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At different periods during the history of Greater Mount Sinai, the Lord has provided us with leaders to bring the church forward. The history of Mount Sinai would not be complete without looking back into history at our roots and the 2nd Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Board to save the city of New Orleans from flooding. The people living in the Bohemia Spillway were relocated to different areas. In 1925, Second Mount Zion moved to the west bank of the Mississippi River to Narin, Louisiana on the Simpson’s Property, where Reverend Robert Simpson was Pastor. He served for approximately 15 years on the east bank and 10 years on the west bank. After Reverend Simpson's passing, the congregation voted and elected Reverend Norwood H. Williamson as the next Pastor. At the end of 1950's Second Mount Zion Baptist Church was dissolved.

On October 5, 1957 the congregation of the Second Mount Zion Baptist Church represented by Reverend Norwood H. Williamson, purchased a tract of land from Virginia Williams in Narin, Louisiana to build a new church. The land was paid for in cash at the act of sale. After the purchase of the land, Reverend Williamson, with the help of the sons who were also carpenters, built a new church.

This new church was named the Mount Sinai Baptist Church. By 1960, worship services began in the church. The first candidate that Reverend Williamson baptized was Sister Bertha Durden Jones. On Sundays, worship services were held, prayer service was held on Wednesday evenings and Communion observing the Lord’s Supper was on first Sundays.

During that time, church members paid 50 cents dues, which included pastor fees and building fund. The church had no debt. In addition to his pastor duties, Reverend Norwood H. Williamson was the President of the Christian Ministers Missionary Baptist Association of Plaquemines Parish from 1960 to 1965. On November 20, 1963, the Christian Ministers Missionary Baptist Association was invited by Reverend Norwood H. Williamson to ordain and install Minister Haywood S. Harvey, Sr., as Assistant Pastor.

Upon the death of Reverend Norwood H. Williamson, in 1973, Reverend Haywood Harvey was elected and served as pastor in charge and was then installed as pastor under the auspices of the Christian Ministers Missionary Baptist Association by the late Reverend Henry Hardy, Jr.

Mount Sinai Baptist Church represented by Reverend Haywood Harvey, purchased additional land from Virginia Williams on September 19, 1975. This property was for an extension to the existing church area for a kitchen, additional bathrooms and to enlarge the choir area. He was involved with renovations of the church including paneling, carpeting, and ceiling tiles. Reverend Harvey was instrumental in getting the members to start tithing. He licensed three ministers and ordained tow ministers. Reverend Harvey also served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Pointe-ala-Hache, Louisiana, from 1977 to 1991. In addition to his pastoral duties, he also faithfully worked in the Christian Ministers Missionary Baptist Association and held the offices of Finance Secretary, 1st Vice President and President of the Christian Ministers Missionary Baptist Association 1987 to 1991.

In 1988, Rev. Harvey recognized a need for an assistant and installed Reverend James Davis as assistant pastor at Greater Mount Sinai Baptist Church. Reverend Davis was elected and installed as pastor at Greater Mount Sinai Baptist Church in November 1992 by the Christian Ministers Missionary Baptist Association under the leadership of Dr. Wilfret Johnson. Rev. James Davis served as pastor at Mount Sinai Baptist Church until December 1999, when he resigned. Under Pastor Davis's leadership, he licensed Minister Robert Demolle to preach the gospel. In January 2000, the Christian Ministers Missionary Baptist Association asked Reverend Kenneth M. Parker, Sr., to service as Interim Pastor of Mount Sinai Baptist Church. Reverend Parker remained the interim pastor until December 2000.

In October 2000, Reverend Allen Johnson came to Mount Sinai Baptist Church on a 3 month trial basis. He serves as the 1st Vice President of the Christian Ministers Missionary Baptist Association of Plaquemines Parish.

The church members recognized the leadership of this young, energetic, and spirit-filled servant of the Lord, and he was elected and installed as Pastor on February 24, 2001. Reverend Kenneth M. Parker, Sr. stayed on and worked with Pastor Johnson for 1 year.

