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Roundup: Covenant Churches Active in Mission Trips
NASSAU, BAHAMAS (August 15, 2002) - Age is not a factor when it comes to serving
others through mission trips.
Covenant Village of Florida staffers Bob and Judy Tenglin and two
retirement community residents joined three young people and a youth leader
from Lighthouse Covenant Church in Tamarac on a mission trip to Nassau
August 3-10.
The trip is believed to be the first originating from a retirement
community operated by Covenant Retirement Communities (CRC) of the
Evangelical Covenant Church, according to Tenglin, a retired Covenant
pastor serving as chaplain at Covenant Village of Florida, and affirmed by
a CRC spokesperson. The team organized a Vacation Bible School for a local
church that averaged 95 children daily.
The Tenglins traveled to Nassau in April to assess the needs for the trip.
Tenglin worked with Joshua Sands, who at one time served as a Covenant
pastor in Atlanta and now pastors a congregation in the Bahamas. Rose
Cornelious, Eastern facilitator for church relations for the Department of
World Mission, also helped with trip details.
It was the first time any of the eight had been on a mission trip. Tenglin
said the week gave him plenty to think about. He said he appreciated the
intergenerational mix (ages ranged from 16 to 73), the interaction between
the mission team and the Bahamian residents and the conversations between
local Covenant church members and those from the retirement center.
"This (a mission trip) is a must if you want to grow in your relationship
with the Lord," said Tenglin. "We were challenged almost at every point of
the mission trip with things that overwhelmed us. We continued to make
adjustments and the Lord provided at every point for us when we had to make
adjustments.
"We thought we were going to be a support staff for a church teaching
staff, but we found out when we got there that we were the teaching staff,"
he continued. "It was a challenge, but it was a good challenge. We knew the
curriculum, though, and things worked out fine. We all came away from there
having been thrilled with having met the people from the church."
A number of other Covenant churches have been involved with mission trips
as well. Following is an overview of some of the trips (listed by
conference), gleaned from the more than 200 local church newsletters
received each month by the Department of Communication:
CENTRAL
- Chicago, Illinois: Edgebrook Covenant Church sent a team to
Stickleyville, Virginia, in July that included pastor Greg Mesimore, Marge
Carlson, Jody Milbourn, Dan and Debbie Shelton and Ken Kling. The team
assisted with projects at a local Covenant-sponsored camp, Covenant
Mountain Mission Bible Camp, and with Wallens Creek Covenant Church.
- DeKalb, Illinois: Hillcrest Covenant Church sent a 20-member team to
Mexico to help build a 10-by-20-foot addition to a house. Shawna Kauffman
and Amy Randall wrote a report on the experience, which was a first for
many on the trip. "Throughout the whole week we were told what was going to
happen on the last day when we finished the house," the two wrote. "But
what actually happened was nothing compared to what they told us . . . When
Anna Maria, the mother, received her new addition to her existing home, she
couldn't do anything but cry . . ."
- Rockford, Illinois: Bethesda Covenant Church sent a team to Mendenhall,
Mississippi, June 15-22. The team worked on a farm. The team included Greg
Digieso, director of youth ministries; Matt Schwerin, Katie and Chris
Whitham, Jimmy and Lisa Rasmussen, Jacob Zilliox, Brad Peterson, Lisa
Grindle, Bill Wagner and Andrew Plett.
- Lafayette, Indiana: The Evangelical Covenant Church of Lafayette sent a
high school team to Coahoma, Mississippi, for a ministry project. They
returned August 2.
- South Bend, Indiana: The Evangelical Covenant Church of South Bend
recently sent a 19-member team to a Covenant church in Gary for a service
project. The team helped clean a youth facility that was started by Bennie
and Willa Simmons. A group of young people will share a youth event with
the Covenant Church of Gary's group later in August.
- Iron River, Michigan: Grace Covenant Church sent a puppetry team to
Wallens Creek Covenant Church in Stickleyville, Virginia, to help teach
that church's "Son Mountain" team new puppet material. Grace Covenant
donated puppets and a new sound system to the church after helping with a
day camp in that area (Covenant Mountain Mission Bible Camp).
