These were difficult trips; roads could become bogs under heavy rains, and Indians and outlaws were real dangers.  Amalie died in 1928 at 94 years of age.  Others made early contributions to the development of Zion, too. H.T. Brauchle was a schoolteacher who came to Helotes in 1895.  Seeking someone to baptize his two children, Mr. Brauchle found Rev. Jacob Bader, a Methodist minister from Hondo.  He continued to come monthly, therafter, to hold services for Lutheran families in the Helotes area in their schoolhouse.  Rev. Bader made thest long trips of 60 miles over rugged terrain without pay until his death in 1902.  (history webmaster: The Methodist Church archive records and the Medina County History do not record Rev. Bader serving a church in Hondo.  He served the congregation at New Fountain at various times, the last being in 1896.  He was pastor of the German Methodist Church in San Antonio from 1901 until his death in 1903.)

In 1902, Reverend W. C. Lembke was sent from Seguin, the first Lutheran pastor to serve the area on a regular basis. Two years later a congregation was organized as Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes with 22 charter members.

In 1905 Pastor Nic Frueh was called as its first mission pastor.  Zion remained a mission partially supported by the American Lutheran Church until it became self-supporting in 1945.  Durig Pastor Frueh's tenure, the congregation grew to 48 members, each of whom paid 25¢  a month for church expenses.  Church services and catechetical instructions were conducted in German and women and men had segregated seating (This custom continued until the 1940s).  A committee was formed to solicit donations for a church building.  George Brackenridge, a prominent San Antonio resident, contributed money; Mrs. Maria Gugger contributed the land; members of the congregation contributed money, labor and materials, all which led to the dedication of the church in 1906.

Between the departure of Pastor Frueh in 1911, and 1937 when Rev. A.B. Weiss was called as pastor, Zion was served by a series of supply pastors.  During this period, under Pastor W.W. Laubach, the church was remodeled, pews were made after his design and an altar was built, adorned with a picture donated by a member of the congregation.

The years between the pastorate of Reverend Weiss, the first resident pastor, and Pastor Kuenemann have been years of building and growth.  By 1939, the congregation had grown to 165 communicants and 225 baptized.  In 1941 the parsonage was built for $2,300 and in 1950 a new church was erected at a cost of $20,000.  In 1964, during the pastorate of Clarence Bohls, Sunday school rooms were added, and later central heat and airconditioning made worship more comfortable.  Rev Bohls retired in 1974 after 46 years in the ministry.

Two sons of the congregation have been ordained:  James Heineke in 1952 and Ervie E. Braun in 1964.

During the nine years Rev. Paul Probst led our congregation, a Fellowship Hall capable of seating 300 people was constructed at a cost of $100,000, completed in 1979.  A distinctive cross tower was created to mark our property corner on the now heavily traveled "outer loop", F.M. 1604 and Braun Road, in 1982.  The following year our large parking lot was paved.  The membership had continued to grow from 211 confirmed and 305 baptized in 1954 to 497 confirmed and 627 baptized in 1979.  When Pastor Probst retired in November 1983, after 40 years of God's servie, Rev. Robert Thronson, who had been our part-time assistant, was called as interum(sic), part-time, with Rev. Malcolm Hoffman, Dr. George Schutlz(sic) and Chaplain Earl Milbrath coordinating the pastoral activities.  Zion was truly blessed to have four outstanding and dedicated clergy members in time of need.

Dr. Gordon F. Kuenemann was called to Zion in August, 1984 when membership had reached 700 baptized members.  Pastor Kuenemann brought with him a progressive attitude, excellent youth director skills, and helped us continue to be a close knit church family even while we began to "burst at the seams".  Pastors Mark and Elizabeth Lundquist shared their ministry with Zion from February, 1986 to July, 1988.  With the addition of pastors, our congregation has continued a growth in not only size, but new programs and activities.  The study of God's work in Sunday School and women's groups has always been one of Zion's strengths.   The addition of Search, a weekday adult Bible study began in 1986, and a young adult home Bible study in 1987, as well as many other programs, too numerous to mention, daily add to the envolvement(sic) of our members in God's service.  Our offices now have computers to keep us up to date in records, printing and mailings.  Perhaps one of the most exciting events in recent years was the dedication of a Texas Historical Marker on our cemetery on November 2, 1986.  Our cemetery, dating back into the 1860s, is a landmark for the Helotes area.

The future of Zion looks exciting and promising.  Our membership has blossomed to 1,100.  While we have been growing in numbers, we have also been growing in commitment and purpose.  Today we are proudly dedicating this building as a symbol of our commitment to God and to the community around us.