Zion Baptist Church began in the summer of 1958 as a Bible study group under the leadership of Chet Joines and Blaine Vannoy. They rented a vacant schoolhouse (on Muddy Creek Forks Rd) from Paul Hively and began to meet for worship in November, 1958, with 12 people. On June 20, 1959, they formally organized as The Mt Zion Baptist Church of Brogue, PA. The old schoolhouse and adjoining property was
purchased in January, 1963. By May, 1964, they broke ground for a new building constructed mostly by members and friends. At the first service in that building on January 31, 1965 , 103 attended. Mt Zion has had only 7 pastors in its 40 year history including: Blaine Vannoy (1958-64, 67-69), Fred Wilt (1966), Ronald Schmuck (Jan-June 1969), Roy Wise (1969-1985), Larry Fischer (1986-90), Randy Starr (December, 1990 - 2013) and Chris Starr (2013 - present). We are currently averaging 285 people with 200 on Sunday and Wednesday nights. We support over 60 missionaries around the world and have a variety of ministries which you can read about in our newsletter. The Annex building in the woods is a 120' x 100' Ministry and Family Activity Center and includes a gymnasium, classrooms, and ministries. Zion is active in planting churches including Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Denver, PA (www.helives.net) and Hunt Valley Baptist Church, Hunt Valley, MD (www.huntvalleybaptist.com) and helping plant Heritage Baptist Church, Manheim, PA (www.hedgemaker.org). We are also active in Bible Assembly, The Mt. Zion Baptist Pulpit radio broadcast, home school meetings, 3 graded choirs, an orchestra, Master's Club for children, Teen Time, Ambassadors (age 55 +), printing ministry, VBS, Camp, and many other local ministries. We invite you to come and see what God has done and is doing at Mt Zion Baptist Church of Brogue (the lighthouse on the hill).
