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THE SEA COAST ECHO
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Church Elders gathered to talk about next weekend's festivities at the Homecoming Weekend at Greater Mt. Zion AME Church in Pearlington. Pictured left to right are Elder Lillian Rogers, Church Member Gussie Crawford, Elder Mildred Wheat, and Elder Lillie Sams.
Greater ML Zion triumphs over Hurricane Katrina
BY BENNIE SHALLBETTER Staff Writer
Greater Mt.
Zion African American Methodist Episcopal Church in Pearlington has always been an important part of the lives of its parishioners. But during and after Hurricane Katrina it became first a life-saver, and then a center of hope for the return of the community that surrounds it. Now, near completion, the church will host a weekend of events.
On Friday evening. June 22 at 7:30 p.m. the church will hold its first event, An Evening of Music, since the storm all but destroyed the building. Special guests will be the Lee Chapel AME Church Choir and Ensemble from Nashville, Tennessee.
On Saturday, June 23, the church will host an afternoon cookout. On Sunday, June 24 at 2 p.m. the church will cel-
ebrate it's 113th year with a Homecoming Celebration featuring speaker Bishop George Matthews of the Rock Hill Missionary Baptist Church in North Carolina and the Rock Hill Missionary Baptist Choir.
"This is a weekend that will give us all the opportunity to celebrate family and the return of our church," said Rev. Frederick Fields. "It is the time when those families who have moved far away can come home."
While Greater Mt. Zion has been in the process of being rebuilt, the congregation has been welcomed with open arms into New Hope Baptist Church for many of their services and events over the past almost two years. New Hope was repaired first and seemed to fare a little better than Greater Mt. Zion, which had water up to the rafters.
Church Elder Lillie Sams and her daughter
Orelia Marshall and other family members know exactly how high the water was because they were in the attic, with flood waters lapping at their feet. Orelia swam out to a boat and with the help of family members managed to rescue several people. Lillie, 89, stayed in the attic. She said she was never afraid because she was confident that the Lord would watch over her.
"He was here directing our path in all that water-in the boat-he was here. Thi> weekend will allow us the opportunity to reflect on the past and celebrate being back in our church," said Orelia. "We have been blessed with the volunteers-it is amazing that people just want to help you rebuild your life."
"At first we thought only about helping people-later the main thought has become getting our church back
MT. ZION-PAGE 14
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