Association Free Lutheran Congregations President Pastor Robert Lee presided over the dedication of a new fellowship building at Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill November 23, 2003 following a community openhouse the day before. Pastor Lee presides over the fourth largest Lutheran church group in America, headquartered in Minneapolis.

Zion church president Peter Midgarden noted the Celebration Weekend inaugurating use of the new facility was successful, attendance close to 100 for the Saturday community openhouse and 70 for the formal dedication Sunday morning.

Ground-breaking to building-dedication was 8 months to the day, the present new fellowship building the result of two and a half years of prayer and planning.

Historic Zion Lutheran Church with history in the Swedish Augustana Synod, has membership throughout Baldwin County and is located in Silverhill just a block off state highway 104 at 15875 Fourth Avenue at the Seventh Street corner. Zion Lutheran Church was formally organized as a Swedish congregation in 1905. Its present worship building was completed in 1915 and is on the Historical Registry of Baldwin County. The historic building was renovated in 1958 and its previous building addition was dedicated in 1965.

Historic Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill, AL, and its just-completed fellowship building (r).

The congregation of Zion Lutheran Church gathers in front of its new fellowship building on Sunday, November 23, 2003, prior to dedication eight months after ground-breaking.

Carl Stummer (l to r), AFLC President Robert Lee, Mack Gibbs, Charlie Canning, Austin Gibbs, and Jackie Stummer enjoy fellowship and refreshments following dedication of the new fellowship building at Zion Lutheran Church, Silverhill, Alabama.

Pastor Families Attend Openhouse (l to r): The Cannings, The Johnsons, Pastor Dittmann, The Hoefferkamps