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Many Covenant Building Projects Under Way
NEW RICHMOND, WI (January 14, 2002) - Prairieview Covenant Church had a Christmas
Eve service to remember as it celebrated Christ's birth in its new building.
The church used the fellowship hall at its new facility, attracting 120 people - twice as many as anticipated. The unexpected size of the attendance was an encouragement to pastor Rudy King and wife Nancy, who worked overtime to prepare the fellowship hall in time for Christmas Eve. (Accompanying photo shows one of many classes utilizing the new space).
"With all of the support and volunteer help, it has felt as if God has been building this church," said Nancy King, noting that more than 11,000 volunteer hours have been invested by more than 200 people from at least 22 Covenant churches. Construction on the building (16,000 square feet) began last June. The church has put insulation and wiring in the fellowship hall, but other inside work remains to be finished. The congregation hopes to have the fellowship hall area completed by Easter for weekly worship services. The sanctuary will be completed as funds become available.
In other construction project news:
Foley, Alabama
New Covenant Church is being built this spring. Pastor Robert Simmons reports that materials have arrived. Simmons said that the 125-by-50-foot building was ordered from a metal building company in Colorado. The facility, which costs $45,000, includes a sanctuary and rooms for Sunday school classes. It is expected to hold nearly 200 for worship services.
New Covenant Church has advanced its ministries with limited funds. It is currently meeting in a house that the church purchased for $10. The current building project has been paid for through a grant from National Covenant Properties along with donations from the congregation. The
church hopes to have the new facility finished in time to host some of the Southeast Conference Annual Meeting in mid-April. Two other Covenant churches are located within 15 miles of New Covenant Church, according to Simmons. The Evangelical Covenant Church of Silverhill is the
conference annual meeting host.
New Covenant Church has about 40 in average worship attendance. Simmons believes the ambitious building project is an example of how God has honored the congregation's efforts. The church bought pews for the new facility years ago and most are in storage. An organ is also being readied for the new building.
"We feel like God has promised us that if we're faithful, He will take care of the rest," said Simmons, who does property management and construction besides his pastoral duties at the church. "We're trying to be faithful and going on day by day."
For more information about New Covenant Church, its building project and its ministries, call Simmons at 334-943-2805 or 251-942-5568.
New Brighton, Minnesota
Salem Covenant Church is in the middle of its "Open the Gates" building project, which includes tripling the size of its fellowship hall and increasing classroom space in the church's basement. A new roof is close to completion and a new entrance has been enclosed with a canopy. The project, which is due to be completed in the spring of 2002, needs to be upgraded to certain city codes. Asbestos removal and a new sprinkler system in the sanctuary are included in the list of upcoming projects.
Santa Barbara, California
Community Covenant Church of Goleta has expanded its worship center, raising $450,000 in recent months. The church is nearly finished with the project and the building was recently carpeted. The church is scheduled to receive chairs for the expanded area this month. Community
Covenant, whose pastor is Dennis Wadley, has an average worship attendance of more than 600. The church has had overflow crowds for worship services during the past year, prompting
the second expansion project in the worship center.
Davis, California
University Covenant Church received a conditional use building permit on a unanimous vote from the City Planning Commission, according to the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism. The church is starting a building project and raised $1.4 million in
pledges during a recent capital campaign drive.
Mason City, Iowa
First Covenant Church refurbished one of its rooms and made a new prayer room in the building. Two recent memorial gifts and a fall Thanks Dinner offering have provided the necessary
funds (about $4,000) to remodel the storage room into a prayer room, according to pastor Rich Murray. The church will begin furnishing after the remodeling is finished. "The Prayer Room Committee's view is that the prayer room should be God's room . . . and therefore the nicest
looking room in the church," said Murray. "With this vision from the beginning, the Lord has just miraculously provided the funds from these unexpected sources. In addition, we have established a prayer ministry team of about 12 people, who will develop a prayer ministry in our church."
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