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Mount Zion Baptist Church, a longstanding pillar in the Greensboro community, has announced a bold and transformative healthcare partnership with Novant Health that promises to bring life-changing services to Southeast Greensboro.
Unveiled on July 28 during a joyful celebration filled with balloons, music, and community leaders, the collaboration marks the launch of a multiphase healthcare initiative that includes a mobile clinic, on-site telehealth services, and plans for a full-service, state-of-the-art medical facility.
The effort is led by The Mount Zion Development Company—an initiative established by the church to reimagine how faith-based institutions can actively meet community needs. Working alongside Novant Health, one of the region’s most well-known healthcare providers, Mount Zion is taking a bold step to bring high-quality medical care to a historically underserved part of the city.
“We consider this an answer to prayer,” said Bishop Bryan J. Pierce Sr., senior pastor of Mount Zion. “Our congregation understands the unique healthcare challenges facing our community here in Southeast Greensboro, where access to medical services is not as readily available as it is in other parts of the city. We’re delighted to link arms with Novant Health to create a new destination for our members and the larger community to access the care that they need. We’re committed to building stronger communities through better care.”
Pierce emphasized the church’s mission to be a solution-oriented force in the lives of the most vulnerable.
“What we believe we have been called and proposed to do, is to fill in the gap by leveraging some of our land, our resources, and whatever influence we may have, to reach the least, the left out, and the lonely,” he said.
Dr. Chan Badger, president of Novant Health’s primary care services, outlined the multiphase plan that will begin with a mobile care cruiser offering primary care screenings this year, followed by a telehealth kiosk in the church and, eventually, the construction of a two-story 40,000-square-foot medical office building on the church’s Zion Hills campus.
This facility will offer convenient access to primary care, women’s health services, pediatric medicine, diabetes management, endocrinology services, heart and vascular care, employer solutions, on-site lab, imaging services, and a community health social worker.
“Mount Zion Baptist Church operates like a lighthouse in this community,” said Badger. “Our goal is to simply complement that work by making trusted healthcare services more accessible in this region.”
In the meantime, while construction is underway on the larger facility, a portion of the church will be temporarily converted into a multispecialty clinic, with an estimated launch in three to four months.
“We will reimagine what the future of healthcare looks like in this area. This is truly our most innovative collaboration today,” said Badger.
The future medical office building is also expected to serve as an economic driver in Guilford County, creating more than 60 full-time jobs in the region.
“This is a critical milestone,” said Councilwoman Sharon Hightower, who represents District 1, the home of Mount Zion.
“Let’s be honest: for far too long, Southeast Greensboro has been overlooked when it comes to strategic investment and sustainable economic development. We’ve seen the impact of underinvestment—limited job opportunities, under-resourced infrastructure, and the absence of accessible services,” she said.
Emphasizing the project’s role in driving economic development, building a stronger workforce, and uplifting quality of life in Southeast Greensboro, she noted, “In the months to come, we will hear more about what this partnership will bring: new services, resources, jobs, and facilities,” Hightower said. “But make no mistake, this is not about any one building. This is a foundation for economic justice and community renewal.”
The healthcare component is just one piece of the broader Zion Hills vision. The Mount Zion Development Company aims to transform 65 acres of church-owned land into a vibrant, multi-use campus that includes senior housing and single and multi-family residences, as an objective of its five-year strategic plan.
Fransina Miller, a member of Mount Zion’s Elders’ Council, shared her personal connection to the senior housing initiative.
“That part really touches my heart. When my mom became an elder, it was very difficult to find her a great, safe and affordable place to live,” Miller said. “I know we’re going to create a great community for our seniors to live in peace in their last days.”
Bishop Pierce sees the Zion Hills project as a continuation of the church’s legacy of service.
“This project is aimed to continue to address hunger needs and housing needs in our community—and healthcare.”
Mount Zion plans to release more details on the full development later this year.
