our history

“The church's one foundation s Jesus Christ, her Lord. She is His new creation by water and the Word. From heaven, He came and sought her to be His holy bride. With His own blood He bought her and for her life He died.” To God be the glory for the great things He has done. In 1874 Mt. Zion Ark Road was established on ten (10) acres of land donated by the Chesters of Owensville, Maryland. The church was the center of worship and activities for the community. As a result, the term ‘Ark’ became the designation for the immediate area leading to and surrounding Mt. Zion Church in Lothian, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

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In the fall of 1894 Mt. Zion was admitted to the old Washington Conference which was African Methodist Episcopal (AME) and remained in the conference until it joined the United Methodist Conference some years later. The church was rebuilt in 1908 and has undergone many improvements since that time. The wood burning stoves and parallel chimneys are long gone and replaced with central heating and air conditioning. Electricity came in the mid- 1940’s and later, stained glass windows. The original fellowship hall that stood at the edge of the cemetery was torn down. But before this, some of the best slices of white potato pie and fried chicken sandwiches were sold there during camp meeting. The old elementary school adjacent to the church became the new fellowship hall. This elementary school was a part of the Rosenwald School project, which built schools in the early 20th century so that African American children could receive a better education. This project stemmed from an idea that was initiated by Julius Rosenwald (president of Sears Robuck, Inc.). Mr. Rosenwald partnered with Booker T. Washington, then president of The Tuskegee Institute, to successfully construct approximately 5,000 schools in several states (Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland). More than one-third of African American students were educated in the Rosenwald schools because of the severe underfunding of schools for African American students.

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Mt. Zion takes great pride in being one of the churches to still have the school attached to our church building as our fellowship hall. The fellowship hall was enlarged and improved in the early 1980’s, adjoining the church with additional space for church offices and more modern restroom facilities for both men and women. This expansion and modernization project was the first major undertaking of the congregation since its humble beginnings. The families of Mt. Zion at one time worshipped in the balcony of the Bayard Road Mt. Zion. They also worshipped in their homes with singing and praying. The Mt. Zion families were a people determined to worship and praise God.

At one time, the church was a part of the six-point charge or circuit that included some of the churches of the “great swamp”, or the Churchdom area. Later the charge was reduced to a four-point charge with Adams, Sollers, and Union United Methodist Churches. In July 1989, Mt. Zion stepped out on faith and became a two-point charge with Adams United Methodist Church to form the Mt. Zion/Adams Charge. Their motto was “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.”

In the early days, the local preacher was an important person in the church. He often served in the absence of the appointed preacher. These men were respected leaders in the community and served for many years although many names have not been recorded in history. Rev. Charles Peters, (related to the Pratt Family), was the first local preacher at Mt. Zion. Reverend Peters left Mt. Zion and was assigned to a church in Kilmarnock, Virginia. Other local preachers were Rev. Lloyd Brown and Rev. Robert McGowan. Rev. John H. Thomas, who was also the community undertaker with a horse-drawn hearse and the local grocer, served for many years. The last person with the title of local preacher was Rev. John Watkins, who faithfully served at Mt. Zion as the congregation endeavored to have worship services every Sunday.

The first pastor of the church was the Rev. J.C. Love. Rev. Love left Mt. Zion to pastor Asbury Methodist Church in Annapolis, Md. Spirituals such as “Steal Away” and “Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray” were popular. There were no hymnals, pianos, or organs in Mt. Zion at that time. However, sweeter music has never been heard anywhere or anytime than in that old Mt. Zion Church. Methodist hymnals were later printed. These hymnals had no notes. The pastor provided the meter after which the congregation would pick up the beat and music filled the air. Camp meeting was held in October of each year. When camp meeting ended, Track Meeting began. During Track Meeting singing and praying bands came every night. People would drive their wagons for miles with fans to sell on those occasions to raise money for the church.

