Our History
Zion Baptist Church was organized in 1863. The community consisted of a small settlement of about 20 families. It was God’s plan to organize a Baptist Church in Rowlett, Texas. As the church’s membership grew to nearly 100, Zion bought her first plot to build a new facility in 1905. For the next 61 years, many great pastors served faithfully at Zion.
In 1966, Rev. George Jackson, Jr. accepted the position of Pastor at Zion. He, and his wife, Sis. Hattie King Jackson, served faithfully for 32 years. Under Pastor Jackson, Zion expanded by adding a church bus, another building with classrooms, a baptismal pool, kitchen and dining room. In July 1998, God touched the heart of his servant, Pastor George Jackson, to appoint a successor:
Sr. Pastor Dayvid L. Griggs, Jr., along with his wife, Rev. Renita Griggs. Pastor Griggs continues leading a growing flock of believers dedicated to the building of God’s Kingdom.
In 2024, Zion Baptist Church will celebrate her 161st Church Anniversary. To God Be the Glory, as Zion continues to press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling through the saturation of God’s word throughout the community and world.
Our mission :
To inspire the awareness and accountability of the righteousness of God to both believers and nonbelievers by building the Kingdom of God through enriching, equipping, and instructing to impact the world and empower all mankind.
Our Vision:
To discipline and transform lives, through the “Five-Fold Ministry” that reflects the Kingdom of God.
Our Beliefs:
Develop the Love – “And what this love consists in is this; that we live and walk in accordance with and guided by His commandments (His orders, ordinances, precepts, teaching). This is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning that you continue to walk in love (guided by it and following it).”
2 John 6
Implications of Your Work – “A life pleasing to God involves daily dependence on the precious Holy Spirit. He is to be known, sought, and loved. His awakening and empowering have always been the essential ingredients of true and lasting works of God in the lives of his people. His work in the transformed lives of believers is the key to a Christian life that experiences God’s blessing and becomes an effective witness to a cynical, skeptical world. Prayer, preaching, teaching, and taking initiative in personal spiritual life care ministry are all ways in which God’s people can encourage others to seek and know God and can thereby fulfill their call to represent Christ as a kingdom of priests.”
Implications of the Spirit’s Work – “The ultimate goal of all life is to know and love God, make him known, and thereby glorify him. This goal is accomplished primarily through the work of the Holy Spirit. Reading the Bible, going to church, Christian fellowship, spiritual disciplines, service, and worship are merely playing at religion if all of these activities are not empowered, guided, and fulfilled by the Spirit. He must be present.”
The Humanity of the Christ – “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-the life was a manifest and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was the Father and was made manifest to us-that which we have seen we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus the Christ.’
1 John 1:1-3
Kingdom Building – “The best building is Kingdom building…”
OUR TEAM:
Sr. Pastor Dayvid L. Griggs Jr.
LEADERSHIP TEAM: Our leadership team is responsible for equipping the saints for the work of ministry through spiritual operations (preaching & teaching).
Rev. John Huges Minister Marchell Deadmon
Rev. Rome Pettway Rev. Renita Griggs
Rev. Lenny James Evangelist Natalie McMillian
Rev. Curtis Turner Evangelist Elois Williams
Rev. James Tinner Evangelist Torri Tinner
PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY: Our Deacons and their wives are responsible for the spiritual and physical care and welfare of the church body.
DEACON & WIFE STAFF FAMILY ASSIGNMENTS
John & Pam Bess Bell – Counts
Titus & Mae Brown Davis – Fuqua
Sam & Kim Evans Gambrel – Heard
Allen & Joann Mathis Johnson – Kemp
Mathel & Mae Miller Kennedy – Mathis
Mike & Tracey Popoola Morrison – Perryman
Keith & Lisa Randle Pettway – Robison
Edgar & Yonetta Swait Rogers – Sims
Theo & Bridget Tanner Smith – Swearinger
Drexter & Taminisha White Tanner – Wilkins
Robert & Sandra Willis White – Young