Zion United Methodist Church of Grand Forks will celebrate its 50^th anniversary in its current building on May 5, 2013, exactly 50 years to the day of its dedication.

Zion has a rather storied history.  It began as a missions church, part of the Holmes circuit, in 1882, and had its first pastor, Rev. William Frtiz, in 1886.  It was known as the Grand Forks Evangelical Congregation.  In 1944 the church became self-supporting after 62 years as a missions church.  It became Zion Evangelical Brethren in 1946 and, in 1968, became Zion United Methodist Church.

In 1958 a city block of land at 1001 24^th Avenue South was purchased for $6,000.  On June 3, 1962 ground breaking ceremonies were held at the new site and on May 5, 1963 a dedication ceremony was held for the new church.  In 1996 a new building project, the addition of the narthex was undertaken.  It was completed and consecrasted on May 23, 1998. In the spring of 1997, major flooding occurred in Grand ) and Zion was not spared.  The whole lower level flooded, and with help from UMCOR and other Methodist congregations around the country, the lower level was completely renovated. In 2012 gifts of a new organ and grand piano were given to the church by some Zion families.

Pastors that have served Zion since 1962 are:  Clarence Schaeffer (1959-65); Walter Elmer (1965-68); Bob Worner (1968 – 76); Bill Bates (1976 – 86); David Mack (1986 – 91 ); Doug Diehl (1991 – 1998); Roy Caudill (1998  - 2003); Cliff Nelson (2004 – 2009); Russell Whaley (20010 – 2012); and current pastor Chang Yi.

The picture below shows church members at the ground breaking in 1962.