About

History

Zion Fellowship ® International is a Pentecostal fellowship of pastors, missionaries, churches, Bible schools, Christian schools, and orphanages. Founded in 1981, Zion Fellowship purchased, by faith that same year, the 170-acre campus in upstate New York that serves as its headquarters and the main campus of Zion Ministerial Institute. Over the past 30 years, by God’s grace, Zion’s ministry has spread to every inhabited continent of the world.

Rev. Robert Tucker is the president of Zion Fellowship International, as well as the resident Chancellor of Zion Ministerial Institute, Waverly Campus.

Mission

The mission of Zion Ministerial Institute is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by educating and preparing Christian leaders who will minister effectively in their calling to the Church, and the world, out of their ever-deepening relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Purpose

Our purpose is to prepare leaders to be used by God, in whatever walk of life to which Christ may call them. Our desire is to cultivate godly character within our students and equip them with the necessary tools to maximize their abilities so that they bring forth lasting fruit for the kingdom of God. We seek to prepare our students in three main areas: character, ability, and productivity. Our curriculum offers indepth courses that are not only theologically sound and Bible-based, but also anointed and life transforming. The theme verse of Zion Ministerial Institute is John 8:32, where Jesus declared, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

Statement of Faith

Zion Ministerial Institute’s Statement of Faith is a declaration of our basic tenets of faith and forms the basis for our doctrine and curriculum.

We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who is the Maker and Preserver of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ: that Jesus existed eternally with the Father, became Man by the miracle of the incarnation, in no degree ceasing to be God. He is co-Creator of the world and man, the only Savior, and coming Judge.
We believe the whole canon of Scripture (both Old and New Testaments), as originally given, to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God, of supreme and final authority in all that it teaches and declares.
We believe that all men are lost apart from the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; that sin is cleansed only through personal repentance and faith in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; that water baptism by immersion should follow receiving Christ as Lord and Savior.
We believe that God is well able to preserve us and keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory. However, we can still choose our ways rather than God’s and reject the grace of God, losing our eternal salvation. We must continue to walk in the truth.
We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing for the body as well as for the mind, soul, and spirit of man. Christ has an answer for every problem of man, physical or spiritual.
We believe that miracles and the gifts of the Spirit are available to the Church today for the edifying and perfecting of its members.
We believe that God will visit His Church in the last days and bring multitudes into the Kingdom, preparing us for Christ’s Second Coming.
We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by speaking in other tongues according to Acts 2:4, is promised to all who desire it, ask for it, and obey God.
We believe that everyone will be resurrected (saved and unsaved) and will give an account to the great Judge, whose judgment is final and eternal.
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning and that is marriage as a holy institution set forth by God in His Word. Marriage is a covenant relationship between one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union for life, and it is to be a representation of the relationship between Christ and His Church. Any other definition of marriage is contrary to Scripture and to the will of God (Gen. 1:27; Heb. 13:4).
- We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
- We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to change one’s biological sex or to otherwise act upon any disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God.
- We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
- We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accordance with Scripture nor the doctrines of the Church.
- We believe that marriage is a covenant relationship established by God. We believe that whether the parties are saved or unsaved at the time of marriage, the only situation where it is right to remarry is when one’s former spouse has passed away (Rom. 7:2-3). In all other situations, divorce and remarriage to another person is contrary to God’s will and purposes.
We believe that man should live according to the moral standards set forth in Scripture. This includes: living a holy life; being full of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Gal. 5:22-23). Therefore, we are opposed to: adultery, fornication, uncleanness (including sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, pornography, and other forms of moral impurity), lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders (including abortion and euthanasia), drunkenness, and revellings (Gal. 5: 19-21; 2 Tim. 3:1-6).
We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home; 2) the Church; 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and are governed by His Word.
We believe that every Christian, as a steward of the portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully for the support of the Church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a person has no right to direct the use of the tithe or offering once the gift has been given.
We believe that God desires to plant an onward vision within His people, giving us focus and purpose in life. Our vision is reflected in our name – Zion. In the Bible, God spoke of Zion as His dwelling place (Ps. 132:13; Ps 87:2). Therefore, going beyond having right doctrine, an upright life, ministry or good works, our ultimate goal is to have a wholehearted desire and love for the Lord. This will cause us to desire to seek Him, to behold His beauty, to learn to make His presence our home, to win Him and delight His heart (Ps. 24; Ps. 15; Rev.14:1-5, Ps. 27:4, Phil. 3:8).
- The vision of Zion is also a progressive vision — having an ever-increasing relationship with Christ, our Heavenly Bridegroom (Heb. 12:22). As we learn to make Christ our one and only desire, and obey Him in all things (Ps. 40:8), He changes us in our spiritual journey so that we qualify to dwell with Him in spiritual Zion.
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe.

