Zion Lutheran Church of Mission Valley

Zion Lutheran Church of Mission Valley. . , Mission Valley has long been a site of religious activity. Its town name indicates it was one of the locations of a Spanish mission attempting to colonize and Christianize the Native Americans in the area. As the Spanish moved out and Anglo and German settlers moved in, Mission Valley was a typical town with a rail depot, blacksmith, post office, school, cotton gin and entertainment halls. Early churches held services in homes and schools. Under the leadership of Pastor John M. Bergner (1884-1943), the Lutherans of Mission Valley sought to have a church of their own. Records from the Gisler and Schaefer store, which helped track the financials and attendance in the early years, indicate the first financial entry for a Lutheran church was in 1911. On August 1, 1915, the church officially organized. Early services were conducted in German, reflecting the heritage of many members. In 1918, the local Council of Defense forced the church to have services in English. In 1924, a small wooden church was built on land donated by John L. Gisler, and the first confirmation class in English took place a year later. , In 1938, the church installed Pastor Kramer as its first full-time clergyman. Throughout the 1930s-1950s, the church was active both in social and building programs, adding a parsonage, kitchen, parish hall and assembly hall. In 1968, a new church sanctuary was built. Renovations to each building have continued and a new fellowship hall was constructed to replace the demolished parish hall. For the past century, the Zion Lutheran Church of Mission Valley has continued strong in its service and witness to the surrounding area. Today, the congregation remains a dynamic force at the center of this community.