was born near Brenham, Texas in 1887.  Even though his father was an agnostic, Henry was led into the ministry by his teacher, Reverend G. Langner of Brenham, Texas.  Henry Heineke entered Wartburg Seminary in 1908 but became ill and was advised by doctors to remain in Texas.  He completed his theological studies at Texas Lutheran College and was ordained in 1915.  In 1927 he had the privilege of baptizing and confirming his father.  During his ministry at Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes his son, James, completed his theological studies and was ordained by his father in 1952.  James Heineke was the first pastor to be ordained at Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes.

During the tenure of Reverend Heineke there was discussion concerning tearing down the old church, but the congregation decided to retain the building and to use it for parish activities and Sunday School classes.  Large wires were strung from wall to wall holding curtains which could be drawn to form Sunday School class areas.  Eventually the floor of the church was covered with tile, and the exterior was covered with tile siding.  The children took great pleasure in playing the old pump organ which had been pushed against the back wall.  The sacristy was used for a kitchen, office, and Sunday School room.

An additional Sunday School building and rest rooms were built in 1952.  In June 1953 the new altar was donated for church #2 in memory of Mrs. H. T. Brauchle.  At this time the old altar was donated to the Mexican Lutheran Mission, Our Savior Lutheran Mission, in San Antonio, Texas.  In later years a search was made for the old altar, but it could not be found.

In 1955 Reverend Heineke accepted a call to Peace Lutheran Church of Beeville, Texas.  Reverend Henry August Heineke died in 1980 and is buried in St. Geronimo Cemetery in Seguin, Texas.

Rev. Jack Slaughter - Reverend Jack Slaughter accepted the call to Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes in April 1956.  Born in 1929 in San Antonio, Texas, and graduated from Texas Lutheran College and Wartburg Seminary, he was ordained in 1954.  During his tenure the church constitution was amended to elect a lay person to serve as chairman of the church council and congregation.  Previously the pastor conducted all meetings.  The first lay chairperson of Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes was Harold F. Galm Sr., son of Walter B. Galm and Lena Ruempel Galm, and grandson of charter members Samuel H. Galm and Phillip Ruempel.  The members of Zion began to receive a news letter by mail, and there was a very active Luther League who played baseball, produced plays, enjoyed many social activities, had a choir, and flourished.  A new water well was drilled to 351 feet in April 1956 at a cost of $137.16.  In July 1956 land for a new cemetery and parking space was purchased from Frank Ruempel.  In 1959 the congregation began to use individual communion cups rather than the traditional common communion cup.  A communion rail with kneeling pads was added in July 1957, and for the first time the communicants had the option of kneeling or standing while receiving communion at the altar.  In October 1958 lots were sold in the new cemetery for $50.00 each.  An additional Sunday School room wing and office was dedicated on October 25, 1959 at a cost of $10,000.  In May 1959 it was voted to proceed with building a Youth Room for $4,468.18.  The two choirs were robed for the first time by a memorial gift of Mr. Howard Rickey on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday 1959.  In 1961 Pastor Slaughter accepted a position in Denver, Colorado.

Rev. C. L. Bohls - Reverend C. L. Bohls came to Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes on December 10, 1961.  Born in 1902 in Pflugerville, Texas, he graduated from Texas Lutheran College and Wartberg Seminary, and was ordained in 1927.

During Pastor Bohls tenure a lighted cross was installed on the bell tower of the church.  In December 1962 the congregation voted to give a written test to the confirmation class rather than the traditional oral exam in front of the congregation.  A church secretary was hired at $1.25 per hour, and it was decided to have two church services on Sundays year round.

An additional Sunday School building wing with offices and restrooms was dedicated on March 15, 1964 at a cost of $30,198.13.  The architect was Marvin Eickenroht and the builder was Carl Stauffer.  The old office building, which had been an arbor at one time, was moved across Leslie Road where it was later used for a Sunday School room, and is now used for storage.

In November 1963 it was decided to go back to having only one church service on Sundays.  The congregation voted to advise the Committee on Discrimination in Privately Owned but Publicly Used Facilities that Zion Lutheran Church was desegregated and the facilities are available to all individuals without discrimination because of race or ethnic origin.

Zion Lutheran Church member Ervie Braun was ordained a Lutheran minister by Reverend Jack Slaughter and Reverend C. L. Bohls in 1964 .

In 1967 the sale of graves in Zion Lutheran Cemetery #2 was limited to members of Zion Lutheran Church only at a cost of $65.00 per grave.

