How it all started...
Zion was founded on Hasty School Road in 1909 by several local families who desired a reformed congregation in their community. So on February 7, 1909 they had the first meeting of the newly established Zion Reformed Church. In 1934 the Reformed Church in the United States and the Evangelical Synod of North America united to form a new denomination called the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Accordingly, the church changed their name to Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church on June 26th of that year. But then 23 years later the Evangelical and Reformed Church united with the Congregational-Christian Churches and became known as the United Church of Christ. The church then changed their name again, adopting the name Zion United Church of Christ on June 25, 1957.
The church had started with just 29 original members but were now much bigger, so they needed a new facility to meet in. In 1957 construction began on a new building just behind the original building. The new (current) building hosted its first service on April 6, 1958 with 349 people in attendance.
Just three years earlier, in 1955 they had completed construction on a parsonage. They added to their footprint on Hasty School Road in 1970 by building the Zion Church Hut and then in 1983 by developing a neighboring 8-acre tract into ball fields and an outdoor recreation area, which the community still enjoys today.
The church had started with just 29 original members but were now much bigger, so they needed a new facility to meet in. In 1957 construction began on a new building just behind the original building. The new (current) building hosted its first service on April 6, 1958 with 349 people in attendance.
Just three years earlier, in 1955 they had completed construction on a parsonage. They added to their footprint on Hasty School Road in 1970 by building the Zion Church Hut and then in 1983 by developing a neighboring 8-acre tract into ball fields and an outdoor recreation area, which the community still enjoys today.
Expanding the vision...
In recent years the church has returned to her roots in some ways. There has been a recommitment to the gospel, which was outlined as a foundational conviction in the original charter which mentioned a commitment to expositional "preaching of the Word, administration of sacraments, the exercise of Christian discipline, and to adopt and prosecute from time to time such measures as are in harmony with the Spirit."
In 2023 the Zion membership voted to leave the United Church of Christ and become and independent congregation, now identifying as Zion Church Thomasville. In the time since, the church has defined a new Statement of Faith and experienced a renewed vision for gospel ministry.
In 2023 the Zion membership voted to leave the United Church of Christ and become and independent congregation, now identifying as Zion Church Thomasville. In the time since, the church has defined a new Statement of Faith and experienced a renewed vision for gospel ministry.
Where we are headed...
Zion Church is excited to have recently celebrated several baptisms and received several neighbors in membership. We have welcomed several outside musical groups to the Sunday morning worship experience, providing variety in music style while holding to sound lyrical depth. We are building a team of instrumentalists, vocalists, and technicians internally to enhance the Sunday morning worship experience, and making upgrades to our facilities to support this endeavor.
Zion actively partners with several local community agencies including Cooperative Community Ministries, Backpack Beginnings, The Father's Storehouse, and New Life Family Outreach, which mobilize many of the people in our congregation to leverage their time, skills, and experience in service our community in the name of Jesus.
We are actively praying that God would increasingly use Zion to impact our community for Christ, while sharing the peace, hope, and joy of the gospel through worship, service, and fellowship.
Zion actively partners with several local community agencies including Cooperative Community Ministries, Backpack Beginnings, The Father's Storehouse, and New Life Family Outreach, which mobilize many of the people in our congregation to leverage their time, skills, and experience in service our community in the name of Jesus.
We are actively praying that God would increasingly use Zion to impact our community for Christ, while sharing the peace, hope, and joy of the gospel through worship, service, and fellowship.
