Since 1915 Zion Lutheran Church has ministered to the Twin Cities metro area. For more than 100 years we have been committed to being a caring and nurturing fellowship…a place where visitors are welcomed as friends and cared for as family.
Zion’s Vision & Mission
…is to develop and encourage personal relationships with Jesus Christ and to be an outreach center for Christ centered health and wholeness.
Rev. Daniel E. Schultz
Phone: ext 13
dan.schultz@zionhopkins.org
Pastor Dan Schultz joined the Zion ministry staff in 2010. His wife Kinlin and three children, Annica, Jonah, and Elliott act as his amazing support system. Dan graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Iowa State University in 1992. He worked in the computer industry for 25 years until he was called into full-time ministry while on a once-in-a-lifetime trip in the Holy Lands. He attended Concordia Theological Seminary in St Louis, MO and was ordained June 8, 2013. Dan enjoys partnering with Zion’s Leadership and members in serving the Hopkins and surrounding communities.
Rev. Randall A. Neal
He attended Concordia College (University), St. Paul, Minnesota (1968-72) and received a Bachelor’s degree in education. He was inducted in 1998 into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame for football (All-American 1970 & 71 and wrestling. He met Elizabeth (Mueller) while at Concordia. They were married in 1972. She joined her Lord in heaven late in 2016. On February 22, 2022 He was united in marriage to Janice (Janie) Damschen, a member of Zion who has two adult children and one granddaughter. Pastor Neal has three adult daughters Laura (Andy), Jessica, and Amanda (Josh) along with seven grandchildren who all live in the Twin Cities area. Randall received his Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois in 1976. He finds relaxation in doing woodland landscape gardening and forest management on behalf of the City of Minnetonka in the park land area behind his home. He and most of his kids and grandchildren continue to cheer for the Green Bay Packers football team. Up until 2001 he enjoyed helping with the high school wrestling team as a volunteer assistant coach. He has served as one of the Pastors for Zion Lutheran Church, Hopkins, Minnesota since 2004. Prior to that he served at Peace Lutheran Church, Antigo, Wisconsin for 26 years and prior to that he was the pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ruston, Louisiana. He cherishes the privilege of being able to share the love and truth of Jesus Christ as Lord with the Zion congregation and the greater Twin Cities community.
Rev. Howie A. Krienke
This office is filled by Howie Krienke who has been at Zion since 1979. His primary role at Zion is the shepherding and visiting of members, potential members and inactive members of Zion. His ministries include Lutheran Friends, Human Care, and hospital visitation. Howie has been married to Linda since 1968 and has four children: Jeremy, Lisa, Josh and Lindsay. He has previously served in St. Paul; Beach and St. Peter Belfield, North Dakota.
Rick Tupa
Properties Engineer
Phone: ext 22
Keeping up with our 40+ year old facility, boiler and making sure the grounds reflect the excellence which we strive for just barely touches the surface of the responsibilities of Rick Tupa. Because of Rick’s attention to detail, along with the help of the Board of Trustees and volunteers, Zion’s facilities welcome people to worship and weekly activities — no matter the weather.
Brice Petersen
Director of Parish Music
Phone: ext 15
brice.petersen@zionhopkins.org
Brice Petersen started as Director of Parish Music in August of 2013. He has a Bachelor in Music Education from Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa and in 2013 completed a Master in Sacred Music degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota in conjunction with St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota. He studied with Dr. Paul Westermeyer, Dr. Catherine Rodland, and Dr. John Ferguson; conducting with Dr. Chris Aspaas and Dr. Anton Armstrong. He has served churches in the Twin Cities since 1989, most recently 18 years for St. James Lutheran in Burnsville, Minnesota. Brice is committed to the congregational song and believes that music in worship is essential for communicating our experience of God. Revealing our creator and redeemer cannot be fully realized through the use of words alone. Music is an essential means by which we may share and nourish our spiritual beings. He endeavors to enhance our ability to illuminate our belief in God through the use of music.
