After much prayer, he gathered a small group of leaders together and Zion Christian Center was born. The first Sunday morning service was on January 8, 1984 at Griswold’s Inn in Fullerton. With no advertising, a surprising 800 people, hungry for God, showed up. The second Sunday went immediately to two services with over 1,000 people I attendance. In 1985, the facility at 710 South Cambridge Street in Orange was purchase and Zion had a home. The first service in the new facility was held May 12, 1985, on Mother’s Day.
“The purpose of Zion Christian Center is to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to evangelize the world and to strengthen believers. We desire to touch the hurting people and to reach out to the poor and feed and clothe them in our community…” — Pastor Noel 1985
In October of 1991, Noel went home to meet Jesus face to face. He left his beautiful bride, Phyllis and his three sons, Mark, Jay and Seth. “God has put a strong love in my heart for people, to teach them the ways of God and to lead them to eternal peace.” —Noel Weiss. He entered that eternal peace and left with this body of believers a “strong love for people…”
Zion’s Associate and Co-Founding Pastor, John Cairns, was unanimously voted in as Senior Pastor. He and Ruth Ann faithfully served the people of Zion leading the church with uncompromising integrity, a powerful teaching ministry and unconditional love. Their retirement came in the year 2000 but to this day they continue to serve the people of Zion imparting wisdom and grace.
In 2002, Danny Kurimay was elected as Senior Pastor after serving in the Youth Pastor position for three years. Like our founding Pastors, God was faithful to confirm this calling through prophetic words from both inside the church body and outside ministries.
“The purpose of Zion Christian Center is to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to evangelize the world and to strengthen believers. We desire to touch the hurting people and to reach out to the poor and feed and clothe them in our community…” — Pastor Noel 1985
In October of 1991, Noel went home to meet Jesus face to face. He left his beautiful bride, Phyllis and his three sons, Mark, Jay and Seth. “God has put a strong love in my heart for people, to teach them the ways of God and to lead them to eternal peace.” —Noel Weiss. He entered that eternal peace and left with this body of believers a “strong love for people…”
Zion’s Associate and Co-Founding Pastor, John Cairns, was unanimously voted in as Senior Pastor. He and Ruth Ann faithfully served the people of Zion leading the church with uncompromising integrity, a powerful teaching ministry and unconditional love. Their retirement came in the year 2000 but to this day they continue to serve the people of Zion imparting wisdom and grace.
In 2002, Danny Kurimay was elected as Senior Pastor after serving in the Youth Pastor position for three years. Like our founding Pastors, God was faithful to confirm this calling through prophetic words from both inside the church body and outside ministries.