Rising from the ashes

Two years ago, Mt. Zion CME Church on East Union in Minden burned as members and others looked on.
After the fire, the congregation held services in the chapel of Benevolent Funeral Home across the street and later moved to the 14th District Building on Bailey Street.
But now construction in under way on the new church and members are looking forward to moving to their new home. Not only will they have a new church, they also have a new pastor -- sort of. This isn't the Rev. Jeffrey J. Whitmore's first time as pastor of the church.
Whitmore, 44, was pastor of Mt. Zion for two years, starting in 1988. Now he's back and and looking forward to great things for the church.
I recently sat down with Whitmore and longtime church members Mabel W. Stewart and her son, Robert Stewart, and Jennie M. Johnson. The group had great things to say about the church and its members. They also talked about the day they found out the church was burning.
Members will celebrate the church's 137th anniversary in September.
Look for more on the church, its new pastor and his vision for the congregation in an upcoming column.