Zion has been served by faithful, unique, and sometimes controversial pastors du
Zion has been served by faithful, unique, and sometimes controversial pastors during its history. During its first hundred years of existence, Zion Lutheran Church of Alva, Oklahoma, had ten full-time ministers[1][2].
Rev. Johann Ferdinand Lill – 1999-1901
Zion Lutheran – Alva was organized officially on May 21 of 1899 under the leadership of missionary Johann F. Lill[3]. Rev. Lill served as a traveling missionary at Plevna, Kansas; Nashville, Kansas; Preston, Kansas; Stafford, Kansas; and Alva, Oklahoma. On behalf of the Honorable President Hafner, Rev. J. F. Lill led the ordination and installation of Herman Meier on the 13th Sunday after Trinity in his church at Alva, Oklahoma.
Rev. Herman Meier 1901-1915
Only two years after the founding of the church, its members felt confident that they could support a full-time minister. On July 7, 1901, a call into the office of the ministry was issued to theological candidate Herman Meier. He was installed on September 9th, 1901.
Rev. Herman Meier was born on October 29, 1877, at Crane Creek, Iowa, (near Waterloo) in an old log cabin–one of ten children. At the age of 15 he was led to begin his training for the pastoral ministry and enrolled in Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Illinois. On August 30, 1901, he married Clara Janke (less than two weeks prior to his arrival in Alva!). This was not uncommon in those days as the seminary frowned on candidates being married prior to their completion of studies for the holy ministry. They were the parents of several children while in Alva.
In addition to his duties in Alva, Meier also served preaching stations in Augusta, Waynoka, and perhaps in other small towns. He has been attributed with the organization of churches at Blackwell, Woodward, and Ponca City, Oklahoma. At the last mentioned station he became fluent in the Indian language from his association with the numerous indigenous peoples in the area. Meier moved about the Oklahoma countryside largely by way of trains, the “iron horse” as Indians called them, which connected the territory of Oklahoma. Meier’s salary started at $400 per year with a single week of vacation.
On April 10, 1904, the pastor’s salary was raised from $400 to $500 per year. In January of 1905 Emil Doman was elected to serve as church custodian for $20 a year, replacing the previous custodian, Pastor Meier, who made $12 a year.
A parochial school was opened by the fall of 1904 with.Rev. Herman Meier as the teacher with 14 students to inaugurate the school which would be an integral part of Zion’s history for over 65 years. Rev. Meier was the faculty until 1909 when the congregation employed individuals to assist him.
Meier was remembered as a “serious German,” which probably says less about the man then it does about the times. Being a ‘serious German’ just meant that you fit in. Cultivating a good sense of humor and being light-hearted is not a luxury always afforded to those whose first order of business is survival amidst plentif