Patrice Cyriacks
Church Administrator
Phone: ext 11
patrice.cyriacks@zionhopkins.org
Patrice began working at Zion in 2023. Previously, Patrice worked at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts for several years. Patrice has been a member of Zion since October 1997. In the past, she has served on the Board of Technology, the Endowment Committee, and played with the Bell Choir. She enjoys biking, hiking, reading (with her cat Obie relaxing on her lap), and most of all traveling – both internationally and domestically.
Carol Kline
Administrative Assistant / Website Administrator
Phone: ext 10
carol.kline@zionhopkins.org
Carol joined the Zion staff in 2015. She is the first contact at Zion by either the phone or entry to the church office. Her responsibilities also include creating the bulletins and slides for our worship services, creating our weekly newsletter, and creating the slides for our outdoor sign and Zion’s website. Her calm voice and kind demeanor help make Zion a welcoming place. Carol is married and has 2 sons. When not at Zion, Carol enjoys time with her family, gardening, creating photo books, and selling things on any venue she can find.
Curtis Fliegel
Multimedia Specialist
Phone: ext 18
curtis.fliegel@zionhopkins.org
Curtis joined the Zion Staff in March of 2024. He attended Minnesota State University, Mankato (2009 – 2013) where he studied theatrical technology. Partnering with his wife Jiyoung for both support and teamwork, together they have made a lifelong career of audio visual technology, video production, and graphic design. Having enjoyed over 15 years as a freelance technologist, Curtis is overjoyed to serve at Zion Lutheran Church. By rising to meet challenges and creatively solving problems, he gladly furthers the mission of Zion with character, quality, and care.
Kevin Stripling
Director Church Ministries
kevin.stripling@zionhopkins.org
Kevin graduated from Concordia University of Wisconsin-Mequon in 2019 with a certification in Director of Church Ministries. He also holds a Bachelors of Computer Science from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Kevin and his wife Reena were married at Zion Hopkins in 2006 and have two children; Caden and Carter. His ministries include Children, Youth, Technology and Outreach. He has a passion for teaching children the faith through the Holy Scriptures and on our Lutheran heritage.
OUR HISTORY
Although the formal beginning of Zion was January 24, 1915, Zion’s history began much earlier. The Reverend Professor E.L. Arndt of Concordia College in St. Paul began conducting services in Hopkins for a few families of Lutherans in 1903.
In 1914 the group which later organized Zion purchased a small church building on 12th Ave. from Norwegian Lutherans. The building was not in use at the time and was obtained for the sum of $600. It was small, meagerly furnished, lighted with kerosene lamps, without pews or a basement, but it well served as a house of God for these dedicated Christian people. On August 8, 1915 Rev. Paul Walther, of Winnipeg, Canada, was called as Zion’s first Pastor.
On August 15, 1926 a newly enlarged and remodeled original church building was dedicated.
On October 1, 1950 the current building was constructed on its present site at 241 5th Ave., North, Hopkins. Numerous enlargements and remodeling to Zion have taken place since then. The 2001 portion of additions and remodeling of the church included updating the sanctuary, entry area, parish hall, kitchen, gathering area, nursery and adding an elevator.
2001 also marked the beginning of Zion’s Early Childhood Center ministry.
Zion has always been a mission minded congregation. Beginning in 1923 Zion reached out from their home base into the neighboring areas and organized four daughter congregations over the next several years. In each case members of Zion were released to form the nucleus of the new parish. Our Savior, Excelsior began in 1923; St. Lukes, St. Louis Park began in 1935; Bethlehem, Glen Lake began in 1948; and Fairview, Minnetonka was established in 1955.
Today over 100 years after its founding the culture and challenges faced by the world are far different from when Zion had its beginning in a quiet, almost rural community. The focus of the congregation, however, has never wavered. Zion continues to be a thriving, mission minded center for Christians to be fed with God’s Word and sacraments. Our desire remains to reach out with the love of Christ to the neighborhood and world we serve.