Our history

Faith Story

by Kathy

Zion has been a part of my life since my baptism as a small baby. Zion saw me become a confirmed member as a teenager, marry the love of my life, confirmed my husband into membership before the birth of our daughter, welcomed our new born gift of God through baptism, confirmed her as a member, and will someday see her marry her love of her life. These were all the wonderful times Zion was there for me and my family.

Zion was also there during my brother’s battle with a brain tumor, my father’s cancer, my mother’s heart failure, and the loss of other loved ones. The family of Zion supported me and my family through all these things — understanding God’s command to love one another and to be our brother’s keeper.

So when asked, “Why Zion?” the only answer I can give is a question: Why not Zion if you want a place to belong and to come to understand God’s love?

Zion’s history began on March 29, 1862, when an Evangelical Lutheran congregation was established under the pastorship of Rev. J. Oetjens. For the first twenty-two years, the congregation met in a schoolhouse across the road from the present church.

In December of 1883, the congregation decided to erect a church building. One-fourth acre of land was given to the community by C. Salo. The cornerstone was laid in April 1884, and the church dedicated that fall. Much of the timber and labor were donated, so the total cost of the building came to just $1172.77. Over one-half of the building cost was borrowed.

The congregation purchased the first reed organ in 1886. On July 17, 1888 the congregation paid off the building debts and in 1889 the steeple was added. In 1899, the same bell that is rung today was purchased at a cost of $183.56 and installed the following year.

In 1912, Zion marked 50 years of service to the Lord with a 50th Year Jubilee on June 4th. Several visiting pastors spoke at the event, which also included a Confirmation Reunion. In its first 50 years, Zion recorded 250 baptisms, 185 confirmations, 45 marriages, 81 funerals, and 4,650 communions administered.

The Sunday School was established in 1917.

Zion’s congregation joined with St. Mark’s of Ida in 1925 to form one parish. In September of 1926, the congregation left the Iowa Synod to join the Ohio Synod. In 1930, Zion became part of the American Lutheran Church.

After 96 years of being part of a two or three point parish, Zion separated from St. Mark’s to become its own parish in 1958.

Zion marked a century of service to the Lord in 1962, with events scheduled throughout the year. At the end of its first 100 years, Zion’s baptized membership was at 298. In its first 100 years Zion recorded 720 baptisms, 145 marriages, 226 deaths and 468 confirmations.

In May 1970, the congregation voted to build a new and larger worship and office area, and to remodel the original church into a fellowship unit and the basement into an enlarged church school. The cornerstone was laid January 24, 1971 and the new structure was dedicated on June 13, 1971.

Since that time the congregation has installed a new sound system (1990), a new organ (1990), a chair/lift elevator (1990), a paved parking lot (1992) and a major addition with covered entry (1993).

With this history behind us, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church will continue confidently into God’s future.