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

Since the founding of Mount Zion, and during her struggles and accomplishments, changes in location, leadership and membership have occurred; however, the founding ideals and principles encompassed in Matthew 16:18-19 prevailed. The church continued to grow with various ministers and members emerging as church leaders throughout the 1920’s, 1930’s, and 1940’s.

 Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church enjoys a rich heritage of providing religious, social and educational support to the citizens of Toney, and Northwest Madison County, Alabama. Up until the early 50’s, Mount Zion, as did other Black churches in Toney, served as an annex to the old Toney School building. The annexation was necessitated because inadequate public funding for black public schools was a direct result of the system of segregation in Alabama. Because the Toney School facility could not support grades one through twelve in a centralized location, Mount Zion and other area churches supplemented this inadequacy. Several of the elementary classes were housed at Mount Zion where many students were introduced to Christianity for the first time.

 Annexation of the community churches for educational purposes embodied the spirit and resolve of a religious people to provided expedient educational opportunities for their children. Perhaps this connection to area churches was the most stabilizing aspect of the Toney School system. The religious influences our churches had on the students were many, as prayer, love for mankind, service to mankind and reverence to God was paramount.

 The period of church support to the Toney School system, and the religious undergirding of its students, ended in 1953 when the Toney School relocated to the intersection of Wall Highway and McKee Road. In 1953, under the pastorate of Reverend Robert Witchard, and co-incidental with the Toney School relocation, Mount Zion’s wooden structure on Dan Crutcher Road was replaced with a block structure. Shortly thereafter, Reverend Melvin Tucker was installed as pastor and served for approximately two (2) years.

 In 1959, Reverend Riley Townsend succeeded Reverend Tucker and began a fifteen-year (15) tenure. Economic uncertainty and social change plagued the community; yet, Mount Zion continued to grow, as efforts to expand and modernize church facilities were undertaken. During this period, worship services were held on the first and third Sundays, and on every Sunday beginning in 1974.

 Reverend Richard L. Hamlet and his family Mother Ida, Reginald Vencent, and Lawrence Darryell came to Mount Zion in April 1974. He came as the assistant pastor. In November 1974, he was asked to serve as interim pastor for three (3) months, while a formal pastoral search was conducted. Brother Hamlet was elected as Pastor in February 1975 and served for twenty-eight (28) years. Under Reverend Hamlet’s pastorate, the Trustee Board was established, and many additional member-development programs, outreach ministries, scheduled worship services, and Bible Study sessions were instituted and a complete renovation and building effort was completed, which encompasses our present facilities. Because of this major renovation, baptismal service at various creeks in the community was halted as an indoor baptistery was installed.

 On September 7, 2003, Pastor Richard L. Hamlet passed into eternity. During the period of transition that followed, Mount Zion struggled to maintain it course. Through prayers of the saints and support from many members and well wishers alike, God kept us in His care to do His will.

 On November 7, 2004, Reverend John T. Holden succeeded Pastor Hamlet and began his tenure as Pastor of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Holden served the church until September 2006.

 On October 2007, Reverend Ernest Lee Williams, Sr. succeeded Pastor Holden and began his tenure as Pastor of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, along with his family, Mother Veronica, Ernest Jr. (EJ) and Ajahnni. Their third son, Zyan, was born shortly thereafter. Pastor Williams has partnered with the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP) and also the Partnership for a Drug Free Community. He has implemented Senior, Youth, Singles, Married Couples ministries, Karate, a church web-site, nursery, Evangelistic Team Ministry and children’s church. Pastor Williams has also energized and reformatted the brotherhood ministry, intercessory prayer ministry and new member’s orientation classes.  

 We are humbly aware of God’s goodness and we give thanks for the blessings our Lord has given us. We also thank God for the rich heritage of Christian servitude instilled in us by our forefathers. We pray that faith, hope and love abide in us forever and that we remain steadfast to God’s Word. We pray God’s continued blessing on our church and on our lives, and that our pursuits be favorable in His sight so others might see our good works and glorify our Father, which is in Heaven.