Throughout the years we have had many ministers. Reverend Douglas C. Bowman stayed longer than any other pastor. His tenure spanned twenty-two years. The forming of a two-point charge with Adams United Methodist in 1989 and the appointment of Rev. John H. Coursey as the first minister of the charge were viewed as the beginnings of bigger and greater things to come for Mt. Zion in spreading God’s word and serving his people. Looking at the growth of the congregation and condition of the church, Mt. Zion stepped out on faith once more and built a new sanctuary. Our worship service was held at Adams United Methodist while the new sanctuary was being built. Each Communion Sunday Mt. Zion and Adams worshiped jointly.

In 1993 Rev. Douglas M. Logan was appointed to Mt. Zion Church as a fulltime pastor and Mt.
Zion became a one-point charge church. Through Rev. Logan’s encouragement and support, also the steadfast support of Sister Gertrude Gross, Brother Robert (Bobby) Wallace and the congregation, the new sanctuary was completed. The Service of Consecration for the New Sanctuary was held April 16, 2000.

In July 2006, Rev Hosea Hodges was assigned as a full-time Pastor to Mt. Zion Church, Ark Road. Rev. Hodges faithfully visited the sick and shut in. He was sincere and praying man of God. Rev. Hodges was the Pastor at Mt. Zion Church Ark Road from July 1, 2006 - July 1, 2012. In July 2012 Rev. John M. Blanchard, Jr. became the fulltime pastor to Mt. Zion Church Ark Road. He held Bible study along with his supportive wife, Joan Conaway. New Vision Choir was formed during his tenure and they continue to grow and sing praises to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Rev. Blanchard was very supportive of outreach ministries to the community. He retired from Mt. Zion in 2016.
 

In July 2016 Rev. Alhassan Macaulay became the part time pastor at Mt. Zion. He was also the part time pastor at Franklin United Methodist Church in Churchton, Md. He led weekly Bible study unpacking Scripture verse by verse. Rev. Macaulay ‘s depth of knowledge of the Bible led him to become known to some as “The Walking Bible”. Visiting the sick and shut in with members of the church was an established priority. He retired from both Mt. Zion and Frankin churches in 2020.
 

In 2020 the World Health Organization upgraded COVID-19 to a pandemic that caused largescale social disruption, economic loss, and general hardship. Worship services were conducted as a result via Zoom and other related technologies. In July 2020 Pastor Randy Truesdale was assigned to Mt. Zion. Our church reopened partially under his leadership after closing due to the spread of COVID-19. Even though Sunday morning services were not held in the sanctuary, Pastor Truesdale went to the church each week to broadcast his sermon to the congregation through Zoom. Also, under his leadership a building fund was started to raise funds for building improvements.
 

In July 2022 and continuing to the present, Pastor Marvene Young was assigned to Mt. Zion as a part time local pastor. “ Pastor Marvene” is the first female pastor at our church! Under her leadership we transitioned back to in-person worship with all the necessary procedures and supplies to maintain a healthy environment in which to worship. Since her arrival several initiatives have been completed. TV monitors were installed in the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. A new sound system and air conditioner system were also installed and she has spearheaded efforts to raise funds to help renovate the fellowship hall. The N.O.W.W. (nurturing, outreach, worship, witness) organizational structure was introduced and implemented. New outreach ministries were developed: Ark of Safety Food Ministry, Shareable Wearables, the Safety & Security Ministry, Anniversary Committee and the Breast Cancer Awareness Ministry. Additionally, under “Pastor Marvene’s” leadership the mission statement was reviewed and revised. As a people in ministry together we are resolved to:
C – Connect with the community and the world to be one in the body of Christ.
O – Offer Jesus Christ to the world through ministry, teaching and preaching of the Gospel.
M – Make Disciples for Jesus Christ by the way we live, love, and share the Gospel guided by
the power of the Holy Spirit.
E – Exalt Christ the Savior through praise and worship.

We are celebrating our 150 plus one (151) Church Anniversary this year. Mt. Zion Church Ark Road has “Come This Far By Faith” and extends a warm and loving thank you to all persons who have in any way contributed to the success of keeping this church alive and thriving through the years. We give all honor and glory to God for the bountiful blessings he has bestowed upon us. We thank God for His help in ages past and the hope that is ours as we move forward with confidence in Him. We encourage anyone without a church home to come and join this growing cloud of witnesses as we strive toward the mark of the high calling which is in Christ Jesus.