Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Smarr, GA
Pioneers for Christ in Monroe Country
(1822 - Present)
In the early 1800s, Monroe County was still the wild west of Georgia. It
was largely unsettled and controlled by the Creek Indians. It wasn't until
1818 that the United States made a treaty with the Creek Indians to acquire
lands east of the Ocmulgee River. At that time, the main district of the
Methodist denomination in Georgia stopped at the east bank of the Ocmulgee
River. However, traveling Methodist preachers were eager to share the
Gospel of Christ. They were already crossing the river to spread the Word
of God in the wild west. Among them were Andrew Hammill and John Wimbish.
They are credited with organizing several Methodist societies in the western
territory even before the Methodist denomination named it the Monroe Mission
in 1823.
One of those early Methodist societies was our very own Mt. Zion, known
today as Mt Zion United Methodist Church. When Monroe County was chartered
in 1822, the founders of our church were already here as witnesses for
Christ. In the year 1825, Mt Zion hosted the first camp meeting in Monroe
County near the old Mt Zion location one mile south of our current church.
A brush arbor with log benches was erected. People came from all over to
camp out for the four day event. Over 100 tents were pitched with about
10,000 people attending and 100 people gave their lives to Christ.
In 1907, Mt Zion moved to our current location in Smarr on an acre of land
donated by Mrs. Mary Thrash and Mrs. Hattie Rumble. The main building was
40 by 30 by 14 feet with eight large stained glass windows, pulpit, altar
rail, plastered inner walls, and an arched ceiling. There was also a Sunday
school room, a vestibule, and a bell tower. There have been several
additions over the last 100 years, such as a fellowship hall and more Sunday
school rooms. In 2004, Mt Zion purchased 6 more acres of land for a new
facility to help us continue to serve the community and grow the Kingdom of
God.
Mt ZionUnited Methodist Church
Pastor - Rev. Chris Mullis
Located at:40 Rumble Rd, Forsyth GA, 31029
Mailing Address:PO Box 261, Smarr, GA 31086
