together, sharing the transforming love of Jesus Christ and using generosity to impact the world.
From a One-Story Fellowship to Zion Circle
Zion began with a small group of dedicated Christians who prayed and labored together in love, understanding and fellowship. Their first church building was a one-story structure on land donated by some Caucasian citizens of Roswell, and it also served as a school. Fire destroyed the building in 1885. Members rebuilt it, worship continued and the congregation grew. After decades of use, that building was razed in 1963. The congregation marched into its replacement on February 16, 1964, then expanded and renovated the facility through later years.
Across its history, 15 men have been called to serve the congregation, beginning with Rev. William Jones as first pastor, and Zion has ordained or licensed numerous other people as ministers of the Gospel.
The church's longest-serving pastor, Dr. Frank Lewis, led for 31 years. His vision established "A Refuge from the Storms of Life" as the church motto and "To win souls and build up the Body of Christ" as its mission. Under his leadership, Zion developed progressive standards and rites of worship and fellowship. Mission ministries were developed in Malawi, Liberia, Nova Scotia, Jamaica, London, England and Germany, and mission trips were conducted to Korea and Haiti. Zion also developed AWANA Bible study for preschool through sixth grade, Boy Scout Troop 206, Refuge Lay Counseling Ministry and Children's Church.
On March 18, 2001, Zion marched into its 77,000-square-foot facility at 888 Zion Circle. Since the relocation, Zion has created youth and young adult centers, completed interior and exterior building enhancements and increased its online presence. Dr. Lewis served faithfully until his death on August 5, 2014. Rev. Dr. Jeffery Haggray led during an interim period in 2015, initiating the Forty Days of Discernment program, cluster groups and an elected transition team. Rev. Robert James, installed as the fourteenth senior pastor on April 30, 2017, hosted the Lott Carey Convention in Atlanta, improved the delivery of the online worship service and increased community outreach. Dr. James left in April 2022, and Rev. Dr. Willie Caldwell, Rev. Eddie Washington and Rev. Gary Walker cared for the congregation during the pastoral vacancy. In August 2023, Zion called Rev. Christopher M. Todd as its fifteenth senior pastor.
Zion's Faith in the Triune God
Zion believes in one God who is Spirit in His essence, eternal in His existence and Triune in His personage, revealed in Scripture as distinctly Father, Son and Holy Ghost. God is Sovereign and Absolute in authority and worthy of all reverence and obedience. Zion believes God's providential hand shapes human history in loving-kindness and mercy according to the purposes of divine grace.
Jesus Christ is affirmed as the eternal Son of God and the eternal Logos. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, fully God and fully man. He lived in perfect obedience, fulfilled the law and lived without sin. He suffered, died, was buried and rose from the dead for total salvation, then ascended and is exalted at God's right hand as the one mediator between God and humanity. Zion states that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him.
The Holy Spirit is God indwelling, empowering and regenerating the believer. Zion identifies the Spirit as Comforter and Truth, the inspirer and author of Scripture and the agent who convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment. Through illumination, the Spirit enables people to understand the truth. The church also believes the Spirit brings reconciliation and regeneration, cultivates Christian character, bestows spiritual gifts for service, seals believers for redemption and brings them toward the fullness of the stature of Christ.
Sunday Enrichment and Corporate Worship
Sunday begins with Enrichment Hour at 9:30 a.m., followed by worship at 10:30 a.m. The worship gathering includes corporate worship and praise led by one of Zion's choirs or its praise team. Prayer is part of the service, and preaching is delivered mostly by Senior Pastor Christopher M. Todd. An online worship service is also available through Vimeo.
There is no prescribed dress code. Sunday services range from casual clothing to suits and ties, and Pastor Todd may wear a suit one Sunday and jeans another. Visitors can come in comfortable clothing because Zion is not focused on appearance or what they wear.
