The Friendly Church on East 24th Avenue
Zion Baptist Church sits on a quiet block of East 24th Avenue in Denver's historic Five Points neighborhood, a single brick building with stained glass and a master pipe organ that has been welcoming worshipers since the early twentieth century. The congregation calls itself "The Friendly Church," and visitors who step through its doors find a longstanding African American Baptist community that has shaped the city since the Civil War era. Zion is recognized as the oldest African American church in the Rocky Mountain West and is a designated Colorado Historical Landmark.
The church gathers at 933 E 24th Ave, Denver, CO 80205, and its doors have been open without interruption since November 15, 1865. Services are held in English. Members include roughly 350 families with active ties to the congregation, and the church's history, archives, and continuing ministries have made it one of Colorado's most studied African American institutions.
A Sunday in the Sanctuary
Sunday at Zion begins with Sunday School at 9:00 AM in the main sanctuary, followed by morning worship at 10:30 AM. The worship service blends the staples of historic Black Baptist tradition - prayer, scripture reading, preaching, choral music, and congregational response - with the spirituals, anthems, contemporary selections, and gospel music that have come to define Zion's Music Ministry. Nursery care is offered every Sunday from 10:30 AM through the close of worship, and Children's Church gathers children ages five to twelve in Bledsoe Hall on the second and third Sundays of each month, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.
Midweek, the Wednesday Praise and Prayer Service fills the sanctuary at 7:00 PM. The Friday Route 66 Bible Study, originally scheduled for 7:00 PM, is in the process of resuming; current schedules are announced by the church. Tuesday mornings bring a Bible study from 11:00 AM to noon at the Zion Senior and Community Resources Center, 5151 East 33rd Ave, and the Prayer Conference Line rings three times a day - 8:00 AM, 12:00 noon, and 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday - for anyone who wishes to join prayer by phone at (712) 432-3900, access code 283505#.
Worship services are livestreamed on YouTube, and giving is accepted online through Givelify. The building is handicap accessible.
From Wagons and Determination, 1865 to Today
Historical records recognize November 15, 1865 as Zion's official date of origin. The founding members - among them Rev. William Norrid, the church's first pastor, his wife Rachel, and thirteen other charter families - arrived in Colorado from other territories and towns with limited resources, little education, and wagons filled with determination. The earliest members included ex-slaves, laborers, and soon-to-be civic leaders.
Zion's first house of worship, a twenty-five-by-forty-foot frame structure, was raised in 1867 on two lots at 20th and Holladay (now Arapahoe) Streets. By the late 1870s a brick building replaced it under Pastors R. M. Duling and J. B. Fields; under Fields the congregation grew past two hundred and extended ministry into the prison system. In 1891 about thirty members, led by Rev. Dr. W. P. T. Jones, departed to form Central Baptist Church. The years that followed brought pastoral strength from Rev. David E. Over, who in 1911 oversaw the purchase of the present church home from Calvary Baptist Church, and from Rev. John E. Ford and First Lady Dr. Justina L. Ford - the first African American woman physician in Colorado - under whom membership reached four hundred.
The longest pastorate in Zion's history belongs to the Rev. Dr. Wendell T. Liggins, called in October 1941 and faithfully serving for fifty years. Under Dr. Liggins the membership crossed one thousand, the Stovall Care Center was launched, Zion's Senior Center took shape, and Liggins Tower was built. He was succeeded in 1993 by the church's twenty-fifth pastor, Rev. Dr. Frank M. Davis.
Zion's archival collection - a nine-volume, four-thousand-page history titled They Came to Colorado with the Dust of Slavery on Their Backs: The History of Zion Baptist Church 1863-2001, along with obituaries, souvenir programs, and photographs - is now deposited at Denver's Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library at 2401 Welton Street, where it is available to the public for research.
Pastor Frank M. Davis and the First Lady
Rev. Dr. Frank M. Davis grew up as the fifth of twelve children in a single-parent home in Bryan, Texas, the "Brazos Bottom" city. He graduated from E. A. Kemp High School, studied at Aurora Technical Center in Colorado, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management in Christian Leadership from Colorado Christian University. He and his family came to Zion in 1982; he accepted the call to ministry in 1984 under the mentorship of Dr. Liggins. Following Dr. Liggins' death, Rev. Davis served as interim pastor and was elected Zion's twenty-fifth senior pastor in July 1993.
