Reverend
Larry H. Williams
1971 - 1992

Reverend Larry H. Williams, the ninth pastor, came to Zion Hill in 1971. He came with extensive experience as a minister and pastor.  For at least seven years, he held the position of Assistant Pastor to Dr. William Holmes Borders of the Wheat Street Baptist Church, in Atlanta, Georgia. He also served as the Pastor of the Bethesda Baptist Church of Opelika, Alabama for six years, and as Pastor of the historic First Baptist Church, in Montgomery, Alabama for ten years.

 

During Reverend Williams' first year at Zion Hill Baptist Church, he was motivated, with the support of the church family, to move from the McDaniel Street location to a new location.   Five years later, under his leadership and that of Deacon Chairman L. D. Keith, the church purchased and moved into the 815 Lynhurst location on May 16, 1976, on the corner of Lynhurst Drive and Benjamin E. Mays Drive.  The property comprised five acres of ground space, a three-story office and educational Building and a modern church nave seating 900.  Also, located on the property were two houses.  The church was originally built in 1965 by the West Manor Baptist Church, who sold to the Free for All Baptist Church, from whom Zion Hill made the purchase in March of 1976. 

 

While many members supported this move, there were some who did not.  Some of those who did not support the move contemplated creating their own church.  This group met on a regular basis to plan the separation.  While a new church was not formed, some left Zion Hill to either remain at the McDaniel location or to join other congregations.

  

Reverend Williams’ business acumen led the congregation in liquidating the mortgage and all other indebtedness in three and one-half years. This indebtedness included $400,000 for the purchase of the church building and $103,000 for renovations and furnishings. 

 

Under Reverend Williams’ leadership, the church motto was, “Faith, Hope and Love” and the theme was, “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.”   Through Christ, Zion Hill flourished under Reverend Williams’ leadership.  In his first year, on Sunday, July 30, 1972, the church celebrated and highlighted his accomplishments, as the follows:  120 new members (43 members united with the Church in one service), sixty-five baptisms, renovations of the interior and exterior of the building, demolition of old houses on Smith Street, and installation of a new Steeple and a new Bell Tower.   He also organized the Young Adult Fellowship Club; restructured and reorganized the Trustee Board, allowing women to serve for the first time; restructured the Brotherhood Club, and organized the January and May Clubs.  He also designated all the birth month clubs to be permanent organizations of the Church. 

 

Reverend Williams continued to build new programs.   He established the scholarship program; the Sunday morning radio program thrived; and the church had a strong educational ministry.  He established December as Member Registration Month, where each member would update his or her contact information, occupation, and auxiliary.  He established many special days to raise funds, such as Women’s Day, Men’s Day, Youth Day, Auxiliary Day, and the Easter Tea, where all auxiliaries made donations to the church and decorated their tables, to be judged.  Christian Family Day was held on Mother’s Day, where the oldest and youngest mothers and the mother with the most children were honored.  The fourth Sunday in June was Denomination Day, where the structure, function and meaning of our denomination were highlighted.  The Sunday School would sponsor a general Picnic/Fun/Play Day.  The choirs would present an Annual Concert.

 

Reverend Williams, gospel preacher and tender loving shepherd, served the entire church family until his retirement on December 16, 1992.   He died eleven years later, in 2003. 

 

After Reverend Williams retired, Reverend Diane Fearn-Crews (July 1993 – January 1994) faithfully served as Interim Pastor