Rev. A. Carl Prince, a second-generation, ordained Baptist minister, will bring his talents to Zion Baptist Church as its new pastor according to an anonymous church source.

The election was held this past Sunday to confirm Prince, but at this present time, no one at Zion was prepared to go on the official record.

“At this point and time, it’s a little premature. We just had the election on Sunday. So, we really don’t have anything to confirm,” a church officer said.

“There will be a time when an official statement will be made, but at this time, we really can’t confirm anything.”

The unauthorized source said a considerable majority confirmed Prince.

Prince will be looking to extend the church’s legacy of dedicated pastors who have a pulse on the community. Throughout his ministry, he has been an advocate for the urban underclass by promoting numerous initiatives that would aid in their plights. He has also been speaking truth to power since an early age and has provided leadership to the historic central Virginia Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia.

Additionally, Prince is a 21st-century pastor who has excelled in fusing technology with praise. His thesis, “Beyond Social Irrelevancy, Reclaiming Young Adults Age 18–30 to the Church: Our Technological, Ecclesiological and Existential Imperative,” is the linchpin of his candidacy for a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Howard University School of Divinity.

Prince’s education includes the completion of the Scholars Program in Theology at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.

Prince is published, and his works include “Simply Marvelous,” a sermon published by the U.S. Library of Congress.

A Virginia native, Prince is the son of the late Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Walter R. Prince Sr. and was reared in a strong, Baptist family.

Prince is also a graduate of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University with a Master of Divinity degree.

While serving as an assistant to the pastor at a large church in Richmond, Prince was assigned to carry the gospel to the airwaves and was heard on the air at CBS affiliate WTVR YV 6 in central Virginia.

At Virginia Baptist, Prince was leading the congregation in a multi-million dollar capital campaign, and with his visionary ability he orchestrated the largest vacation bible school in the community.

Prince has served on several municipal boards and commissions. He blends preaching with pragmatism to connect the dots between faith and social empowerment. His work in urban settings combines advocacy and entrepreneurial endeavors to create self-help programs for the under class and middle class.

Prince will be coming to Zion with his wife, Princess M. Prince, of Durham, North Carolina.

Zion, located at 3600 N. Broad St., was founded in 1882 and was started as a missionary prayer meeting in 1882 by Rev. Horace B. Wayland. Zion has made its mission to be a church carrying out the mission of the covenant. A handful of pastors have led the congregation with this priority, including the late Leon Sullivan who was hailed as the “Lion of Zion.”

Under his leadership, membership grew into the thousands, and various programs were initiated such as a daycare center, employment agency and credit union. After his retirement in 1988, Rev. Gus Roman, who added to Sullivan’s contributions through his own efforts such as the Zion Center for Corresponding Biblical Studies, weekly Bible study and spiritual retreats, succeeded him.