Rev. Davis's tenure has been marked by practical ministry to the wider Denver community. He initiated the Grant Writing Ministry, the St. Luke 14:21 Day Project to feed, clothe, and provide health care services to those experiencing hunger and homelessness, the Job Ministry, the Health Education and Service Ministry, and the Retirees Ministry. He worked with local media to broadcast Sunday services across Colorado, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land where he was baptized in the Jordan River, and led four missionary journeys to sub-Saharan Africa, establishing sixty-two churches in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, and Johannesburg, ordaining twelve pastors, and dedicating a borehole financed by Zion's members to provide fresh well water to rural communities suffering from cholera. He served eighteen years as Treasurer of the Western States Baptist Convention and was elected its President in 2012.
Among his honors are the Blacks in Government / Alpha Kappa Alpha top twelve MODEL men recognition, the Ambassador for Peace Award from the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace, the Pastor of the Year Award from the Colorado Gospel Music Academy and Hall of Fame, and the Pastor of the Year Award from ROHI Ministries. He often says, "I am the happiest pastor in the world."
First Lady Kathleen Davis, originally Kathleen Gow of Albuquerque, came to Zion alongside her husband in 1982. A former Catholic, she found her faith through the preaching of Pastor Liggins and has since served in the Children's Ministry, Young Matrons, St. Luke Day Ministry, and the Deaconess Ministry, which she joined in April 2008. The Davises have five children and seventeen grandchildren.
The Music Ministry
Music has long been a defining feature of Zion's worship. The Music Ministry, led by Bishop Charles L. Jackson, weaves spirituals, anthems, contemporary pieces, and gospel music into services and church-sponsored events. The Sanctuary Choir rehearses each Thursday at 7:00 PM, with musicians gathering at 6:30 PM. The Men's Chorus, called Hallelujah, leads worship on the second Sunday of each month and rehearses on Saturdays at 11:00 AM. The Children's Choir and Youth Choir, both being re-established, rehearse on Saturdays at 12:30 PM and 11:30 AM respectively.
Children, Youth, and Young Adults
Zion takes seriously its call to form the next generation in the faith. The Children's Ministry, led by Rev. Anthony Hodges and ministry team leader Sis. Rina Hernandez, plans and implements worship services and activities for children ages five to twelve. Children's Church meets on the second and third Sundays, and on the fourth Sunday children join the main sanctuary as ushers and choir. The annual Kids Bible Club, served with a free hot breakfast, takes place on first Sundays in July and August at 10:00 AM.
The Youth Ministry, under Sis. Angela Davis, gathers for youth Bible study on the third and fourth Saturdays at 12:30 PM, youth choir rehearsal on Saturdays at 11:30 AM, youth usher meetings on the third Saturday at 10:30 AM, and a monthly youth ministry meeting on the fourth Saturday at 11:00 AM. A Dance Ministry rehearses on Saturdays at 1:30 PM.
The Young Adult Ministry seeks to bridge the gap between the youth and the mature congregation, meeting for Bible study every Saturday except the first at 10:00 AM, for the Dance Ministry every other Saturday at 11:00 AM, and for Young Adult Usher meetings on the second Saturday at 11:00 AM.
Sunday School and Christian Education
The Sunday School Ministry, the teaching arm of the church, meets every Sunday at 9:00 AM in the main sanctuary under Superintendent Rev. Leslie R. Spates and Assistant Superintendent Deacon Mark Rice. The Tutorial Ministry operates the Zion Learning Center, offering one-on-one tutoring in reading and mathematics for students in kindergarten through fifth grade on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:00 PM. Volunteer tutors work to help twenty students raise their reading and math grades by at least one grade level over a semester. The Scholarship Ministry provides scholarship assistance to eligible college students who are members of Zion; application forms are available through the ministry.
The Deacon, Deaconess, and Trustee Ministries
The Deacon Ministry, led by Deacon Michael D. Sanderson, supports the pastor in spiritual matters, ministers to the sick and shut-in and the bereaved through a visitation ministry, and gathers annually for a Men's Retreat. The 2025 retreat is set for Friday, August 1 and Saturday, August 2 at Highlands Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center in Allenspark, under the theme "Peace in the Midst of a Storm" from Mark 4:35-41, and welcomes men from New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
The Deaconess Ministry, led by Deaconess Vivian Beanum, supports the pastor and his family, assists with the ordinances of Communion and Baptism, and meets the first Saturday of every month at 10:00 AM. The Trustee Ministry, led by Bro. Anthony Noble, serves as the steward of the church's finances and properties and meets the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 AM.
