Zion continues to acknowledge current trends and attempts to keep Christian principles, theological teachings, and societal beckoning. In other words, we believe in the Holy Trinity, we practice the ritual of communion Holy Communion and Baptism, and we make every attempt to accept all people from all lifestyles.
 

Zion is a historical landmark in a historic Old San Rafael neighborhood.
 

Zion is abundantly committed to community outreach that began in 1864 as the  site for education, political, social, and religious events. Zion housed the first school for colored children in the Colorado Territory. Zion member Rufus K. Felton, former Civil war soldier, was one of the Territory’s first colored teachers. Politically, Zion’s first elected pastor and other Zion members were among the signers of a 1868 petition that called for the delay of Colorado’s request to be become a state until an “equal rights clause was added to the state’s constitution. When Colored soldiers marched off to WWI, they rallied at Zion and marched from Zion to leave the city to head to war!
 

Zion’s first pastor and other members carried lumber, nails and woods to build a permanent structure in 1869.
 

Zion previous and present sites hosted local and national meetings that heralded past and present local and national leaders.
 

Zion’s doors have not closed since 1865. In the lean years, Zion charged a small fee to view stereopticon slide shows. To pay heat bill and conserve energy, the massive pocket doors that separates the main sanctuary from the “Over Flow” Room were closed.
 

Zion continues to be a sanctuary for weddings, christenings, and home going services for members and nonmembers.
 

Zion’s Music Ministry continues to incorporate spirituals, anthems, contemporary, and gospel music church services and various church sponsored events.
 

Zion sponsors a myriad of community outreach events to include, Vacation Bible School, Annual Youth Weeks, Men and Women Retreats, Saint Luke 14 Community Service Days, The Family Resource Center, The Zion Education Center, Health Ministry Events, Grant Writing Assistance, and regular Evangelism “walk abouts”.
 

Zion has approximately 350 families that maintain regular memberships. Names are not purged from memberships lists, thus deriving at an accurate number of members is difficult. One often can hear, however, “I belong to Zion. Oh, yes, I belonged to Zion, or, my family belonged to Zion”.

–Historian Clementine W. Pigford

July 16, 2014