Pastoral Update – Sunday, November 10, 2024 - the Installation Ceremony for Reverend Dennis Ray Anderson, D. Min. Pastor was held at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

“On June 24, 2024, the members of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church selected their 13th Pastor.”

Join us in Welcoming Our New Pastor!

About Pastor Anderson:

Reverend Dennis Ray Anderson was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma on November 27, 1960 and has been influenced by the church since he was a child. He grew up in a family that was prominent in the church. He is the grandson of Dr. C.M. Franks, who was a Pastor Corinth Baptist Church, Moderator and State President in Ardmore, Oklahoma. His family united with New Hope Baptist Church after a move to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Reverend Anderson had his early start of church service by joining the Children Choir and the Jr. Brotherhood. In 1975, the Anderson family moved to San Diego and joined the Calvary Baptist Church, Reverend S. M. Lockridge, Pastor.

After high school, Reverend Anderson enlisted for the United States Army and served until his Honorable Discharge in 1985. He then united with Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ under Elder Ernest Thomas.

Under Elder Thomas’s leadership Pastor Anderson served as a Junior Deacon, Junior Sunday School Teacher and eventually as an Assistant Pastor. He would later serve as Sunday School Superintendent, Evangelism President, Youth Department Regional Vice President, and Sanctuary Choir under the First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Southern California, Bishop J. A. Blake Sr., Bishop Charles E. Blake and under the Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Southern California, Dr. George Dallas McKinney, Bishop.

In 1991, Reverend Anderson moved from the Churches of God in Christ and united with St. Mary’s Baptist Church, under the late Rev. James Johnson Sr. and continued to serve the church after his election as Pastor in October 1993. From 2005-2007, Reverend Anderson served as Pastor of New Hope Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

On Monday, June 24, 2024, the members of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church selected Reverend Dennis Ray Anderson as our new Pastor.

He has served as Chairman of the Devotion Team, and as General Secretary for the Progressive Baptist District Association and Progressive Missionary Baptist District Association of Southern California under the leadership of Reverend R. C. Williams Sr., Reverend Clyde E. Gaines Sr., Reverend J. L. Whitmill and Reverend Walter G. Wells, Moderators.

Reverend Anderson holds an AA Degree in Life Science from Miramar Jr. College (Magna Cum laude), a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies from San Diego State University and a Masters and Doctorate Degree in Pulpit Communication/ Expository Preaching / Homiletics from Booker T. Crenshaw Christian College & School of Ministry Inc.

He has been happily married to First Lady Janice Anderson for 38 years and they have one daughter, Charity Anderson.