The Reverend Dr. Sammie Earl Jones  |    |  BIO

Pastor Sammie Earl Jones was born in Doddsville, Mississippi on August 1, 1949. He is the eldest son of Ms. Bessie L. Jones and has one brother and one sister. He was baptized in the Olivet Missionary Baptist Church at the age of twelve after he accepted Christi as his personal Savior. He is married to Sandra Elaine Kelly and is the father of Reverend Shaun Ellison Jones (Lornetta).

Pastor Jones served his country in the United States Army from 1966 to 1969 and also in the active reserves from 1969-1976, achieving the rank of Specialist 5 (E-5). Pastor Jones answered the call to the Preaching Ministry in 1973 at the Olivet Baptist Church.

Pastor Jones received his Associate degree from Saint Louis University in 1976. He graduated from Lindenwood College in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. He received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Western Baptist Bible College in July 1992.

Pastor Jones served as Pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church, Columbia, Mo (1976 to 1979) In August 1979; he was called to the historical Mount Zion Baptist Church where he is presently serving as Senior Pastor. Pastor Jones is a community person leading the Mount Zion Church family in renewal of the near south side. Under his leadership, Mount Zion has completed construction of a new edifice in 1992, a new daycare building in 1995; two senior apartment buildings: a 38-bed unit and a 36-bed unit completed in 2000 and 2003 respectively; a Family Life Center comprised of a gymnasium and six new classrooms in 2005.

Pastor Jones serves as a local, state, and national denominational leader. He has presently serves as 3rd Vice President of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education. He has served as a President of the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Missouri, Director General of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education; Local Chairman and Host Pastor of the 1988, 1996 and the 2002 National Congress of Christian Education held within the Saint Louis area. Pastor Jones is Founding Moderator of the Philadelphia Missionary Baptist District Association (2006).

Pastor Jones’ accomplishments are numerous in the social and civil arena as well. He was named Who’s Who among Outstanding Men of America in 1973. He was inducted into the Distinguished Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in 1994. He is an executive member of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis; a life member of the St. Louis chapter of the NAACP; member of the St. Louis Ambassadors, Prince Hall Masonic East Gate #38; Chairman of the Fair St. Louis Minority; an Executive Committee Member of the Billy Graham Crusade Ministry, and an Ambassador to the Heartland Affiliate for the American Heart Association Power to End Stroke. Pastor Jones is a former President of the St. Louis Black Leadership Round Table and St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition (2003-2005).

He is a Board Member of several St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, St. Louis Connect Care, the Governors’ Commission on Crime, the State Advisory Board on Census, Martin Luther King State Holiday Commission, Grace Hill Association, and the School-based Management program of the St. Louis Public School System. Other notable accomplishments include an appointment to the Community Advisory Committee by Governor Mel Carnahan and Attorney General Jay Nixon as well as an appointment to the Ameren UE CDC Board by Governor Holden in 2003.

Pastor Jones’ greatest joy is proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and sharing his joy of prosperity and purpose with others.