On the third Sabbath, the 18th of February in 1906 at the Oak Grove School Building, in the area that was then called "Bend of the River," Brethren and Sisters from Dycusburg, New Bethel and Bethany Churches gathered for the purpose of organizing a Missionary Baptist Church.

R. R. Marshall was elected Church Clerk and Bro. J. W. Oliver was elected moderator and pastor. John Waters Made a motion they declare themselves an independent Baptist Church. The Articles of Faith and the Church Covenant were then adopted Mr. Waters made a motion the church be named Mt. Zion.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church then accepted a Brethren for membership, with twenty-one members uniting with the church that first day.

The present church building was erected in 1947. It is located at 3492 State Route 810 South (3 1/2 miles off of highway 641/62 at Suawanee) on the shores of Barkley Lake. MAP

In 1961 when the area was being cleared for the lake Pastor Jerrell White gave the church its present motto, "The Lighthouse on the Lakeshore."

Since the completion of Barkley Dam the church is now located in the center of the lake area and its activities. Many members were forced by the lake to move from this community by many of them travel back from other areas to worship in their home church where they can extend a "down home welcome" to the new residents of the community and to the many visitors and tourists to the lake area.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church is a member of the Caldwell-Lyon Baptist Association, the Kentucky Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.



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