History
of
Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church
We Live, We Love,
We Serve
The history of Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church is a testimony to the grace and providence of God. The Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church was founded by the late Reverend George W. McWaters, Sr. on December 26, 1926 with thirty-nine adults and thirteen children. They originally met in the homes of those first members but later worshiped at the First Mount Calvary Baptist Church. Consider the following statement that was written on March 29, 1953:
"Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church was organized on Sunday, December 26, 1926 at 4:30 PM, in the edifice of the First Mount Calvary Baptist Church, pastored by the Rev. I.B. Gaskin. Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church was the name given it because that name expressed the disposition of the members that composed it.
On June 6, 1927, exactly five months and eleven days from the day we organized, we marched into our own little building (at 3216 Fourth Street) singing "When The Saints Go Marching In." We remained there until 1942 when we built a new edifice. While that building was being built, we worshiped at the Second Zion Baptist Church, pastored by the Rev. C.S. Delond. We returned to Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church in October of 1942. The church was incorporated in this location in May of 1944).
In 1951, April 6, the Orleans Parish School Board purchased our site (on Fourth Street) to construct the Taylor Park School (Hoffman). Again we worshiped at the Second Zion Baptist Church while this edifice (on Toledano Street) was being built.
On the evening of December 13, 1951, we marched from Second Zion Baptist Church to Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church, on Toledano Street, singing "We Are Marching To Zion, Beautiful, Beautiful, Zion." Rev. C.S. Delond preached the sermon and our pastor prayed the dedicatory prayer…
The members possess the spirit of cooperation, which they demonstrated in the building of this edifice, and in the furnishing of it. They prayed, worked, and they loaned (finances) for the completion of this building. We began building on May 25, 1951 and finished May 24, 1952. The Lord wanted an edifice on this site, and the Lord made a way. ‘Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’ - Psalms 127:1
The cornerstone was laid on Sunday, March 29, 1953 at 3:00 PM by the First District Missionary Baptist Association, Reverend P.W. Raphael, President. The sermon was preached by the Reverend C.S. Gordon, Sr."
Dr. George W. McWaters, Sr. passed away on October 16, 1983 at 6:00 AM after fifty-seven years of distinguished service to God and his brethren as a pastor of Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church. The Reverend T.J. Smith was installed as a pastor in 1985 and served for 15 months. The Reverend Kenneth E. Thompson was called in May of 1986 to serve as the interim pastor. Reverend Thompson was installed as a pastor on Sunday, October 5, 1986 at 3:00 PM by the First District Missionary Baptist Association, President, Reverend A. Prince Fortner.
In September of 2005, the first floor of Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church was ruined by Hurricane Katrina. The congregation held worship services initially in the Gloryland Mount Gillion Baptist Church, pastored by the Rev. Norman A. Stovall. When that congregation began to renovate their sanctuary, Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church was offered the sanctuary of the Second Nazareth Baptist Church, pastored by the Rev. Gary L. Curtis. After worshiping some time at Second Nazareth, the Rev. Willie Bradford offered the sanctuary of the Beulah Baptist Church, where we remained until our sanctuary was completely restored. On October 4, 2009, at 3:00 PM, through the manifold grace of God, we held the Re-Dedication Service at 3317 Toledano Street. Again, we marched in singing “We’re Marching To Zion, Beautiful, Beautiful, Zion.”
Church Covenant
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that, when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word.
And now unto Him, who brought again from the dead, Our Lord Jesus, be Power and Glory forever. Amen.
About Our Pastor
Rev. Dr. Kenneth E. Thompson
Kenneth Thompson was installed as pastor of Pleasant Zion in October 5, 1986. He has continued the legacy of keeping Pleasant Zion “Bible Fed, Spirit Led.” He joined the faculty of Union Seminary in 1995 and taught courses in World Religion and Evangelism until 2018. He has a B.A. degree from Southern University in New Orleans, a Master’s degree in Religious Education from N. O. Baptist Theological Seminary, and an Honorary Doctorate from Union Seminary.