About Us
Our History
Seated in the heart of the progressive community of Toney, Alabama, in the northwest corner of Madison County is the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church; a small but enduring organism with ideals and principles rooted deeply in the spiritual guidelines as set forth in St. Matthew 16:18-19.
“Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
The Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1982 in Limestone County, Alabama, at location known as “FROG HOLLOW”.” The church began its long line of historical events and spiritual enrichment under the leadership of Reverend Tom Mitchell, Reverend Tom Bass and Reverend Caesar Scruggs. The congregation consisted of three (3) members: Sisters Bell and Josie Batts and Brother Fred Batts, who was ordained as Deacon. Shortly thereafter, Brother John Thomas and Sister Ann Thomas joined this small group, and Brother Thomas was ordained as deacon.
During the early years, worship services were held in the home of Mr. York Battle because no dedicated Church building was available. Mr. Battle was an unsaved man who cared enough for God’s church that he opened, his home to receive it. Even then God nurtured Mount Zion in ways beyond our comprehension. Who but God could render an unsaved man’s heart sensitive to the needs of a struggling church, and through him, prolong the life of that church? God did it and we are grateful.
Around 1915, the Mount Zion membership constructed a wooden church off Baites Road, near the center of the Toney Commerce District. The church was built on land controlled by the Baites family, prominent Caucasian landowners and merchants in the Toney community. At that time Reverend Caesar Scruggs served as pastor with Reverend Bill Smith alternating. During the years of World War I, the church was blessed with a steady increase in membership and spiritual commitment.
Around 1919, worship services at Baites Road were halted due to a dispute over land ownership of the church site. Upon losing the dispute, church members dismantled the small wooden structure and made preparations to relocate to another area. After the structure was dismantled and before relocation was complete, worship services were held in the home of Brother Will Hardin.
In 1921, the church membership purchased a small tract of land from Brother Will Gardner and built a wooden structure at the present location on Dan Crutcher Road. Regular worship services were held on the third Sunday of each month. Other Sundays were dedicated to worship at various community churches. In those days, Black churches in and around Toney were connected by kinship, friendship or hardship, and more likely than not, all three. Reciprocal visitation by members of those churches ensured a social and spiritual interaction that bound the churches and their members in a way that was necessary and desirable to ensure survival of all.
The years of World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II were especially hard on our people; yet, Mount Zion was blessed and continued to grow when many other spiritual and social organizations disbanded in despair. Through the trials associated with these periods, spiritual inspiration must have been found in the words of King David:
“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Psalm 37:25
