Mt. Zion First Baptist Church celebrates 140 years as oldest Black congregation in Abilene, Texas

By Floyd Miller

Mt. Zion First Baptist Church, the oldest African American church in Abilene, celebrated its 140th anniversary with a multi-day observance that concluded Sunday, Nov. 9, at the church.

Former Abilene Mayor Anthony Williams addressed attendees at a banquet Saturday evening, Nov. 8, at McMurry University, placing the church’s founding in historical context. Mt. Zion was established in 1885, just four years after Abilene’s founding, when the city’s population was approximately 3,000, including an estimated 200 African Americans.

“This is a significant event for this community,” Williams said. “Mount Zion Baptist Church for 140 years, shining light in my hometown.”

Williams, who served as Abilene’s first non-white mayor, compared the church’s mission to the biblical story of Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls.

“Nehemiah was chosen by God to rebuild Jerusalem, the walls, after city had been destroyed,” Williams said. “Consider those few 100 free men born to slavery who found themselves in West Texas among the tumbleweeds and unaware but trusting and hoping and believing that they indeed could achieve the American dream, and how God honored that, and how Mount Zion played a major role.”

The former mayor noted the church produced significant early Black leaders in Abilene, including William Henderson, who worked at First National Bank for 40 years; Jesse Harris, the city’s first Black military member; the Dawson brothers, the first Black builders in the community; Galla Rogers, who was recognized in the Green Book with her bed and breakfast; Effie Brewster, the first Black tax assessor; Earl Williams, a small businessman; and Val Brailsford and Mary Island, leaders in the school system.

Williams also referenced early church leaders including pastors Curry, Lewis, Taylor, Massey, Malone, Preston, Chew and Brown, as well as more recent leaders Skippers, Moore, Carver, Gaston, Kelly and Cason.

“These leaders are significant, yet no single person holds greater importance than the whole,” Williams said.

Rev. Demotis Sherman, Mt. Zion’s minister since 2015, emphasized the congregation’s ongoing mission and the need to prepare younger members for future leadership.

“We still have work to do,” Sherman said. “There are souls that need to be saved. The Gospel needs to be presented. They need to see lives that have been changed and affected by the Lord Jesus Christ. And who better to do it than us?”

Sherman reflected on changes in the Black church experience over decades, recalling his first denominational meeting in 1968 when delegates stayed in parishioners’ homes and received $2 for the week.

“Today, when we go to meetings, we stay in five-star hotel, anywhere we want to eat, we don’t have to exercise going in no back doors, nowhere,” Sherman said. “We still have work to do.”

The minister, who will turn 70 next year, stressed the importance of engaging young people in church leadership.

One of the young people Sherman mentioned was Denise Smith, who did an outstanding job singing at the event.

Sherman urged members not to become complacent following the celebration.

“We must never become at ease in Zion,” he said. “We must always be prepared for the challenges that we will face on tomorrow.”

The celebration included acknowledgment of longtime members, including Sister Trivia Newman, who has served the church for more than 70 years, and Deacon Washington, who watched via video.

Taylor County Judge Phil Crowley attended Saturday’s program at McMurry University, which featured music and reflections on the church’s history.

Out-of-town guests traveled from Liberal, Kansas; Duncan and Louisville, Oklahoma; and Austin for the three-day celebration.