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Who We Are
The Primitive Baptist Church was organized in the early 1800’s, when members separated from the Baptist church to worship God in their own way. They preferred to praise and serve the Lord in a manner first practiced by early Christian’s and did not want to incorporate the changes in worship that others were introducing into the faith. Hence the name “Primitive” Baptist was used meaning ‘original’ or ‘first’, not ‘old’ or backwards as has been associated with this particular title. The Primitive Baptist faith is based on the doctrine of election and selection and teaches followers to accept one faith, one baptism, and one Lord.
Primitive Baptist Worship-What’s in a Song?
Slaves would sing hymns such as “Father I Stretch My Hands To Thee”. “My Work On Earth Shall Soon Be Done” and Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone” while working in the hot, unfriendly fields. Because it was against the law for slaves to learn to read or practice their religion, they would sing the songs in a way that could not be understood by the “masters”. When sung in this special way, these selections, also known as Doctor Watts, are long metered hymns which represent an important tradition in song praise during a Primitive Baptist worship service.
Why the name Greater Zion?
The name Zion is the earthly dwelling place of our God. The most common usage of Zion was to refer to the city in the new age. (Isa. 1:27; 28:16; 33:5) Mount Zion was the name given to the hill section of Jerusalem that lay inside the city wall along the eastern side. A Canaanite fortress on the southern part of this hill had enabled the inhabitants of Jerusalem to withstand enemy attacks for centuries. When David conquered the city, he was determined to build a temple for God on Zion. Since the temple was God’s symbolic dwelling place, Israelites regarded Zion as a holy hill and Jerusalem as a holy city (PS 2:6; 9:11; Isa. 52:1). They often used the name Zion figuratively to refer to both the temple and the city. Zion was the location of God’s symbolic dwelling place and psalmists and prophets mentioned it repeatedly. The name “Zion” was often used to emphasize the religious significance of the city. The physical beauty of the city was extolled (Ps 48) and its glorious buildings and walls were described (Ps 87). To be part of the festival processions there (Ps 68:24-27) was a source of great joy (Ps 149:3). Jerusalem the dwelling place of both the earthly (Ps 132) and the divine King (Ps. 5:2; 24:7), was where Israel came to appreciate and celebrate the Kingship of God (Ps. 47:93, 96-99), one of the central ideas of the entire Bible. This biblical knowledge is what led Elder Robert Howse Sr. to ask for the members of the Little Zion P.B. Church to change its name to the Greater Zion P.B. Church. On January 23, 2004, the name change was adopted.
Past Pastors:
Elder Robert R. Vaughter - Founder of Little Zion Primitive Baptist Church in 1935 served as Pastor until 1960
Elder Henry Dozier served as Pastor in 1961 - 1972, remodeled Little Zion Primitive Baptist Church in 1962
Elder Harvey Cunningham served as Pastor in 1972 -1986
Established 1935