Zion Hill Baptist Church Remembers the Brush Arbor

Pastor Aaron L. Parker, Ph.D. and the Zion Hill Baptist Church family will observe the congregation’s 140th Church Anniversary, “The Legacy That Drives Us On” with three days of family-focused activities, August 15, 17, and 19th   at 6175 Campbellton Road, SW, Atlanta. 

The celebration begins with a “Movies on the Rock” Bible for Life Class, Wednesday, August 15th at 6:30 p.m. and an exploration of African American religious traditions from the 1800’s to 2012 followed by conversation facilitated by Pastor Parker.  It continues Friday, August 17th at 6:30 p.m. with a Brush Arbor Festival when the church will take a backward glance to its founding in 1872 and attempt to recapture the spirit of early worshipers when they gather for an evening of down-home-cooked meals supported by a cast of ZHBC’s talented singers and liturgical dancers in a musical chronicling the history of Zion Hill through selected hymns, gospels, and spirituals that span the last 140 years!

As with any visit to Zion Hill, the apex of the weekend’s experiences at “The Rock” will be the praise and worship
services on Sunday August 19.  The 8:00 a.m. service will feature the Reverend Dr. Valerie Tate-Everett, the first female Chaplain and Director of Religious Life at Clark Atlanta University. Dr. Tate-Everett holds a degree in Journalism from Ohio State University and the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Divinity degrees from Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC). She is co-founder and Associate Pastor of Liberty Baptist Church Ministries of Stone Mountain,
GA. 

At 10:30 a.m., The Reverend Dr. Matthew V. Johnson, Sr., theologian, author, and pastor, will preach.  Dr. Johnson is a graduate of Morehouse College and earned his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Philosophical Theology from the University of Chicago. He has done post-graduate studies in Psychoanalysis and is currently a member in training at the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy
and Psychoanalysis. In the ministry for thirty years, Dr. Johnson is the Pastor of Church of the Good Shepherd Church (Baptist) Atlanta and serves as the National Executive Director of Every Church A Peace Church. Dr. Johnson lives, writes, teaches, and practices ministry in the Greater Atlanta area.

In their unique giftedness, Reverends Tate-Everett and Johnson will deliver anniversary messages exploring the mantra that is the foundation of Zion Hill’s ministry
and the legacy acquired from its brush arbor beginnings that still compels this body of believers to fulfill their motto of “Living to Love and Loving to Serve”.

All activities are free and the community is welcomed to attend.  For additional updates on these Anniversary
events and other ongoing ZHBC activities, log onto www.zionhill.org   or call 404-691-8025.