T&D Staff Report
New Mount Zion Baptist Church's new building has dramatically changed the look along Boulevard at Amelia Street.
The new building, which will seat 1,100 people, is to be dedicated at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 4, a couple of months after the 1,000-member church moved into the facility from its former building nearby.
New Mount Zion's minister, the Rev. Jerome Anderson, said Sunday will be a big day in the history of the church. He expects more than 1,100 people for the dedication, at which special thanks will go out to many who have made the day possible. Among them is U.S. House Majority Whip James Clyburn.
Speaker for the occasion will be Dr. James Ballard, pastor emeritus of United Metropolitan Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. Ballard is no stranger to the New Mount Zion congregation, having been the featured revival minister several times.
He is also no stranger to Anderson, who worked as an assistant with Ballard nearly 25 years ago. Anderson credits Ballard, the first black graduate of the Duke University Divinity School, as the m
an who was instrumental in him going to divinity school and becoming a minister.
Not only has New Mount Zion Baptist Church expanded the size of its facility to accommodate an overflowing membership -- the church has also increased its community outreach ministry, developed a foundation and is offering a health care ministry that provides increased educational opportunities and support to citizens of the greater Orangeburg area.
Anderson said the church physically outgrew its original facility, increasing from a congregation of 250 in 2000 to today's 1,000.
"The old sanctuary seats around 350 people, where the new one will seat around 1,100," he said.
Anderson said the six classrooms and lone multipurpose room in the former facility has been doubled to 12 classrooms with additional office space in the new structure.
He said the old sanctuary will be used for small weddings and funerals. The majority of the remaining space at the site may be converted to a larger fellowship hall.
Ensuring adequate space for the church's many ministries was a priority, Anderson said. "We are trying to expand our community outreach through ministry-enrichment programs," he said.