SECTION 2. OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE STATEMENT OF FAITH

For the purposes of church doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Trustees is the fellowship’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Zion Fellowship as the Body of Christ, and to provide a Biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that: members of Zion Fellowship, those employed by Zion Fellowship in any capacity, and who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to our statement of faith and conduct themselves accordingly.

In particular, Zion Fellowship pastors shall not solemnize any marriages that are contrary to our Statement of Faith.

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Zion Fellowship as the Body of Christ, and to provide a Biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that: Zion Fellowship’s facilities or assets may not be used to condone or allow any activity that is contrary to Scripture or our Statement of Faith.

Accreditation & Affiliation

Zion Ministerial Institute is the first school founded by Zion Fellowship International, a Pentecostal fellowship of churches located in Waverly, New York. Zion Ministerial Institute is directed by Zion Fellowship, which oversees many residential and correspondence Bible schools around the world.

Zion Ministerial Institute is a residential, co-educational post-secondary Christian school, owned and operated by Zion Fellowship, Incorporated in the state of New York, USA. Zion Ministerial Institute holds a state charter classified under section 52.22(b) of the New York State Department of Education, which authorizes vocational instruction in the field of religion. Zion Ministerial Institute is authorized by the State of New York to grant certificates and diplomas of completion in the area of ministerial training. Zion Ministerial Institute does not accept federal or state funding.

Zion Ministerial Institute does not hold regional accreditation nor do we accept federal or state funding. Our sole desire is to continue as a ministerial training institute that prepares men and women to be used by God in ecclesiastical vocations.

ZMI Faculty

Rev. Daniel Caram, Sr.
Th.M., Zion University
Th.B., Vision Christian Bible College
Minister: Church of Mt. Zion, Erie, Pennsylvania

Rev. Daniel Caram, Jr.
Dip.Min., Zion Ministerial Institute, Waverly, New York
Minister: Mt. Zion Assembly, Jamestown, New York

Dr. Paul Caram
Ph.D., Th.M., Vision Christian Bible Seminary
Dip.Min., Elim Bible Institute
Minister: Zion Chirstian Assembly, Ulysses, Pennsylvania

Rev. Allen Claycomb
B.S. Valley Forge Christian College
Missionary: Americas and Africa Regions

Mrs. Suzette Topper
Th.B., Zion University
Dip.Min., Zion Ministerial Institute, Waverly, New York

Rev. Daniel Gazaway
Th.B., Zion Ministerial Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dip.Min., Elim Bible Institute
Minister: Faith Tabernacle, Concord, New Hampshire

Pastor Jason Gohl
Dip.Min., Zion Ministerial Institute, Waverly, New York
Th.B., Zion University, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Minister: Mt. Zion Assembly, Jamestown, New York

Rev. John Heyer
Th.B., Calvary Holiness College
Minister: Mt. Zion Assembly, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Rev. Linda Holmes
Th.M., Zion University
Th.B., Zion Ministerial Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dip.Min., Elim Bible Institute
Missionary and Co-Director, Zion Ministerial Institute, Manila, Philippines

Rev. Norman Holmes
Th.M., Zion University
Th.B., Zion Ministerial Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dip.B.S., Elim Bible Institute
Missionary and Bible School Director: Zion Ministerial Institute, Manila, Philippines

Rev. Tim O’Connell
Th.B., Zion Ministerial Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Missionary: Asia Region

Rev. Theodore Topper
Th.B., Zion Ministerial Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dip.Min., Zion Ministerial Institute, Waverly, New York
Missionary and Bible School Director: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Rev. Robert Tucker, Sr., President
M.A., Regent University
Th.B., Zion Ministerial Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dip.Min., Elim Bible Institute
Minister: Starville Church, Starville, Michigan

Rev. David Wallis
B.S., Auckland University
Ministry Development Certificate, Faith Bible College
Minister: Zion Chapel, Waverly, New York

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