WHO WE ARE
Honoring the past, celebrating the present, and revolutionizing the future. Learn more about our history and vision for our future and what it means for you.
Who we are
We are a loving church with a loving pastor in the heart of Dayton, Ohio whose mission is to empower God's people by bringing them into the knowledge of God through evangelism, revitalization, and shared ministry. We are a family of individuals that found hope, love, and peace in Jesus Christ and want to share His love with our neighbors near and far.
Where we come from
In 1937, the Dayton, Ohio A.O.H. (Apostolic Overcoming Holy) Church organized under the prayerful leadership of Bishop W. T. Philips of Mobile, AL. During this time, people needed refuge, a safe place to live, and a peaceful place to worship to gain strength and encouragement to weather the pressures and storms of life during the Great Depression. The first A.O.H. Church in Dayton, Ohio opened in the homes of its first members. They continued to worship and fellowship together in homes until 1938 when those few members moved into their very first church building. The building was coal-heated but their soles were fire-baptized. The church was situated in the middle of the block at 180 Hawthorne Street in the heart of Dayton’s westside.
Throughout its legacy, a series of pastors led the Hawthorne Street A.O.H. Church, including Elder Mack Kemp, Elder E. W. Cox and in 1951, Elder W. E. Locust. The congregation grew, and in 1962, under the leadership of Elder Locust, moved into a much larger church building at 12 College Street and became Mt. Zion A.O.H. Church of God. Elder Locust served the Mt. Zion congregation until his death in 1964. Following the passing of Elder Locust, Bishop Phillips appointed his spiritual son to pastor Mt. Zion. Elder James Finley journeyed from Mobile, Alabama and assumed the leadership position of the Dayton church and occupied the pastoral position for 11 years. Elder Robert Jackson pastored Mt. Zion from 1973 until 1975.
In June 1975, Elder John H. Mathews, Jr. became pastor of the Mt. Zion A.O.H. Church. During his tenure, Elder John H. Mathews was ordained Overseer Mathews, then later, Bishop Mathews, and the assistant presider of the A.O.H. Church of God. In 2002, the Mt. Zion A.O. H. Church congregation moved into its custom-built new sanctuary located on Bishop John H. Mathews, Jr. Way, and in June 2015, Bishop Mathews was consecrated Senior Presiding Bishop of the Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God, Incorporated. In August 2017, the Lord saw fit to call Bishop John H. Mathews, Jr., home from his labor in the vineyard. In October 2018, the new A.O.H. Presider, Bishop Lawrence Williams installed Elder Darius Stanley as pastor of our church.
Where we're headed
We are on a mission to see the city of Dayton transformed. We want to impact and spread the Gospel to as many souls in our community as possible through evangelisms, mission projects, and community gatherings. We believe in always moving forward and aiming for continuous growth as we perform the mission of the Kingdom.
What this means for you
No matter where you are in life or your journey as a child of Christ, we welcome you with open arms to become a part of our family here at Mt. Zion. We are always saving a seat for you and want you to feel welcome and excited to grow with us in Christ. If you are ready to plan your visit, click here. If you would like to learn more about our mission and beliefs, click here. Or if you would like someone from our congregation to reach out to you, simply fill out the form below.