by Fred Hernandez
The iconic Sangre de Cristo Seminary at 6160 County Road 130 (Horn Road) had a stimulating new development at the start of the year. On the first of January, Dr. Andrew Zeller, who had been President of the venerable institution for almost a quarter century (23 years to be exact) stepped down to focus his talents and vast experience on the growing needs of the Sangre de Cristo Seminary Church which is a branch resulting from the success of the Seminary itself.
Over the years the church has grown from twenty attendees to seventy plus regular weekly worshipers. Dr. Jim Johnson, who years before had been a student at the religious center and holds a Doctoral Degree in Ministry Leadership, took over the helm of the seminary in January. Johnson’s background includes many years of training and positions of leadership in multiple organizations including five years as Pastor in Blanca, Colorado, five years as Director of Horn Creek Camp and over a decade as Superintendent of the Evangelical Christian Academy, with six hundred students, in Colorado Springs.
With the increasing demands of technological expertise needed today for managing organizations, Andrew
recognized that his talents and vast experience in Pastoral Ministry were better suited in meeting the demands of a growing church community. In the meantime, Dr. Johnson’s administrative experience and technological savvy were a perfect fit for the growing needs of the Seminary. Truly a win-win for both the Seminary and the Church from which the community at large can look forward to much future progress in the work of spreading the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.
To summarize the life and vast worldly experiences of a man selflessly committed to the task of doing God’s work, is an impossibility in a short article. Chaplain, Colonel Andrew Zeller (Ret.), has a most interesting resume of numerous achievements which records his deep devotion to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
From a very young age, his goal was clearly to be a Chaplain in the Army, thus serving both God and country at the same time. Andrews’ father, Dwight, of Westcliffe, a twenty-year veteran, was himself a Navy Chaplain serving as Fleet Chaplain in the Pacific. While based in Sasebo, Japan, his son Andrew was born in 1959. From there the family moved to other assignments including the Island of Guam, Sandia Base in New Mexico, the Great Lakes, Illinois, San Diego, California, and other states. Andrew graduated from High School in Philadelphia and earned his college degree in U.S. and Russian History in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. It was in Covenant College, Georgia, where he met his wife Beth Ann. He then earned his Master’s degree in Divinity at the Sangre de Cristo Seminary. Today, the Zellers live happily in Custer County and have thirteen children, each one successfully pursuing their own goals applying their God given talents in their individual interests.
Early in his life’s work, Andrew, then based in Illinois, served as Pastor in a local church. Around that time period and despite the busy schedules he managed to earn a Master’s in Theology. All the time that he was in academia accumulating numerous credits in education he never forgot his true goal; to join the Army as a Chaplain. And join the Army he did, as a member of the Chaplain Corps. His first deployment was in 1990 when he and his family were sent to Germany for three years.

Shortly after arriving there, however, he received orders to the Persian Gulf War. It was a heartbreaking time for him and the family as his departure day was December 25, 1990, Christmas Day. Although the orders called for a two-year deployment in the Middle East, his unit was ordered back to Germany in May of 1991. Over the years of his service, Andrew would return to Germany five more times and to the country of Jordan during the protracted wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to help train war fighters. Coincidentally, throughout his military career, Andrew was assigned to five artillery units in fifteen years. Rounding out his extensive military experience, Andrew also served as Chaplain in the U.S. Military Prison at Leavenworth, Kansas, from 1994 to 1996.
He was on active duty for nine years and following that he served in the Colorado Army National Guard, rising to the position of Colorado State Chaplain, the senior position, at which he worked as a trainer and administrator in ministry with a central focus being the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.

It has been a stellar career for Andrew who rose to the rank of Colonel and continued to serve his country for four more years at NORAD and the U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND, both vital guardians of the national security of the United States. He retired in 2011 from the Army with over a quarter century of military service and over thirty-five medals and decorations. Today Andrew is focused on his objective to organize the Seminary Church, create a leadership structure and plan for future growth and expansion. What is most important at this time is to minister to the community, friends neighbors and everyone who comes to the services every Sunday at 10 a.m. There are many activities during the week including men’s prayer breakfast, ladies fellowship and even game night. Everyone is welcome at the Sangre de Cristo Seminary Church at 6160 County Road 130 (Horn Road). All for the glory of God.