photo by: Julie Stenger

Evangelist Clarissa Speaker has served as the interim pastor at Greater Zion Temple Church since June. Speaker will oversee the upcoming events which are planned for the church’s 100th anniversary celebration this week.

Sunday mornings. The day of the week when people awake early, dress in their finest clothes and travel to pray and rejoice in the house of the Lord.

But as everyone knows, not all houses are the same.

The year was 1925.

Those in downtown Steubenville were looking for a place for the community to go. A place where they would be welcomed and where they could come to be filled with the spirit of the Holy Ghost.

It was then that Brother Fred Blackwell and Sister Carine (Washington) Jamison began as members of what would become known as the Fire Baptized Holiness Church.

In regards to this particular structure, however, it was not your typical standard church building.

There was no steeple or bell tower in which to speak of. There were no padded pews or stained-glass windows. No choir loftor Sunday School rooms to recall.

No, this place of worship was simply a storefront situated in the downtown portion of the city on North Eighth and Kilgore streets.

One of the first churches to be originated among the Holiness churches, it would be led under the direction of Elder Calhune. People from throughout the city soon came in search of righteousness, hungry for the bread of life.

Little did anyone know at the time, but this storefront church would one day be celebrating its 100th anniversary. That celebration is scheduled to take place during the upcoming week.

It wasn’t until Elder Richard Young came to Zion Temple 1979 that the congregation had a leader who would remain with the church for a long period of time.

Throughout the years, the church continued to change its name.

It later became known as Greater Zion Temple and the Greater Zion Temple Church and Family Worship Center. Following Young’s departure, Elder Floyd W. Johnson began pastoring the church, joined by his wife, Willa.

It was during this time when the church decided to move, yet again, purchasing the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church at 500 N. Fifth St. The church still remains at this location.

“Under Elder Young’s leadership, our building was remodeled,” Evangelist Clarissa Speaker, the church’s interim pastor, said. “And with his watchful eye, the church grew in leaps and bounds.”

Although the church has seen several pastors come and go throughout its 100 years, and despite there having been many name changes of the church itself, there is one thing which has always remained the same, Speaker stated.

“The name may have changed but the standard of holiness has always stayed the same,” she said.

Today, the church has approximately 50 members in its congregation. There are fewer now than there was a few years ago, Speaker said, adding the number of members has fluctuated due to the COVID-19 epidemic and the fact that people have either moved away from the area or were older and died.

“We have been blessed with a fine congregation of young and old, but most of all, filled with the precious Holy Ghost,” Speaker said.

To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the church will kick off the celebration by holding a service at 7 p.m. Thursday at the church. Bishop Marcus McIntosh will lead the program.

The church will hold another special service at 6 p.m. Nov. 1 and led by Suffragan Bishop James Agnew.

The church will hold its Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 2. “We are also planning a card shower for Lady Dawkins who is leaving the area,” Speaker explained. She said cards are still be accepted and will be presented to Dawkins during the service.

In addition to its Sunday services, a mid-week service is held at 7 p.m. every Wednesday for those interested in joining.

Zion has a praise and worship team, along with performing outreach throuhgout the community.

Speaker said Dave and Melinda Iverson are heads of the outreach ministry.

The Iversons lead the visits to area parks and at nursing homes throughout Jefferson County.

The outreach at the nursing homes involve meeting in the community room, unless patients are unable to leave their room, after which church members will visit the patient’s room and have prayer with them.

“We take the church to the community,” Speaker said of the ministry. “We pray, sing and give testimonies and listen to others’ testimonies of how the Lord has brought them out of different situations. We have listened to testimonies of healing. We go to the North End Ballfield Park and support those who are there. When we set up and the music begins playing, people come over to the park or come out onto their porch and listen.”

Speaker explained when the outreach knows it will be at a certain location, the church will post the visit on its Facebook page to bring about awareness in the community.

Those interested in viewing the events and activities of the church can view its Facebook page at Greater Zion Temple Church.