Church to Host Martin Luther King Celebration

January 26, 2023199 views0

Church to Host Martin Luther King Celebration

2023-01-26T12:23:39+01:00

By Church News

The Mount Zion First African Baptist Church will be holding its 38th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration this Sunday at the church located at 105 Lankford Ave. in Charlottesville, USA.The event will include a keynote address from former state Supreme Court Justice John Charles Thomas, the first Black jurist on the court, according to a statement from the church.There will also be recognition of community members and music by the Martin Luther King community choir directed by Jonathan Spivey, the statement said.Baptists in the Charlottesville area worshipped in the County Courthouse (1820-1831) before a brick building was constructed around 1864, First Baptist on the corner of 2nd and East Jefferson streets.In this church, although never regarded as equals in faith, the African American contingent of the Baptists worshipped with their white counterparts.In 1832, Virginia passed a law that prohibited blacks to worship without a white minister present. They were not allowed to worship with the rest of the white community.In 1863, the 800 African American members of the Charlottesville Baptist Church petitioned for and were granted, approval to separate from the church and form their own congregations.From this group, two congregations were formed: The Delevan (First) Baptist Church in 1864 (that lot was the front eastern portion of the present church lot) and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in 1867.Since some African American members were still disgruntled about the mandate for a white minister to be present, the Mt. Zion congregation had contracted to purchase before buying the old Delevan Hotel. Thus, Mt. Zion First African Baptist church was organized.ALSO READ Ernieola to Host 7th Edition of “Word, Worship & Warfare” Event