Central air conditioning was added to the church and parsonage in 1969 at a cost of $3700.00.  Two and one-fourth acres of property were donated to the congregation by Mr. Frank Ruempel, and the congregation purchased three additional acres fronting Loop 1604 from David and Beverley Anderson.  In 1969 it was decided to initiate the use of boy acolytes to assist during the services.

Beginning in 1970 confirmation classes were held for the 8th and 9th graders, instead of the 7th and 8th graders as in the past.  In January 1970 the congregation discussed the poor condition of the "old" church (church #1) and appointed a committee to investigate the options of repairing the church, or removing the old church building.  The committee was to investigate lowering the ceiling, painting, removing the steeple, replacing the windows, replacing electrical wiring, and repairing the foundation.  A bid was obtained from Eckhart Bros. for $4,610 with an option to refurbish the building, or it could be torn down for free with the company keeping the lumber and other materials for resale.  At a congregational meeting in April 1970 Mrs. Margie Hutchings moved, seconded by Mrs. Ethel Ott, to keep the building and to remodel it.  The vote resulted in 80 for the proposal and 27 against.  A fund was established to remodel the building.  In July 1970 a bid of $1535 by Eckhart Bros. was accepted to put tile siding on the old church.  Mr. Henry Brauchle donated and replaced window screens, and had the exterior wood trim painted.

The first typed church council minutes appeared on February 2, 1971 by Richard Galland, council secretary.  Up until that time all the church council minutes had been hand written.  In March 1971, a bid of $1300.00 to paint the new church (church #2) inside and out was accepted.  The Galm family donated cushions for the church pews.  In October 1971 the question was asked if women could serve on the church council, since the church constitution was vague on this issue.  The congregation voted at their January 1972 meeting that women could indeed serve on the church council.  On October 28, 1973 Christina Ford, the first woman council person, was elected.

Reverend C. L. Bohls retired from the ministry, after 46 years of service, on January 1, 1974 and resided in Austin, Texas where he died in 1977.  

Rev. Paul Probst - Reverend Paul Probst was called to Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes in 1974.  He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1921.  He graduated from the University of Texas in Austin and from Wartburg Seminary, and was ordained in 1944.  During this period there was a great movement of the city of San Antonio toward the church with the development of many subdivisions nearby.  Many of the farms were sold to developers and subdivisions took their place.  Some of the descendants of the original farmers moved to more rural areas to farm.  The church grew at a tremendous rate, and on most Sundays folding chairs were put into the aisles.  In 1954 there were 305 baptized members, increasing by 1979 to 627.  In January 1974 the church council voted to allow girls, as well as boys, to serve as acolytes.  In January 1976 the Zion congregation voted that children as young as 5th grade could participate in communion after they studied its meaning and had been baptized.  In 1976 the parents of Mrs. Jackie Weimer, who was the organist, donated $5,000.00 to buy an organ.  The organ was ordered in June 1977 at a cost of $10,000.00.

In July 1978 there were two proposals to build a Fellowship Hall.  Once again the old church #1 was endangered.  The first proposal was to tear down the old church at a cost of $9600.00 and build the new Fellowship Hall in its place.  The second proposal was to build the new Fellowship Hall across Leslie Road from the church which would entail additional electric lines and septic tank construction.  Up until that time the property across Leslie Road from the church was used for parking only.  The congregation choose the second option, and Peco Construction built the 4,800 square foot Fellowship Hall seating 300 people for $99,946.00.  In February 1979 Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes celebrated their 75th Anniversary in conjunction with the dedication of the Fellowship Hall.

Rev. Robert Thronson - According to the 1970 Census, the immediate area surrounding Zion Lutheran Church had a population of 1,239.  By 1980 the population for the same area was 16,634.  During this same period of time other areas in San Antonio were growing an average of 4% to 5%.  In order to help with this tremendous growth, a part-time assistant pastor, Reverend Robert P. Thronson, was installed on September 20, 1981.  He later became the Minister of Counseling on a part-time basis.  Robert Thronson was born in 1940 in Harvey, North Dakota.  He graduated from the College of Great Falls, Montana and Trinity Seminary, and was ordained in 1969.

