HISTORICAL MARKERS GUIDE: AUSTIN COUNTY

MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH Marker Location: 9384 Harvest Road, Sealy Marker Text: IN 1866, JOE AND ABE OSBORNE AND LOUIS THOMPSON ORGANIZED THE BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH. THE REV. WELSEY STEVENS WAS THE FIRST PASTOR OF THE CHURCH, WHICH WAS REORGANIZED AS MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE 1880S. THE CONGREGATION MET IN HOUSES AND LATER A LOG SANCTUARY BEFORE CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING FOR WORSHIP AT ITS CURRENT SITE. THROUGH THE YEARS, THE CHURCH HAS FACED SERIOUS ADVERSITY, EXPERIENCING A FIRE AND A MAJOR STORM. BOTH OF WHICH DESTROYED THE SANCTUARY. HOWEVER, MEMBERS REBUILT BOTH TIMES AND THE CHURCH CONTINUED TO EXPAND AND DEVELOP. AFTER WELL OVER A CENTURY, MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH STILL SERVES AS A SPIRITUAL LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY. (2006)