The Rev. Steve Wooten is guest speaker
“The Old Ship of Zion” is the theme for Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church’s 104th Church Anniversary that will be held on Sunday, September 25.
The day of celebration begins with morning worship services at 10:40 a.m., followed by an old-fashioned outdoor social with food, games and entertainment. Mt. Zion is located at 2235 Bond Ave., in East St. Louis.
The guest speaker for Sunday worship services is the Rev. Steve Wooten, pastor of Mt. Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis. He has served as pastor for 14 years. Prior to that, he was director of Christian Education at Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis.
Wooten is an avid student of Christian doctrine and is widely admired for his keen ability to reference biblical chapters and verses from memory. He’s equally recognized as one who can bring home a message of deliverance and hope through a perfectly pitched song.
Wooten is a native East St. Louisan. He graduated from its public schools system and spent his youth as a member of the Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, where he was baptized. He was licensed and ordained a minister under the Rev. John H. Rouse, pastor of Mt Zion. He has studied religion at St. Louis Christian and Missouri Baptist Colleges and earned a degree in history from Illinois State University.
He was honored to deliver the devotional message for the 2001 Mid-Winter Board Meeting of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Wooten is currently third vice president of the St. Louis Baptist Minister’s Union and is president of the Berean Missionary Baptist District Association Congress of Christian Education. For the past four years he has taught, and enjoys the largest class, of the Berean District Leadership School.
Mt. Zion Church has been a beacon in the community for more than a century. It has provided moral and spiritual leadership and development to its members and has helped many others who live throughout the community. A church so rich in history and tradition stems from a committed church body that includes families that have been members dating back to the beginnings of the church, some four to five generations ago.
More than 28 ministers have been ordained over the years. There have only been 10 pastors in its long, rich history. That kind of leadership tenure has provided a stabilizing affect on the church and its outreach ministries.
Pastor Rouse has led the church since 1975. He has implemented year-round programs that include weekly distribution of food baskets and daily hot meal services, a transportation ministry, senior and youth programs, a New Day Jail ministry, a Christian bookstore, a hi-tech computer learning center for adults, and the Saving Black Minds Preparatory Academy. It supports a secondary church ministry, Mt. Zion Mission East, at 425 N. 88th Street in Edgemont, IL.
Consistent with its outreach missions, the church is extending a special invitation to survivors of Hurricane Katrina. They are invited to share in the worship services and to join members and all other guests for the outdoor fellowship that follows. Host families and new arrivals should phone (618) 274-8350 to provide the number of expected attendees.
The 104th Church Anniversary chair is Nathaniel Anderson, PhD.; Lauren Hill and Sheila Hawkins are co-chairs.
Faith-based workshop Sept. 28
The U.S. Small Business Administration is participating in a seminar for leaders of faith-based and community organizations on September 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Grace Church, 5151 North Illinois, Fairview Heights, IL.
This event will be hosted by Grace Church and Southern Illinois University-East St. Louis/Edwardsville’s Small Business Development Center. The workshop is designed to help non-profit, grassroots and faith-based organizations and their members gain valuable information about government programs.
For more information, call (618) 650-2929 or (618) 482-8330. For more information about all of SBA’s programs for small businesses, visit www.sba.gov.
