By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Mount Zion Baptist Church, located at the corner of 19th and Madison in Seattle, is preparing to install Rev. Dr. Paris Smith as their new leader on Oct. 21.
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Smith’s early life was marked by struggles.
“I grew up in a drug-dealing family and environment in the city of Detroit in 1963, the same year Dr. King came to Detroit and delivered his freedom speech,” Smith recalls. “My mother said you could hear Dr. King speaking right outside our apartment window. So, that began my journey.”
Smith experienced the challenges of street life at an early age, navigating gangs, drugs, and the incarceration of his parents, and according to Smith, his ministry was born out of these experiences.
“I graduated from high school at the age of 16 in 1980 and was introduced to the Lord by a good friend while hanging out with gang members. So, I was able to navigate those circumstances by the grace of God,” says Smith.
Over the years, the church became a place of healing and solace for Smith, offering peace of mind in a chaotic world.
“Church for me has been the calming force for my own well-being,” Smith remarks. “My mental and spiritual health have been anchored in the gospel of Jesus Christ, providing stability in unstable times.”
After a 31.5-year career with Ford Motor Company, Smith ventured into pastoral work in Washington, D.C., before being selected to lead Mount Zion Baptist Church. His advocacy for religious freedom and community unity forms the foundation of his mission.
The history of Seattle’s Black community is inundated with a sense of scatteredness. Because of systemic racial effects, many believe that Seattle has lost its Black neighborhood. Smith is a firm believer that by his calling, opportunity, and timing, his leadership has the potential to unify a dispersed African American populace. Smith expounds on the idea that there are no excuses. That through the work of God, unity in the community can be achieved.
“There are no excuses,” Smith proclaims. “We serve a God who is activated by our ability to believe in what we don’t see and that God has the power to manifest what we don’t see. So, I just believe that it is my calling and assignment to lead a church that Ezekiel would ask the lord from his prophecy, “God can these bones live again?” They have been scattered all over Seattle and the metropolitan area.”
“And, when Ezekiel was asked that question, “can these bones live…” Ezekiel responded to God, “only you knoweth Lord…” So, I will preach to the scattered bones, the scattered hope, the scattered love, the scattered disenfranchised, the fractured community, preach to what I see and prophesize whatever the Lord says.”
As it relates to his calling to Seattle, Smith’s vision is clear – to bring back not only the family of Mount Zion but also the entire Black community. He aims to help them come together and fulfill the divine purpose that God has called them to in this season of their lives.
Smith is well aware of his assignment. Mount Zion has, over the decades, commanded a very influential political presence in Puget Sound politics. Asked if he has plans to continue that legacy, Smith is very much aware of the power of Mt. Zion’s pulpit.
“In my interview with the Pulpit Search Committee, they asked me why did I want to come to Mount Zion,” Smith reflected. “I said I believe that it is my responsibility as a Black liberation theologian, trained in Black theology, it is my responsibility to pick up the Clarion horn and blow the trumpet for God on behalf of social justice, equal rights, speaking up for the poor, speaking up for those who are voiceless.”
“But doing it in a systematic way that actually empowers us and not parades us,” Smith continued. “So, in the history of the civil rights community and activism and the work that our civil rights family and ancestors have done, like Dr. King spoke, ‘marching is one thing, but economic empowerment is another. So, I believe if the Black community can galvanize their resources and become a political force that is recognized and respected, we can unify economically and begin to own and control our own community,” adds Smith.
Smith is adamant about one message, and that message is under his leadership, everyone is welcome. That all under the umbrella of God’s grace, Mount Zion welcomes all of God’s children with open arms.
“All I want to say is we want you to know that you are welcome at Mount Zion,” says Smith. “And that we are busy trying to do what God has called us to do, and if you can help us, you are more than welcome to join our community. And if you can’t help us, it’s okay, because we can’t stop to give our critics time to complain.”
“Because we come to disrupt strongholds, injustice, and anything that is hurting poor people in our city. We are coming to make a difference in people’s lives,” Smith concludes.
As Smith prepares to take the helm of Mount Zion Baptist Church, the congregation eagerly anticipates the positive impact his leadership will have on the community. Smith’s journey from a troubled upbringing to a beacon of hope and redemption serves as a testament to the transformative power of faith and resilience. He believes that by uniting the dispersed African American population in Seattle, he can create a stronger, more vibrant community.
“This is my philosophy for living, only the grave can stop me,” says Smith. “Which means, that as long as God gives me breath to breathe, another opportunity to do something, another day to make a difference, I believe that I need to do all that I can to make that opportunity as a gift that God has given me to make God proud is what I am going to do with my life and what he has empowered me to do with my life.”
