The New Zion Baptist Church began after the migration of Blacks from the south to Beloit, Wisconsin. April 8, 1917, was noted as the official beginning of New Zion Baptist Church. Sunday afternoon services were held on the Fairbanks Morse hillside near Pleasant and Lawton Streets. Later, they held services in homes, and over a garage overlooking the east bank of Rock River, south of St. Paul Catho
lic Church. Shed Barksdale accepted the first pastoral position for the congregation and faithfully served until 1925. In December 1925, Rev. George W. Bowen was called to pastor New Zion. It was during Rev. Bowen\'s two-year term as pastor that New Zion purchased the property on the corner of Merrill and Third Streets. At this time the first structure for the church was purchased from Branigan\'s Coal and Ice Company. The "Old Ice House" was moved onto the vacant lot at 110 Merrill Avenue. In 1927, Rev. Bowen decided to return to the south, and Rev. Burgess of Bethel Baptist Church served as interim pastor for two years. Burgess. Ogiss Dillon, a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, became the pastor in December 1929. During the 28 years that Rev. Dillon served as pastor of New Zion, many changes were made in the structure that still exists today. The loan on the property was paid in full in 1945, and with the congregation of New Zion growing the "Old Ice House" was no longer adequate as our church edifice. In 1949, a building fund was raised and a new edifice was started. In November 1953, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Wisconsin laid the cornerstone and in May 1954, the building was dedicated. After the death of Rev. Dillon on January 25, 1957 Rev. Johnson served as interim pastor. U. S. Pride was chosen to become the fourth pastor of New Zion Baptist Church. In July 1957, Rev. Pride came to Beloit, Wisconsin, to lead the congregation of New Zion Baptist Church. Pride brought faith, hope and a fellowship of love with him to New Zion. During Rev. Pride\'s term as pastor; property was purchased on Third Street for a parsonage. Continuing to grow, in 1962 the mortgage on the church building was burned and a building fund was started for a much needed educational unit. In 1967 the three-floor educational building was completed. New Zion had a strong growth in membership over the next few years, so there was a need for a larger church. So, Under Rev. Pride’s encouragement and the efforts of the church deacons and trustees, the Waterman School site on 1905 Mound Avenue was purchased from the City of Beloit in April 1984. After 33 years of service, Rev. Pride announced his retirement, to be effective July 1987, but agreed to continue to serve in a pastoral capacity until the position was filled. Thus, Rev. Pride served until January 1990. At that time, Rev. Pride was named Pastor Emeritus and Rev. Siddell served as interim pastor for the next two years. On the church’s 75th year, demolition of the Waterman School began in preparation for a new church edifice. In 1992, after a two-year search for a pastor, Rev. Henry A. Gladney of Okolona, Mississippi, was elected as the next pastor of New Zion Baptist Church. With so many members of New Zion working very hard for many years preparing for the new church building and Rev. U.S. Pride serving as the key person to move the congregation toward the new edifice, it was under the leadership of Pastor Gladney that the dream of the congregation finally became a reality. Under the leadership of Pastor Gladney, the deacons, and trustees groundbreaking for the new edifice was held on July 14, 1993, and construction on the Waterman School site was begun. After much prayer and faith, the building was completed on April 1, 1994. Members and friends of New Zion marched from the old location on Merrill to the new church building on April 10, 1994. In October of 2003, Reverend Gladney and New Zion severed its union. Subsequently, Elder Marshall Kent was elected as the interim pastor and continued to serve the church faithfully until the Lord would give to the New Zion congregation a new pastor. In November of 2004, Reverend James M. Ivy, of Decatur, Georgia was chosen to be that leader and on Sunday, February 20, 2005, Reverend Ivy was installed as the 6th pastor of New Zion Baptist Church. As a result of New Zion’s revived resolve and under leadership of Pastor James M. Ivy, new members were exponentially added to the congregation; new ministries were added providing the church with over forty ministries for its members to be active in the work of the church. In 2006, at the close of the year, the New Zion Church, in response to the pastor’s vision, paid off and ceremonially burned its mortgage thereby freeing the church to financially support more Christ centered ministry. With its leader and clear and practical vision in place, the congregation of New Zion Baptist Church, has vowed to remain devoted to the principles and commands of God; follow and depend solely upon the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit; and with genuine love, continue to obey the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to “proclaim the Gospel and make disciples of every creature” until His glorious return”.