EAST COAST
- East Greenwich, Rhode Island: Christ Church took a team to Central
America June 27 through July 5 for a multi-faceted project (based in
Tegucigalpa, Honduras) that included medical and construction elements,
along with Vacation Bible School. The team was affiliated through Mission
Discovery, an interdenominational organization. Including those from the
local churches, a total of 42 were part of the effort - 11 from Christ
Church (mostly teens) and seven adults from the Covenant church in nearby
Riverside. According to Carl Sauerbrey of Christ Church, the trip was part
of a hurricane relief effort. A hurricane devastated the area four years
ago, killing an estimated 10,000 people in Central America. The team helped
build two houses during the trip. Sauerbrey said some 500 individuals
received medical treatment.
- Riverside, Rhode Island: Evangelical Covenant Church pastor Stuart
McCoy was part of a team of nearly two dozen that headed to Honduras with
Christ Church of East Greenwich.
GREAT LAKES
- Allegan, Michigan: Christ Community and Kalamazoo Covenant churches
combined to send a team to Tijuana, Mexico, in mid-July. They received
training from Youth With a Mission (YWAM) in Los Angeles before heading to
the Mexican border to do evangelism and work projects with several Mexican
congregations.
- Jamestown, New York: Zion Covenant Church sent a group of 18 to Chicago
as part of a project to aid a South Chicago church ministry that regularly
serves lunch to approximately 100 children.
MIDSOUTH
- Edmond, Oklahoma: Life Church sent a team to work on the island of
Roatan, Honduras, for 10 days in June. They helped build a bilingual school
and engaged in prison ministry, among other things.
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Westmoore Community Covenant Church sent a
17-member team to Valle Hermoso, Mexico, in July. They worked with Templo
Sinai Church in organizing youth activities, work projects and English
language and health classes. The group also aided a second church, located
a mile from Templo Sinai. They served 165 children with a Vacation Bible
School.
MIDWEST
- Golden, Colorado: Applewood Covenant Church sent a team of 10 to
Guatemala, including pastor Guy McCaslin. Others on the trip were Charissa
McCaslin, Rich and Ellen Baldacci, Peg and Abby McMillen, Jill and Lee
Richman, Karen Snuffer and Ben Peasley.
- McPherson, Kansas: Countryside Covenant Church sent a 29-member team to
Monterrey, Mexico, through Covenant-sponsored Merge Ministries. Team
members included Lorenzo Alderson, Angie Armbrust, Chad Gayer, Sarah
Holgerson, Jenni Hope, Kelly Ingmire, Sarah Kennedy, Josh Martinson, Amanda
McConnell, Josh and Jason Menard, Joel and Ryan Norman, Phil Parrish, Joey
and Kelli Reith, Danielle Sides, Sabrah Spencer, Sarah VanAmburg, Abbey
Walker, Tina Wesley, Cindy Erickson, Dan Ferguson, Dave Hoffman, Garry
Skinner and Sara Sosa.
- Shawnee, Kansas: Community Covenant Church sent a team to Alaska
Christian College in Soldotna, Alaska, this summer. They put in electrical
wiring and set roof trusses and sheeting for a new student duplex, along
with renovating a bathroom and shower area and organizing the school's
library. When finished, the new duplex will be a
four-bedroom, fully functional, 1,460-square-foot facility.
- Lincoln, Nebraska: First Evangelical Covenant Church sent a youth
mission team to Reynosa, Mexico, August 8-17 under the direction of team
leaders Deb Bonsall, Sherri Erickson, April McFarling, Charles Harwood,
Theresa Morgan, Bert Murray, Matt Rudeen and Lynn Murray Smith. Youth team
members included: ReBecca and Liz Albrecht, Heather Barris, Breanne Biehl,
Lacie Dahlquist, Megan Haas, Elizabeth Harwood, Jennie Merrill, Brendon
Murray, Christina Ricaurte, Megan Rezac, Daniel Robbins, Amy Southwell,
Shandra Swier and Amy Welte.
