L. R. Shelton, Jr. began his service to the Lord as Pastor to First Baptist Church of Algiers in New Orleans, LA. He established Mt. Zion Bible Church in Litchfield, MN, in 1970 where he served for eight years. In 1978, he founded Mt. Zion Bible Church in Pensacola, FL. He remained Pastor there for twenty-three years, expanding the reach over the years to a worldwide ministry. Pastor Shelton never asked for money but trusted God to provide what was needed to carry on Mt. Zion Ministries. He lived to serve God and his faith.

Through the Mt. Zion Bible Institute, Pastor Shelton wrote Christian correspondence courses and distributed them worldwide. Mt. Zion Prison Ministry also provided a nationwide prison outreach ministry. This faithful servant of God touched thousands of souls worldwide. R. L. Shelton was married for sixty years to Loraine Shelton and had three children, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Pastor Shelton passed away in January of 2003.