The Family Worth Remembering
April 10, 2026
Bibb Mt. Zion traces its history back to 1862 and has been a concrete example of strength and perseverance in Middle Georgia. The church started just from a group of enslaved persons who prayed whenever they felt the spirit within, despite the difficult conditions they were in. Due to the inability to buy a lot for a building, the members prayed under trees, in their homes, and in fields. It took members years to gain their freedoms and save up money to purchase land and in 1884, the members got together to pay a sum of $1 to buy ½ an acre to build their church structure, but they were prohibited from holding public meetings or such in the building as it was for worship only, according to the seller of the land.
Over the years, members have upheld the standard of the church with multiple upgrades on the building’s exterior and interior through volunteer work. After years of being Mount Zion Church, in 1985 the church was officially renamed Bibb Mt. Zion (BMZ) in a vote of its members. Three years later, another vote was conducted, and members voted to build a new 4000 square ft building neighboring the original structure.
In 1999, Next Level Community Development Center Inc. was created under the Pastor Teddy Parker’s leadership to provide after school and summer programs for children under 18. Very shortly after in the year 2000, a non-profit summer camp was created called Camp Zion solely from volunteers and taught classes such as math, English, language, and Bible studies. This is also the year the current pastor, Paul Little II, became involved at the church participating in the summer camp program. Pastor Paul mentioned remembering the older ladies of the church working to offer food and drinks throughout the camp simply from the kindness of their heart, and ultimately the church grew bigger due to the volunteers back then. This helped open the New Dawn Counseling Center in 2006 to address mental health struggles in the surrounding community. Later, in 2014, Paul Little became the new pastor of BMZ following Teddy Parker.
Shortly after, in December of that year, the new worship center for the church was completed, seating 650, and the first service was held on New Years Eve that year, completing a huge goal for the church.
Pastor Paul has created many ministries with major focus on community during his tenure. Due to immense work under the leadership of the previous Pastors (Flemings, Dan Thomas, Ruffin Williams, E. D. Cummings, E. L. Bivins, W. W. Weaver, Joseph Anderson Holston, Christopher Tard, Teddy Parker Jr.) as well as Pastor Paul, the church earned the J Whitney Award (given out by the Boy Scouts of America) for their applaudable work in the Bibb County community. Now, Bibb Mt. Zion has become an astounding non-profit church due to volunteers, hard work of historic pastors, and prayer.
The newly built worship space of BMZ is large. The entrance of the building has multiple glass doors. Ushers wait outside to help guide and welcome people as they come in. The tan and cream-colored building has a rectangular lobby including several offices, and a restroom before entering the main service area. The Sanctuary has a beautiful large stage harboring instruments for the live band playing and an area for the women’s choir. There was also a gorgeous cutout window in the wall displaying a room where people can view baptisms, which are also shown on three big screens mounted on the wall in the front of the room. Overhead, there are two large balcony seating areas. The backs of the seats had QR codes attached to them containing information about joining the church and donating.
Worship at BMZ is highly expressive, participatory, and emotionally and spiritually engaging, which creates an environment where members are actively involved rather than passively observing. Congregants frequently clap, stand, sing along, and respond verbally during sermons, showing a strong sense of collective participation. Music plays a central role in many services, often including praise dancing, choir performances, and a live band, sometimes making up more than half of the service time. Even when music is less prominent, engagement remains high during the sermon through interactions and call-and-response.
The services are structured but flexible, allowing for variation depending on the theme or audience. Some services emphasized musical worship, while others focus more on scripture and teaching, such as verse-by-verse sermons centered on specific biblical passages. Pastor Paul played a central role in guiding worship and delivering sermons that combine instruction, storytelling, and personal experiences, making messages relatable and applicable to everyday life. We observed several important rituals and practices during our several visits, including baptisms, group prayer, calls to salvation, child dedications, and fasting, all of which emphasized personal faith and spiritual growth. Additionally, the church integrated technology into worship through live streaming, on screen lyrics and scriptures, QR codes for giving, and virtual participation, creating a hybrid experience that connects both in person and remote members. For example, virtual attendees can watch the sermon in real time, respond in live chats with comments and can follow along the scriptures and lyrics on screen as if they were physically present.
