History
Charted on November 6, 1895, as Zion Primitive Baptist Church, we remained as such until 1938, when the name was changed to the Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church. The word Missionary was incorporated with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on January 1, 1994. Through our doorways have passed many generations of devoted worshipers. Our history consists of struggles, pain and yet many joys and victories.
Rev. Pullium was the first pastor. He served for a brief time in 1895. It is believed that his primary role was to organize the church, which was then located in the 1300 block of Marion Street.
Rev. W. Tolliver came to Harrisburg from Virginia. He served as Zion’s second pastor for 27 years from 1895 to 1922.
Rev. Alexander A. Robinson became the third pastor. He served from 1922 to 1935. During that time, the church grew rapidly. As a result of that growth, Zion was able to purchase the Otterbein United Brethren Church located at 343 Reily Street. This building, with many renovations, remained the church site until April 1994.
Rev. Lowell P. Mitchell served as the fourth pastor of Zion from 1935 to 1938. The first baptistery was built during this period. Prior to that time, converts were baptized in the Susquehanna River. It was during this period that the name of the church was changed.
Reverends Stanmore and Smallwood served Zion for short periods of time; Stanmore from 1938 to 1939 and Smallwood from 1939 to 1941. The documentation during this period is vague, but we are sure that the church continued to grow because of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Rev. J.H. Marshall of Philadelphia served as the seventh pastor from 1942 to 1955. During this period, the mortgage was burned. The church grew in all areas.
Rev. Clarence L. Henderson, Sr., also from Philadelphia, served as Greater Zion’s eighth pastor. Under his leadership, the membership doubled. New organizations and choirs flourished. There were extensive renovations and remodeling inside and outside of the church. He served with diligence, patience, and loving understanding of his flock until God called him home on April 19, 1977.
Rev. Paul S. Munford, of Philadelphia, our ninth pastor, served from 1978 to 1987. Tremendous spiritual growth occurred under his leadership. A new parsonage with furniture was purchased. Extensive renovations were made to the Fellowship Hall. Various auxiliaries were formed. Unique among them was The Bible Institute and Tape Ministry, and a Van Ministry. During this period, the church purchased its first van. Pastor Munford continues to be an energetic, progressive man of God.
Rev. Wilford McKinley and Rev. Irving Kittrell served as interim pastors (McKinley from 1987 to 1989; Kittrell from February 1989 to December 1989), during the church search for the tenth pastor. They were successful in keeping the church growing and intact during the search.
Rev. Charles R. Meile, Jr. was called to be our tenth pastor. He began his service on December 1, 1989. Under his leadership, the church has grown tremendously. Pastor Meile’s vision of a new church for the expanding congregation was realized after only five short years. The Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church moved on April 27, 1994, from 343 Reily Street to its third home at 212 North Progress Avenue, Harrisburg, PA. Our first official service was held on May 1, 1994.
On October 10, 2021, Rev. Trey A. DuPont took was called to serve the Greater Zion family as the eleventh pastor. Pastor Trey helped to lead GZ out of the COVID pandemic and established a new mission: Being the Church on Purpose. In his first three years of leadership, more than xxx gave their lives to Christ and xxx joined the church membership and received the Right Hand of Fellowship.