Rev. Dr. Gordon Kuenemann - Reverend Probst retired in 1983 and Reverend Dr. Gordon Kuenemann was called to Zion in 1984 when there were 700 members. Reverend Dr. Kuenemann was born in 1950 in Fredericksburg, Texas.  He graduated from Texas Lutheran College and Luther Seminary.  He was ordained in 1976, and received a Doctorate of Ministry in 1983 from the Lutheran School of Theology.  Reverend Dr. Kuenemann immediately led the congregation with plans to build a new, larger church on the property across Leslie Road facing Loop 1604.  A Master Plan was developed and there was once again discussion about demolishing the old church.  The congregation decided to retain the building.  During this period the first church building did not receive much maintenance, and was used primarily for storage.  In February 1986 the firm of Johnson & Dempsey Architects was hired to make a proposal for a new church (church #3) and office complex.  

Rev.s Mark and Elizabeth Lundquist - The staff continued to expand to meet the needs of a growing congregation with the installation of Reverend Mark Lundquist and Reverend Elizabeth Lundquist in March 1986 to be part-time assistant pastors along with Reverend Dr. Kuenemann.

On November 2, 1986 a Texas Historical marker was dedicated at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in which many of the pioneers of Northwest Bexar County are interred.  The cemetery is maintained in perpetuity by Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes.  The Texas Historical marker application was submitted by Gloria Anderson, Clarence Galm and Karen Petersen through the Historical Society of Leon Valley.

The congregation decided in February 1987 to build the new church and office complex at a cost not to exceed $1.2 million.  The congregation opted to choose the white limestone and metal roof which were indicative of the building materials used in this area many years ago by the German settlers.  The church, seating 675 people, was built by Peco Construction Co.  The beautiful faceted glass windows were made by Mr. Kruikshank, the pews by Ken Kaiser, and the pipe organ by Visser-Rowland.  The new church and office complex was dedicated on November 20, 1988.  This dramatic edifice, with its beautiful windows, has become a landmark on Loop 1604 in Northwest San Antonio.

Reverend Mark Lundquist and Reverend Elizabeth Lundquist resigned in 1988 and in August 1989 Reverend Peter Manfred accepted a call to Zion.

Rev. Peter Manfred - Peter Manfred was born in 1944 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  He graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and was ordained in 1970.  A Christian Day School opened in Zion's education facilities in January 1990.  The membership in 1989 was 1,300 baptized members.

The History Committee proposed to the church council in March 1990 that the first church building, built in 1906, be restored as near to the original as possible to be used as a multi-purpose chapel.  The council gave approval for the History Committee to gather information on costs.  Roofeldt Engineering Consultants, Inc. examined the old church and determined that its general condition was good.  The joists and roof, the metal on the roof, the wall studs, walls, sills, cabinets, were all good.  The bell tower was in need of repair and sealing.  The floor, rafters, and ceiling were in good condition.  Animal droppings in the ceiling needed to be cleaned, flashing at the peak of the roof needed replacing, and the foundation needed repair.  The chairperson of the History Committee, Karen Petersen, received a proposal from Charles Klein, a contractor, for restoration at approximately $53,000.  It was realized that the amount could vary depending upon any unusual problems, the amount of volunteer labor, and the time it took for the restoration.

At the annual Congregational Meeting in January 1991, Karen Petersen, a descendent of Heinrich Steubing, Sr., moved "to authorize the Restoration Committee to proceed with the restoration of church #1 in three stages, as funds become available, and that the restoration committee be authorized to direct the process with Church Council approval".  The motion passed unanimously.  Over the next six years the Zion Restoration Committee held fund raising events, and accepted donations from members and friends of the congregation.

In January 1992 the congregation remodeled church #2, which had been built in 1950, making 4 classrooms, a small chapel, and a loft meeting room, at a cost of $25,000.  Much of the work was done by volunteers.  The work on Phase I to restore church #1 was begun in March 1992 when Security Foundation Co. repaired the foundation at a cost of $13,000.00.

Rev. Scot Sorensen - In January 1993 Reverend Gordon Kuenemann resigned, and in August 1993 Reverend Scot Sorensen was called to be a second Pastor with Reverend Peter Manfred.  Scot Sorensen was born in 1957 in Coronado, California.  He graduated from California Lutheran University and Luther Seminary, and was ordained in 1984.

On February 13, 1993 Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes celebrated its 90th Anniversary with a group photo, a photo of descendants of the charter members, a luncheon at Braun Hall, and a special slide show produced by Gordon Kuenemann.

In January 1994 Zion Lutheran Church property was annexed into the City of San Antonio, Texas.  A Zion member, William Swantner, was ordained into the Lutheran ministry at Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes on June 11, 1994.