Mt. Zion MB honors the Rev. John H. Rouse
By Meliqueica Meadows
Of the St. Louis American
Over the last 31 years, a lot has changed in the East St. Louis community surrounding Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, but the congregation has remained stable under the leadership of pastor John H. Rouse. On Friday, April 7 an appreciation banquet for the Reverend Rouse will be held at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville. Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church in Los Angeles, will deliver the keynote address.
“It has been a good 31 years,” Rouse said. “Mt. Zion is a good church with great people and God has really blessed us.”
Mt. Zion is hosting a series of services to honor Rouse’s 51 years in the ministry. Among his many distinctions and honors, Rouse serves as national chair of the National Baptist Convention Publishing Board and is a member of the Illinois State Police Chaplain’s association.
“When I became pastor 31 years ago, the population of East St. Louis was around 80,000,” Rouse said. “Now it is only around 31, 000.”
There are about 600 Mt. Zion members. In 31 years, Rouse said he has conducted over 2,000 baptisms and that he most enjoys preaching.
“It has been a challenge to develop ministries and provide leadership to benefit people and meet the needs and keep them involved in the community,” he said. “At one time the church was the center of activity. Now so much is going on that folks don’t need the church for activity.”
Even as he celebrates the past, Rouse is looking forward to the future of his church.
“The challenge is for us to address needs in areas where the church previously didn’t have to focus,” he said. “I see the church being more involved in reaching families and saving kids from the streets.”
Rouse has been married for 44 years to his wife, Mary Gwendolyn, and the couple have four grown children.
In addition to the April 7 banquet, the church will hold two services on Sunday, April 9 at Mt. Zion, 2235 Bond Ave. in East St. Louis.
Tickets for the Friday banquet are $35 for adults and $18 for youth 14 and under. Tickets may be purchased by calling (618) 274-8350.
