Candidates must be licensed, ordained Baptist ministers. Must have a clear understanding of Baptist Doctrine and the Articles of Faith and their practical application to the church today; must demonstrate the ability to prepare and deliver sound Biblical teachings and messages that will promote congregants to live in service for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A complete resume must include all ministerial experience, academic background, administrative experience, community involvement, and a digital copy of two to three live sermons and anticipated range of monetary compensation.                                                    

Send to: Mt. Zion Pulpit Committee  c/o Sis. Laura Hamilton

Respond via text or email  (205) 362-2230 or chamld@att.net

October 8, 2022, Rev. Robert Williams and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Zion, IL announce their amicable separation.  We appreciate Rev. Williams' 11 years of service and we pray God's grace and mercy over him, his family, and his future endeavors.  We solicit the prayers of our members and friends for Rev. Williams, his family and for Mt. Zion

In February of 1964, Rev. B. J. Gaston, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was called as pastor.  With a portion of the lower level and a dirt-filled parking lot, Pastor Gaston had work to do.  There were many days and nights that Pastor Gaston and some of the members had to push water out of the basement in order to have a worship service.  They also had their share of getting stuck in the muddy parking lot.  In spite of it all, more and more souls were brought to Christ. 

On November 17, 2010, Pastor Gaston called a special meeting to announce his retirement.  It was with great sadness that the church accepted his resignation effective May of 2011. 

See "Church History" for more on Rev. Dr. B.J. Gaston, Pastor Emeritus

Lavan T. Pipes was appointed to serve as Mt Zion Baptist Church's Associate Minister and the Minister of Music, in April 2011 under the leadership of Pastor R.. E. Williams. Prior to that, he served as Associate Minister of Frontier Southern Baptist Church in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

The attributes that best describe Minister Pipes as an Associate Minister and Minister of Music are strong preaching, leadership, faithful in duty, loyal to God's calling, musical educator, and worship leader.  He loves to serve in a church like Mt Zion, where biblical views are embraced and encouraged, with members who care about the needs of those around them and who want to connect others to the body of Christ. Minister Pipes takes worship and preaching very seriously, spending time in study and in prayer.

He is currently pursuing a degree in Theology.

Minister Pipes is happily married to his wife, Tiffany D. Taylor-Pipes. They are blessed with six wonderful children: Bishop, Gloria, Christiaan, Taylor, Isabella, and Fyodore.

Kevin McCoy Sr was appointed to serve at Mt Zion Baptist Church on March 28, 2021. Prior to that, he served as Deacon of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist in  Zion, IL.  The attributes that best describe Minister McCoy.  He is a God-fearing man raised in Mt Zion Baptist Church where biblical views are embraced and encouraged, with members who care about the needs of those around them and who want to connect others to the body of Christ. Minister McCoy takes worship and preaching very seriously, spending hours of his day focused on Bible study.

He graduated from the College of Lake County in 2013  with a degree in Liberal Arts.

Minister McCoy is happily married to his wife, Shauna McCoy. They have six children: SaMyra, Eddie, Kevin Jr., Caleb, Derek, and April.

Alfred Ellis was ordained by God's call and election on March 16, 2003, at Mt Sinai Baptist Church, International, in Chicago, IL.  From June 2003-2005, he served as the Assistant Pastor at Voice in the Wilderness Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago, IL. He served as Chaplin for Christ at the Cook County Jail and Illinois Department of Corrections Prison system from 2005- July 2022. Minister Ellis has had a bible study with Holy Ground Ministries from 2014 to the present. 

Lue Lewis, when I was a child I use to play school with my friends.  I always wanted to be a teacher.

As I grew older, I still wanted to be a teacher.   My curriculum choice in college was never a question; I wanted to be a teacher. I became a teacher.  I always found it very challenging and rewarding.   Soon after joining Mt. Zion, I was sitting on the pew, minding my own business, and Pastor Gaston approached me about coming to Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting.  One of our teachers had moved away, and he hoped I would fill in – just temporary, of course. That was over thirty years ago and I am still filling in.  I absolutely love it!  And now I realize, I didn’t want to be a teacher – God called me to be a teacher.   It is in my spiritual DNA.  There is nothing better than leading a man, woman, boy, or girl to Christ and to the understanding of His precious Word.  I thank and praise God for the privilege of using me, leading me, and guiding me by way of His Holy Spirit as I continue to “ fill in”.

My natural love for my fellow man, my brothers, and my sisters is what drives my desire to reach the hearts and minds of all whom God sends my way. What motivates me is when I see in others' hunger and thirst for knowledge and understanding of God’s word. It drives me to share what God has given me. 

Tuwanda  Peters has been a member of Mt. Zion for more than 40 years.  Studies in Christian Education, in 1995, received an Associate degree from McKinley Theological Seminary. 

Sis T is a Kingdom Trainer for youth and adults passionate about teaching the Kingdom  Principles.  When we come into Christ, he "reteaches" all of us to the Kingdom's way/process and how our Father wants to operate.  According to 2 Timothy 3:16, this scripture has two book-ends that prop us up: inspiration and righteousness. These two work together to correct and guide us to reflect Christ and honor God.  We plant the seed of God's word (Luke 8:11), so it grows appropriately in the youth and adults as they grow up in God, training them to recognize Kingdom ways in such a challenging world.   The Kingdom Principles teach not only the word but the process; faith in the process will lead us to guaranteed promises and blessings for the whole person (3 John 1:2).

I love to see Christians AND non-believers hear and receive the Kingdom's teaching (Romans 10:17), and their faith moves to a change LIFE in Christ!   A life-changing Word! (James 1:22)