The Laymen's Ministry and the Women's Missionary Work
The Laymen's Ministry of Zion Baptist Church is dedicated to the support of the pastor and the local church in keeping with the Great Commission. The men pledge to assume the role God ordained, to be heads of their families, leaders in the church, and positive influences in the community. The General Mission Ministry, led by Sis. Sharon Fields Simpson, stimulates missionary spirit among men, women, and young people through prayer, Bible study, community activity, and regular contributions to foreign missions and to the Women's Convention of the National Baptist Convention. The General Mission meets the fourth Saturday of each month at 12:30 PM and oversees the Counseling, Job, Solace, and Tutorial Ministries.
Health, Counseling, Hospitality, and Job Ministries
The Health Education and Service Ministry, led by Sisters Reba Johnson, Chris Humphries, and Congregational Health Nurse Emma Jackson, promotes physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. The ministry partners with organizations such as 9 Health 365 and the Eastside Growers Collective, screens blood pressure at St. Luke 14:21 Day, and meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5:00 PM. The Counseling Ministry, led by Rev. Walter McMillian, applies God's word to life's situations for spiritual, social, and emotional growth. The Job Ministry, also led by Sis. Sharon Simpson, helps church members and Denver residents find employment and basic career-search skills, meeting Mondays from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The Shepherds Hospitality Ministry creates a welcoming environment for visitors and supports the pastor and his family.
Children's, Music, and Liturgical Detail
The Altar Guild prepares the pulpit and the pastor's study with care, providing flowers for the pulpit on Mother's Day, lilies at Easter, and folded palm crosses distributed on Palm Sunday. The Usher Ministry, led by Terral Moore, meets, greets, and seats everyone who enters the sanctuary; meetings divide by age group, with young adult ushers on the second Saturday, senior ushers on the third Thursday, youth ushers on the third Saturday, and children's ushers on the fourth Saturday. The Evangelism Ministry, led by Bro. Claude McPherson, presents the gospel to the lost through personal evangelism and film-and-fellowship events. The Solace Ministry comforts grieving families the night before a homegoing service with a meal and devotional. The Prayer Band prays for the sick, bereaved, and lost souls, accepting prayer requests with confidentiality. The Historian's Ministry curates the church's story, and the New Members Ministry welcomes those entering the Zion family.
The Zion Senior and Community Resources Center
At 5151 East 33rd Avenue, Denver 80207, Zion operates the Zion Senior and Community Resources Center, a separate location offering a food bank, a Healthy Aging Exercise Program, partnership activities through the Eastside Growers Collective and 9 Health 365, and King's Kids learning programs. The Center hosts the Tuesday Bible study and is the home of sewing classes and senior fellowship, with programming dates announced by the church.
The Family Resource Center and Forest Street
Zion's Family Resource Center operates at 2368 Emerson St, Denver, CO 80205 (phone 303-333-2780), extending the church's outreach into the wider neighborhood. The church also maintains a relationship with the Forest Street Compassionate Care Center, a sixty-bed skilled nursing, long-term, and respite care facility in the Park Hill neighborhood at 3345 Forest Street, Denver, CO 80207.
Mission and Beliefs
Zion's mission is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who do not yet know him, to provide Christian teaching and nurturing for those who do, and to assist in making God's kingdom a reality on earth by fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20. The congregation believes in the Holy Trinity, practices Holy Communion and Baptism, and welcomes people from all walks of life. Zion's motto, drawn from I Chronicles 16:29, is "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness," and the doors are opened wide in the name of the Lord Jesus to all who are weary, lonely, mourning, praying, sinning, or simply seeking.
Planning a Visit
Those planning to visit Zion will find handicap-accessible facilities, nursery care during morning worship, and a livestream on YouTube for those unable to attend in person. Sunday morning begins with Sunday School at 9:00 AM and worship at 10:30 AM. The Wednesday Praise and Prayer Service begins at 7:00 PM. Offerings may be given in person or online through Givelify. For more information or to contact the church office, call 303-861-4958 or write to 933 E 24th Ave, Denver, CO 80205.