Learn More

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

Associate 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 and worked in the computer industry until he was called into full-time ministry. He attended Concordia Theological Seminary in St Louis, MO (SMP-Specific Ministry Pastor-Program) and was ordained June 8, 2013. Dan enjoys serving the Hopkins and surrounding communities as he continues to learn and grow with the help of the wonderful ministry staff at Zion Lutheran Church.

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

howie.krienke@zionhopkins.org

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.

Paula Hance
Director of Zion Early Childhood Center

Phone: ext 21
zecc@zionhopkins.org

Paula has taught at Zion Early Childhood Center since it opened in October 2001 and has worked in all of the four classrooms at one point in time, sharing her love of Jesus with children of all ages.  She is originally from the East Coast and lived in a few different parsonages growing up.  Paula received her B.A. in Elementary Education from Concordia College in Bronxville, New York.  Paula has enjoyed the transition she made from Elementary teacher (5th grade and a 1st/2nd grade class) to Early Childhood Educator at ZECC. She became the Director of ZECC in 2015 and is the main substitute when teachers are absent. Paula and her husband Pete have three children, all of whom are graduates of Zion Early Childhood Center.

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.

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.

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.