A Brief History

When the first Lutherans began to move west and settle in the fertile fields of eastern Iowa one of  their first priorities was establishing a church, often along with a school, and then calling a pastor to serve the congregation as soon as possible.  They understood the absolute importance of having the ministry of Word and Sacrament present in their midst for the sake of their faith and the faith of their children.  

They believed and confessed that through His Church and through His gospel, the Lord Jesus Christ delivers the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life to those with faith in His death and resurrection.  It was this Good News of life and salvation in Jesus Christ that those first Lutherans desired to have proclaimed to them in all its beauty so that God's gracious gift of salvation might be delivered to them and their neighbors.

So it was in 1857, that a Lutheran congregation was assembled in Wilton, Iowa. The hope and dream of those first Lutherans was that Christ's saving death and resurrection might be proclaimed for the salvation of all who hear His Word in its truth and purity.  For more than 150 years now Zion Lutheran Church has been doing precisely that. And by God's grace and blessing we will continue to do the same until our Lord Jesus returns to gather His beloved Bride, the Church, home to His heavenly kingdom.

Purpose & Mission

Zion Lutheran Church and Preschool is a member congregation of The Lutheran Church Missouri - Synod.  Our purpose is to worship the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in truth and in faith.  Our worship is the response of a faith filled heart giving thanks and praise for the many gifts our Heavenly Father has given us in His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  Our mission is to tell the Good News about Jesus; that He alone is the Way and Truth and Life, that He alone came to be our way to the Father's Kingdom, and that He alone lived the perfect life in our place and died our death and rose again that we might have His life eternally.