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“We, the General Baptists met at the John Thomison School House and went in an organization of the General Baptist Church.”

This is the first line in the minutes dated September 2, 1888. Shortly after the founding, the group moved to the Mt. Zion School and that site remains to the present time. The school was abandoned in 1935.

The General Baptist denomination began in 1823 near Evansville, Indiana. A minister named Benoni Stinson started the first church. He believed that Christ died for all as we refer to as “General Atonement.” Therefore the name “General” became a part of our name. In the year 1888 a young minister and family came out of Missouri into Arkansas preaching that principle and the articles of faith of General Baptist. His name was R. M. Smallwood. He was a fluent speaker and was able to establish several General Baptist churches in Arkansas. The first was located in present Greers Ferry, Arkansas and was named Post Oak Grove. From that church an Association of General Baptist Churches was formed named the Post Oak Grove Association. Mt. Zion was a charter member and is the oldest General Baptist Church still in existence from the founding date.

Mt. Zion survived during World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, and the great loss of population that occurred after World War II when families moved out of state to find better jobs. The church today is a multi-ministry church with an average attendance of over 75 each Sunday. We offer Sunday School classes for all ages and support a vibrant ministry that ministers to its membership and the surrounding area. The church supports the ministries of our general and local associations.

Our history has served us well but we are dedicated to meeting the challenges of the present and future generations’ needs. We recently launched a multi-media ministry that includes this website.