Rockford Baptist Church celebrates 100 years of service

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The New Zion Missionary Baptist Church was full of faith, food and fun as the community celebrated the church’s centennial.

Pastor Dr. K. Edward Copeland has overseen the congregation for almost a quarter of that time. He said this is a moment to be thankful.

“Well, I’ve been a pastor for the last 23 years, but I’m the third pastor, third full-time pastor in 100 years,” said Copeland. “So we’re celebrating the fact that God has kept us safe through a pandemic, through global turmoil and a whole bunch of it.”

100 years of service reflects dedication, added Copeland.

“Well, it speaks to the commitment and consistency of the congregations that we’re committed to, not only the community, but we’re committed to one another,” said Copeland. “So it’s just an issue of stability. New Zion has been able to accomplish a lot of what it’s been able to accomplish since, simply because it’s just a stable community, a stable congregation.”

Copeland said stability is what makes churches so important.

“We’ve been through a few different mayors and police chiefs and school superintendents, but we’ve tried to be a stabilizing force, not just in the neighborhood in which the community in which the building is located, but in the community at large,” said Copeland. “So it just means a lot to us as a church that Rockford is our home, that we love this community and we want to continue to serve this community for another 100 years.”

If you are interested in giving to the church, visit their website .

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