About Little Zion Baptist Church

EXCERPTS TAKEN FROM CHURCH HISTORY AS WRITTEN BY SIS. LULA BREAUX, PRE-KATRINA

ORGANIZED: 1910 – UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF REV. HENRY CLAY WILLIAMS

PLACES OF First edifice was located in the 1300 block of Eagle Street

WORSHIP: Thefirst church was built in 1926 – destroyed by fire in 1930.

The second building was a temporary house of worship that existed until

 1948 when it was demolished to build a third.

The third and permanent building was located at 3110 Fern Street –this land

 was later purchased by the City of New Orleans for Earhart Boulevard

Temporarily, worship was held with Rev. C. J. Allen at St. Joseph Baptist Church

1954 - Little Zion relocated to 3231 Audubon Street

1985 -  A new sanctuary, attached to the existing building was dedicated to the Glory 

Of God. In 1996, Little Zion celebrated the Note Burning. – In 2005 the building was damaged by Hurricane Katrina and before renovations could begin was irreparably further damaged in 2006 by a tornado.

October, 2005 – May, 2006 worship was temporarily held with the Sunlight B.C., on Coliseum Street where the late Rev. James Parnell, was Pastor. 

May, 2006 worship was moved home to the Little Zion Multi-purpose building

Located at 4821 Earhart Blvd. 

PASTORS: Rev. Henry Clay Williams 1910 – 1916

Rev. R. L. Land 1917 – 1921

Rev. Sidney G. A. Payne 1922 - 1949

Rev. Jessie James Carter, Jr.  1949 - 1964

Rev. Roosevelt Bryant, Jr.  1965 - 1969

Rev. Henry Lee Galloway 1970 - 1971

Rev. Walter Hardy, Jr.  1971 – 2024

1971 Forward: Purchase of additional property for parking on the corners of Audubon and

Forshey; Earhart Blvd. railroad side of church; Earhart and State; Forshey and 

Audubon Court, Earhart Blvd. side of the Dixie Cement Company

Purchase and renovation of building at 4821 Earhart Blvd.-Multipurpose Building.

Purchase of house on corner of Audubon St. and Forshey St.

Purchase of Moss property on Audubon Court

Purchase of school bus used for transportation 

  Purchase of 3 vans, one as replacement for the 2 lost during Katrina in 2005

  Established Evangelism Team, Youth Ministry, Attendance at Louisiana

 Baptist Youth Encampment, Mid-Day Ushers, Chancellor Choir, Youth

 Mass Choir, Open-Air Revivals, Little Zion Fitness Class, Nurses Guild, much more.

1910 =========== 2025

LITTLE ZION BAPTIST CHURCH

115TH ANNIVERSARY 

CHURCH FACTS - continued

Groundbreaking: March 28, 2015…The day has come. On this great day, the Little Zion 

 Family, along with friends, Architects, Builders and Community, broke 

 Ground for the rebuilding of Zion to begin. As foundations were laid and steel

  and concrete/cement were being erected and poured, the next chapter in the

 History of Little Zion Baptist Church was being written.

Dedication: March 6, 2016… “The Dawn of a New Chapter” – Little Zion returns to the site 

of 3231 Audubon Street as we celebrate NEW LIFE in the Dedication of God’s Edifice. 

  But Still We Rise - Facebook page activated – LITTLE ZION GOES LIVE!

June, 2019 – The Little Zion transportation ministry was placed in service.

2020 – COVID-19 invaded the United States and a pandemic beyond proportion 

occurred causing Zion to temporarily close its physical doors but opened a new

avenue for Pastor Hardy to reach his ‘sweet children’. Zion’s audio technicians took advantage of this opportunity and Zion truly went live. First through telecommunication and later using video. But Zion thrived and came back to the physical building with zeal. Zion has had some ups and downs, but through it all, we have learned to trust in Jesus, we have learned to trust in God. Through it all, we have learned to depend upon His Word.

On August 9, 2024 – our Lord and Savior called our humble and precious Shepherd, Rev. Walter 

Hardy, Jr. home to Glory. We, his ‘sweet children’ mourn deeply as we are now in the process, with the

guidance of the Holy Spirit, of seeking a Pastor for this the Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church. 

Your prayers are needed as we embark upon this very tedious journey. Yet Still, We Will Rise!!!!!!!!

2025 – Joint Vacation Bible School Session with The Nazareth B.C., Rev. Marc Napoleon, Pastor. Under the auspices of the Ideal Missionary Baptist and Educational Association, Inc. election and

Installation of a new Board of Trustees, Ordination of Minister John Selvage, Host Church for the Louisiana Baptist State Convention and Congress of Christian Education. Yes, Still, we Rise!!!

July 27, 2025 – Celebration of 115 years of continuous, dedicated service to God and the community.

With whom and where does the next chapter begin? Zion, are you ready for the challenge?