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ZION CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
Founders of Zion Chrisitian Ministries
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A Growing Ministry in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
It was July of 2007 when God first gave Pastor Christopher Johnson the desire to plant a ministry in Murfreesboro TN. Pastor Johnson has always envisioned a ministry that would operate in the flow and the annointing of the early church at Antioch in Acts 11. This church would be a diverse, liberal, and energetic church where people could come worship and be led by the Holy Spirit regardless of their denominational upbringing, culture or race. Pastor Johnson, who has been in ministry for six years and pastoring for three, believed the Lord and held a meeting at a local resteraunt. Approximately 30 people who believed in the vision and felt the annointing of the Man of God to be their shepherd, prayed and believed that this would be a reality. They were ready to partner with Pastor Johnson and Elect Lady Toya Johnson in this effort. After the plan had been communicated and prayer had been rendered, Zion Christian Ministries held its first service on August 5, 2007 In the KUC Theater on MTSU campus. On that day, Zion added 82 members to its membership. After one month, Zion made yet another leap of faith and began holding services in the chapel of Hellum's Funeral Home on 611 South Highland in Murfreesboro TN. In December of 2007, Pastor J gave to the staff and core group the goals and objectives
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for 2008. These goals and objectives gave Zion a plan for the first year. 2008 was going to be a year of structuring and building a strong foundation. In 2008, Zion was able to experience extreme growth. God began to add to Zion as he deemed. Pastor J continued to add more structure to the ministry. Zion's vision statements and purpose statements became the central focus as every member was encouraged to attend "Vision Empowerment" (VE). This class was designed to communicate the structure, strategy and statements of the ministry. At its completion (VE) is now known as "A Look at Zion". Many of the staff and Core positions were filled over the course of 2008 as Zion began to lay the foundation for the future. In March of 2008, Minister Aaron Pitts was ordained into the gospel ministry and then named Assistant Pastor of Zion Christian Ministries in August of 2008. In the first year of ministry, Zion also laid the ground work for W.O.W. or Women of Worship service which is held 4th Tuesday of every month. Pastor Johnson also introduced Saturday Night Live (SNL) which was a formal "talk show" style service that featured guests speaking on various topics.
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Zion at Three Months (Saturday Night Live)
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Pastor J, Pastor Pitts, and the ZCM staff continued to find ways to lay the foundation for the future. They knew that there was a technological shift taking place in this generation and so it was necessary to develop a website that will manage our membership database, communicate effectively with our members and public, and be interactive so that members or public could use the features on the site. After much planning, Zion launced www.thisiszion.org. Members can leave blogs, recieve text messages, pay tithes online, view calendar, upload music from the praise team, take spiritual gift tests, Zion knowledge test, view streaming videos and much, much more. In November of 2008, Pastor J introduced the "Zion Initiative" which would be a four your plan Zion Christian Ministries. The Zion initiative would happen in four stages or four years.
1. Year One: Structure (2008)
2. Year Two: Grow (2009) R.E.A.C.H.
3. Year Three: Give (2010)
4. Year Four: Build/Purchase (2011)
As we approach year two, Zion has much to be thankful for. God has blessed us in just one year to experience a growth in our membership of 48 people giving us an total membership of 133 (Again this is in one year with out an evangelistic strategy or an attempt to grow.) We have most of our staff and leadership position filled. God has blessed us with a four part band; keyboard, sax, acoustic guitar, and drummer. Starting December 7 2008 Zion will hit the radio WGNS (AM 1450, FM 100.5) at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evening. In 2009, we will launch R.E.A.C.H. which is our evangelistic strategy and advertising campaign. Contact us at 1-866- 716-ZION We look forward to what God is going to continue to do at Zion Christian Ministries! "THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!!"
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