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Zion Lutheran Church of Bismarck, North Dakota, is the largest congregation in the North Dakota District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod. Total baptized membership currently approaches 1,500 members. From very meager beginnings dating as early as 1904, Zion Lutheran Church (formerly known as St.Johns Lutheran Church
until 1924) has enjoyed the blessings of God as Word and Sacrament ministry have been administered faithfully by eleven pastors.
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The history of German Lutheranism in Bismarck finds its beginnings in the early 1900s. There is evidence that some worship
services were available for resident German Lutherans in Bismarck as early as 1904. It was not until June of 1913 that the first resident missionary was assigned to the area. It
was 1914 before work in earnest with German people began specifically in Bismarck. Prior to 1914 weddings and other social functions were held in the local Methodist Church
building.
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From these early dates the Divine Services were held in a Norwegian Lutheran Church building later to be called Trinity Lutheran
Church. On April 30, 1924, the congregation of St. Johns Lutheran Church was re-organized and renamed Zion Lutheran Church with the dedication of the first church building located at 419 N 4th
Street, Bismarck on September 25, 1925.
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In 1950 the congregation broke ground for a new larger church building. The new building was to be located on Avenue D. On
September 2, 1950 the last services were held at the little white church. Dedication of the new church basement which would serve as the new church home for Zion took place September 9, 1950.
Construction began on the superstructure in 1956.
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Present Zion church building
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Throughout the history of Zion the Lord has blessed the congregation with steady growth. In 1916 Zion had 130 baptized members at a time when the
population of Bismarck was approximately 6,000 residents. Currently Zion has approximately 1,300 members on her roster with the population in Bismarck of 57,000 and a regional population of approximately 85,000.
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The history of Zion demonstrates mission awareness within the congregation. In 1967 Bethel Lutheran Church was opened as a daughter congregation of
Zion. This new congregation on the north side of Bismarck began with over 200 members transferring their membership to begin this new church. Within three years, records indicate that Zion had replaced
these departed members mostly with transfers into the congregation and a modest number of adult confirmations.
The community of Bismarck is comprised of farmers to professionals
of every sort. State government (Bismarck is the State Capital of North Dakota), agriculture, the insurance industry, manufacturing of agricultural equipment, banking, education and the medical arts account
for most of the employment climate in Bismarck. The membership of Zion has representatives from all of these groups. Located in the beautiful Missouri River Valley, Bismarck boasts an upper-middle class
majority that takes pride in the standard of living provided for its inhabitants.
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Zion is a part of the Bismarck/Mandan Lutheran School Association and the Martin Luther School. In the Spring of 2003 and the summer of 2008 Zion
completed two renovation and remodeling projects on the education wing. These projects will help Martin Lutheran School continue to grow in their ministry to the Bismarck/Mandan community.
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