Member experiences at this church are defined by a strong sense of community, inclusivity, and emotional support. Attendees describe BMZ as welcoming, loving, and relationship oriented, with visitors immediately acknowledged and made to feel included through greetings, shoutouts, and personal interactions. The church is multi-generational, including children, teens, college students, and older adults, with separate services for kids and specific programs for youth that help foster connections across age groups. Members consistently experience emotional and spiritual support, as individuals openly express feelings during services, and others respond with care through prayer, physical comfort including hugs and handshakes, and encouragement.
From our observations, the church prioritizes relationships over rigid formality, encouraging meaningful connections between members and leaders. The pastor and congregation engage in approachable and supportive ways that resonate especially with younger individuals, by reaching out to teenagers and young adults and going out of their way to make sure they feel safe and welcomed. In one instance, one of the ushers invited us to lunch after service one Sunday. Beyond worship services, members are actively involved in a variety of opportunities, including scholarships, social events, volunteer activities, and virtual participation for those who cannot attend in person. This creates a supportive network that extends beyond religious practice, allowing members to build relationships, access resources, and receive guidance in different areas of their lives. Overall, BMZ functions not only as a place of worship but also as a close-knit community that fosters both spiritual growth and personal development.
Bibb Mt. Zion Baptist Church is more than just a place of worship. The Church plays an important role for making community connections, social interaction, and outreach. Public presence at Bibb Mt. Zion Baptist Church is very active. Church members fully participate rather than simply observing the service. Services reach beyond the members in the room and includes those watching online who can still feel connected and participate.
People of all ages attended the church, from children to elderly members. The congregation appeared to be predominantly Black. Children were involved with the service by participating in the choir. The dress style varied from casual clothing to traditional “Sunday best.” The church is predominantly Black and one of our group members, Kristi, noticed she was the only white attendee during her visits. In the midst of standing out, she experienced warm hospitality and was consistently greeted and made to feel very welcome.
Bibb Mt. Zion Baptist Church has a strong sense of community and a connected and supportive social network. It is noticeably clear from the social interaction before, during and after services as church members greet each with hugs, handshakes, and conversations. These interactions reflected strong relationships that go beyond the church setting. Emotional expression was normal and supported during the service. We noticed during one service that tissues were handed out to members who were brought to tears.
An interview with one church member explained how the community support extends beyond the church service. Members of the church check on each other and communicate through texting and ongoing interaction. Strong meaningful connections are likely to happen after the church service. Members are encouraged not to leave immediately after the service either. BMZ is not only a place of worship but a place to form connections and build community.
Another church member explained in her interview the importance of the church’s involvement in addressing community issues. She talked about programs such as after school initiatives, summer camps, college tours, and fundraising for families in need. She emphasized how being able to serve is not only organized by the church, but it is also very meaningful to church members. Community ties are strengthened through the outreach program.
Bibb Mt. Zion has a variety of programs. Their outreach program reaches out beyond Sunday worship. Their programs support not only church members but also the community. A community event offered by the church involves health and wellness ministries, it is called “Move Sundays.”
BMZ is successful in building community. A major strength is how it supports active participation and emotional connection with all its members. The church’s outreach program strengthens its role within the community. The worship style that is expressive with strong participation and loud music may feel unfamiliar to visitors. The church is very welcoming however.
Over the course of our visits to Bibb Mount Zion, we found the church to be far more than just a place of worship. It is an important center for community engagement, social support, and outreach in the greater Macon community.
Sikari Clifford is a Freshmen majoring in Nursing
Sanai Hood is a Freshmen majoring in Biology
Kristi Talocka is a Sophomore majoring in Graphic Design
The Macon Religious Communities Project 