Under Reverend Johnson's leadership, there was a face-lift and beautification of the sanctuary. The secretary's office was enlarged and equipped with a computer, printer and other office equipment, a child's playroom was created and a foyer was added. Reverend Johnson was also blessed to ordain to the Gospel Ministry Reverend Hilry N. Thomas, Sr., and Reverend Joseph Spears, and license Minister Arlington Tugwell. The church's name was changed to Greater Mount Sinai Baptist Church.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina came causing devastation to the Greater Mount Sinai Baptist Church. For 11 months, the church did not come together for weekly worship service except for occasional meetings at a funeral as a few of the members passed on. On July 2, 2006, Bishop Wilfret Johnson opened the doors of Oakville Baptist Church and welcomed Reverend Allen Johnson and Greater Mount Sinai Baptist Church to hold worship services. GMSBC will be forever grateful to him and Oakville Baptist Church for welcoming us to use their edifice. About 40 members came from far and near to attend worship services. Not only were our individual lives changed by Hurricane Katrina, but Greater Mount Sinai's membership was affected because many members were displaced in different cities and states. A lot of those members still reside in other cities and states.

On July 9, 2007, the Greater Mount Sinai Baptist Church purchased land from Dade A. Vincent to build a new sanctuary at 27954 Highway 23 in Port Sulphur, Louisiana.

On August 17, 2008, a Groundbreaking ceremony took place commemorating beginning the building of a new edifice for the Greater Mount Sinai Baptist Church worship services. Officials of Plaquemines Parish were present for this historical moment, including Parish President Billy Nungesser, Sheriff Mr. Jiff Hingle, District Attorney Mr. Darryl Bubrig, Councilment Jay Freeman and Mrs. Audrey Salvant, Representative for Councilman Beauregard Turner.

The Bell from 2nd Mount Zion Baptist Church was taken out of the building after the church was dissolved in the late 1950's. The bell was returned to be a part of the new sanctuary, connecting a part of the 2nd Mount Zion Baptist Church building to the Greater Mount Sinai Baptist Church.

The Dedication of Greater Mount Sinai Baptist Church at 27954 Highway 23, Port Sulphur, Louisiana 70083 was on January 17, 2010. The new edifice has 7500 square feet which includes a children's room, secretary's room, 4 restrooms, Pastor's Study, kitchen, a conference room upstairs, recording room, and a baptism pool behind and above the choir stand.

On January 31, 2010, the first baptismal candidates in the new church were Terrence Encalade, and six children: Zion Mackey, Jazlyn Lightell, Kevin Riley, Keith Riley, Shaquan Gabriel and Jailyn Manuel. The first funeral was for Brothere Albert Mackey on April 10, 2010.

We hosted the Christian Ministers Missionary Baptist Association 58th Annual Session October 18-24, 2010.

The new state of the art sound system was purchase in December 2015 and new lighted LED sign was purchased and erected in the church front yard on October 2016.

Last Bible Study in the sanctuary was held on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Easter Sunday, a time for families to worship together! We were not able to assemble at our churches or shake hands and hug our neighbors, but all hope was not lost! Virtual Easter Service was held via Facebook Live on Sunday, April 12, 2020.

Drive-in Lord's Supper Service was held on Sunday, May 3, 2020, members honked their horns.

Saturday, May 9, 2020, Feed the Community (Grab-n-Go) 11am-2pm.

Back to Church on May 17, 2020 with Social Distance Guidelines in place.

We are still having weekly bible study on Tuesdays via the church website, not in the sanctuary. 2020 have been challenging for everyone filled with hurricanes, tropical storms, sickness and death.

Just remember - these are challenging times, but not hopeless times because we serve the risen Christ who makes all thing new-even our efforts at ministering to our community in their time of need. Let us be the hands and feet of Christ as we work together to embrace the days, opportunities an challenges before us.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:14.

Through the years, the dwellings of worship have changed, but the survival of the church is not in the building; it is in the hearts and minds of the people. Although membership here has been up and down throughout the years and low at the end of the last century, God he said where there are two or three gathered in my name; there I'll be their in the midst. We thank you Lord for allowing a faithful few to stand on your word.

In the early 1920's, land was taken from residents on the east bank of the Mississippi River in lower Plaquemines Parish for the Bohemia Spillway. This Spillway was intended by the New Orleans Levee

Second Mount Zion Baptist Church was organized by a group of people including Reverend Robert Simpson, Deacon Matthew Simpson, Brother Clem Cannon, Wheeler Edgerson, Cornelius Riley, the Raphael's and others. On November 18, 1904, land was purchased from Charles Ballay by the Second Zion Church Association to build a church. In 1915, the church was destroyed by a hurricane and services were held in the home of Sister Alice Raphael Simpson until the church was rebuilt.

Church History