Who We Are
Zion Lutheran Church is one of the 115 Lutheran Churches in the Allegheny Synod and part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
We are followers of Jesus Christ who serve, worship, and teach in his name. We are a sacramental church, believing that God is present in the water and word of Holy Baptism and the bread and wine of Holy Communion. We are a creedal church following the rich and ancient traditions of the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds. We are a scriptural church, for the Bible is the bedrock of our worship and the standard of our teachings. We are a people of grace, believing that we are saved by the gift of God’s grace alone—not by anything we do. As Jesus’ followers, our mission is to continue his ministry, “making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).”
Meet our Staff
Rev. David Bowman
Pastor
“My favorite part about ministry is creating connections. It’s a blessing to help people form relationships with God, with each other, and with their community.”
Ryan Custead
Faith Formation & Outreach Director
“My job is meaningful because I get to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of our kids and the opportunity to be disciples with them.”
Joni Hammaker
Administrative Assistant
“I like being behind the scenes, interacting with people who come into the office, helping to organize our programs, and watching our ministry come together.”
Rick Fairhead
Sexton
“As the church sexton, I like to make the church and church grounds look their best so it is always a welcoming place for people to congregate.”
Our History
The ministry of Zion Lutheran Church has grown and accompanied the people of the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River for over 200 years. The congregation began in 1803 in Frankstown, the first populated center in the area. When the end of the Juniata Division of the Pennsylvania Canal reached Hollidaysburg in 1832, the church followed. A log church was built in town by 1839. The congregation soon outgrew that building, and in 1853, Zion’s present church building was constructed on the corners of Allegheny and Union Streets, across from the Blair County Court House. Over the course of her history, Zion has been led by 26 pastors, and thousands of members have worshipped, served, and witnessed to God’s action in this community. From Frankstown to Hollidaysburg, from 1803 to the present day, we continue to be the people of God, proclaiming Jesus Christ to each other, our neighbors, and all the world.
Join Our Church
Zion welcomes new members from all backgrounds and denominations. If you are interested in joining the Zion family or would like to become a baptized follower of Jesus Christ, please contact Pastor Dave.