Children's greeters stand in the main lobby and hallways to help families find their check-in stations. Zion offers monthly events for the whole family, with the goal of a relaxed and enjoyable experience, and maintains an events calendar for those gatherings.
Children, Youth, and Lifeline Small Groups
Zion's children's ministry includes childcare for infants through preschool-age children and Children's Church for elementary, middle and high school students. Children's Church meets most Sundays for worship and age-appropriate study, with teaching and activities designed to be caring and compassionate. The church also has youth and young adult centers and AWANA Bible study for preschool through sixth grade. Rev. Anthony Williams serves as Minister of Youth and Children, and Rev. Dr. Willie Caldwell serves as Minister of Christian Education.
Adult discipleship takes shape through Lifeline Small Groups under the heading "Engage in Christian Life Together." The groups include:
- Bonita Smith Group
- Men's
- Connected In Christ
- Grace Abound
- Marietta Lifeline
- Milton-Alpharetta Lifeline
- Salt & Light
- Woodstock Lifeline
- WEBS
The Men's group is multigenerational but designed especially for men. Grace Abound and WEBS meet every other week and welcome women from multiple generations, while Marietta Lifeline is designed especially for people age 55 and older.
A separate Men's Bible Study Group meets virtually on Mondays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Led by Rev. Lassiter, the group reads and discusses the Bible and its books, with attention to the Armor of God in Ephesians 6. It is structured to equip men as "men of God" through shared study.
Mission, Care, and Community Outreach
Zion's community and care ministries include a food pantry, Refuge Lay Counseling Ministry and Boy Scout Troop 206. During Dr. Frank Lewis's tenure, he and Mamie were active supporters of Kairos Prison Ministry and the Cursillo Ministry movement involving church members.
Stephen Ministry forms part of Zion's growth ministries, and Zion operates a facilities request process for its 77,000-square-foot campus. The state-accredited daycare began in 2002. Giving can be made through Realm, by texting ZIONMBC and an amount to 73256, or through the Realm Connect app. These ways of giving reflect Zion's vision of worship, growth, service and generosity together.
Pastor Christopher Todd's Calling and Preparation
Rev. Christopher M. Todd grew up in a Christian home in Oklahoma, accepted Christ at age eight and was baptized at Paradise Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. His family later moved to Columbia, Missouri, where he joined Progressive Missionary Baptist Church and took part in youth ministry while developing musical gifts through several instruments. He entered preaching ministry in 1999 as a teenager under Rev. Roderick L. Williams Sr. and was ordained in 2007 by the Mt. Carmel District Association of Missouri.
Before Zion, Todd served as an associate minister, a youth and young adult pastor and in music ministries in Missouri and Texas. He then spent 13 years as pastor of New Home Missionary Baptist Church in Hissop, Alabama. His work there included a new sanctuary and fellowship hall that doubled the worship space, expansion of office space in an older building and elimination of the mortgage over 10 years.
Todd holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Missouri State University, a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling with an emphasis on Marriage and Family from Liberty University. He has pursued a Doctor of Ministry in 21st Century Ministry at Anderson University in South Carolina. His additional community leadership includes serving as board president of The Shiloh Project, Inc., a nonprofit founded in 2019 to develop affordable senior housing in Coosa County, Alabama. He previously served at district, wing and state denominational levels in Alabama and with community organizations and agencies.
Shahita "Lady Shay" Todd advocates for women, mentors women across generations and facilitates women's and young adult discipleship groups. Her emphasis is on prayer partnership, mentorship and helping women pursue a deep, growing relationship with God.
Refuge in Roswell, Rooted in Service
Zion's story stretches from an 1871 fellowship and a one-story building that also served as a school to a large Roswell campus built for worship, learning and service. Its Sunday rhythm, children's care, Lifeline groups, missions, counseling, food pantry, daycare and giving all reflect the mission to win souls and build up the body of Christ. At 888 Zion Circle, Zion remains centered on sharing the love of Jesus Christ and being "A Refuge from the Storms of Life."