Mount Zion CME Church

Mt. Zion Christian Methodist Episcopal Church was founded on Nov 11, 1922 by Rev. N.H. Huggins, and his family of sixteen, who came to Avon Park, Florida from Moore Haven, Florida. Before he founded Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church, Rev Huggins held Sunday school and church at his home on Castle Street; his first Stewards were Brother S.B. White, Brother C.W. Hall, and Brother H.K. White. Sister Mary Huggins, Sister Mamie Young, and Sister Mary Smith were his first Stewardesses. Mrs. Daisy Seaser from St. Mark Baptist Church was the First Secretary of Mt. Zion. 

When Rev Huggins decided to build this church, he asked Mayor Delaney for the lumber and told him "if you give us the lumber to build this church, your coffee will never drink bitter." Mayor Delaney gave him the lumber and most of it was carried by hand by his family. Mayor never did forget what he said about his coffee and he often made reference to it in future speeches. 

Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church had a humble beginning with a grand total of twenty-one members, Rev Huggins pastor Mt. Zion five years before given up his leadership to Rev. J. B. Allen from Winter Heaven, Florida. In 1944, Mt. Zion was rebuilt by the late Rev. D.W. Stanford, and under his leadership the name was changed to the New Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church. 

The church was reconstructed during the administration of the late Rev. J.B. Bright. We have been blessed to welcome many new members into our Christian family and saddened by the passing of many loved ones and many gone elsewhere, and as a result of loves ones gone or passed away. It was under the administration of Rev. Dave Mc Elvin were able to rebuild our membership. We have continued to labor in the vineyard and to reap the plenteous harvest. The New Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church may be small in stature but large with love and fellowship. We pray that New Mt. Zion CME Church continue to stand in the years to come, as it has stood for the past 92 years.