Emmanuel United Methodist Church: Leadership

Zion Djátar, B.S., M. Div.

Servant Leader

Zion comes to us with a broad background in the field of Pastoral Administration and Human Services. He has served diverse/cross cultural communities for over 25 years during his pastoral leadership. Experience in Human Services include: Director of Rich’s Academy, an Alternative High School, in partnership with the Atlanta Public School System. In 1989 he and his faculty guided the school in receiving the “School of the Year” award, from the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). He has over 30 years of experience in the field of Psychiatric Social Work, with 20 of those years being in alternative education.

During his tenure as Director of Rich's Academy, Zion has served as an Ambassador of Alternative Education. That experience has brought him before an international clientele. Zion has been instrumental as a strategic planner in the replication process of community agencies in California, New Jersey, Washington, DC, and the Department of Education in London, England. He has worked with a number of organizations in the interest of Human Resource Development, some of which are: the United States Department of Education, the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Commission on Youth and Children, and the Florida Department of Education. As an educator, Zion has served as an adjunct professor for Beulah Heights Bible College, and has served on the Board of Trustees of Carver Bible College, both in Atlanta, Georgia.

As a Professional Development consultant, Zion has worked with a number of Colleges/Universities and Educational Systems such as Harvard University’s School of Education, Indiana University, Bethune-Cookman College, the Atlanta Public School System, and Fulton County Schools. Some of Zion’s clients are: The United States Army FORSCOM Division at Fort McPherson Georgia, MGR Food Services, Atlanta, Georgia, the Juvenile Justice Center of Fulton County, and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

Zion has appeared on national and local television/radio programs as ABC Evening News “The American Agenda” with Peter Jennings, WJBK-TV Detroit, MI HOVR-TV West Sacramento, CA, Regional Network Radio, Atlanta, GA, WGST Radio, Atlanta, GA, WCGL Radio, Jacksonville, FL, and HOPE Radio, Palatka. He’s been featured in several publications such as The Atlanta Magazine and the book, MENTORS: “Making a Difference in Our Public Schools”, Peterson’s Guides Publishers, 1992, as well as a featured author in the book, "Holy or Unholy Hip-Hop", SokheChapke Publishing, 2008.

Zion grew up in a small south Florida town of Dania where he personally experienced the "trappings" associated with urban life in a rural setting. From that rich experience and his personal growth and development, he has an acute awareness of the undeniable constraints children and their parents face living in "at risk" conditions. This awareness has caused Zion to champion the need for communities to invest in the education and development of rural and urban youth.

Zion received his Master of Divinity degree in 1987 from the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979 from Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida. He is a certified Mediator in educational disputes with the Florida Department of Education, a Certified Human Behavior Consultant with the Leadership Institute of America, President of the human resource consultant firm, Lion Share International, and Senior Pastor of Emmanuel United Methodist Church.

Having a strong belief in giving back to his community, Zion currently serves on the Department of Juvenile Justice Circuit VII Board, is a member of the local Juvenile Justice Council, Chairman of the Putnam County Anti-Drug Coalition, City of Palatka Weed and Seed Initiative Steering Committee member, and Director of Emmanuel United Methodist Church Teaching and Learning Center.