NORTH PACIFIC
- Helena, Montana: The Evangelical Covenant Church sent a team to
Tallinn, Estonia, to help with a project in mid-July. They worked with the
Viimsi Free Church on outreach activities. Team members included Krista
Burton, Anna Dreyer, Anna FitzGerald, Kyle Lonnes, Jennifer Murphy,
Jennifer Rispens, Joni Wissinger and Theresa Zacher. The group connected
with Matt Edminster, a missionary supported by the church, and stayed
with host families.
- Lakebay, Washington: Lakebay Community Church sent a team to Mexico
August 12 for a one-week trip sponsored by Genesis Expedition, a ministry
to orphans. Pastor Heather James and about a dozen students participated.
- Olympia, Washington: River Ridge Covenant Church sent a team of 11
junior high students and three adults to central California August 10 as
part of an organization called Gleanings for the Hungry. Team members
included Kevin Bedard, Kristin Dunbar, Justin Keesler, Megan Newitt, Analee
Wittenbrink, Jamie Daniels, April Garcia, Isaiah Norby, Rick and Philip
Kendall, Melissa and Jim Patterson and Greg and Paul Reiner. The 10-day
trip, which involves fruit picking on local farms, is an annual event for
the junior high group.
- Redmond, Washington: Creekside Covenant Church sent a high school team
to South Dakota on Project OKICIYAPI, which focused on Native American
ministry.
- Sammamish, Washington: Pine Lake Covenant Church sent 12 people as part
of a 24-person team to a school in Kodera, Kenya, where they established a
mission connection with Christopher Sure. Some led a Vacation Bible School
for the 500 children at the school. A sports clinic, medical clinic and
health and hygiene classes also were part of the two weeks of activity. A
small group helped construct a play structure for the school. Sports
equipment, craft materials and other items brought to Kenya from the United
States will be given to the school.
- Seattle, Washington: Sherston Johnson of First Covenant Church traveled
to Laisla, Guatemala, with 25 other medical staffers to set up a clinic in
a local church. The staff cared for nearly 2,000 people from May 29 through
June 16. Johnson, who grew up at First Covenant, is a nurse at Children's
Hospital in Seattle. She graduated from North Park University (then
College) and worked at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago
before heading back to Seattle five years ago. "It was a very eye-opening
event, something I'll always remember," Johnson said. "It was a
Christian-based mission trip (through Haiti Medical Team and a local United
Methodist congregation) and I was able
to pull in my nursing experience. These people had never seen medical care
. . . people traveled for days to have their kids looked at. One group
walked four days and slept in the jungle to come. None of them had ever
seen a doctor. It was very basic nursing, but it was very rewarding.
Compared to what we have in the United States, they have nothing but they
seemed so happy. And they were so happy to have their children seen by
staff that had knowledge."
NORTHWEST
- Blaine, Minnesota: Church of the Good Shepherd sent a team to Chicago
in late July to work with the Center for Student Mission on projects around
the city. The team helped with a youth program at a shelter that is run by
Jesus People USA Covenant Church.
- Cottage Grove, Minnesota: A team of 34 adults, teens and pre-teens
traveled to Saltillo and Derramadero, Mexico, in July for 10 days of work
in construction, children's ministry and medical ministry. Merge Ministries
of McAllen, Texas, a Covenant-sponsored entity, helped organize the trip.
The children's ministry organized morning programs at the work project site
in Saltillo and then did afternoon programs in Derramadero. They ministered
to about 100 children combined. The medical ministry was centered in
Derramadero and included dental needs. One day was spent in nearby San Juan
for a medical education seminar at a church. The construction team combined
with members of a Saltillo congregation to build a sanctuary for a church.
- Duluth, Minnesota: Lakeview Covenant Church sent a 26-person team to
Mexico from July 6-14 to work at two sites (San Jose and El Refugio) on
various building projects. Team members included Sarah Erickson, Jesse,
Adele and Darrell Hanson, Gerald and Margaret Thilmany, Paul, Nona, Becky
and Rachel Harkness, Jessica Golen, Heather Wabrowetz, Corrie Evanson, Matt
Lufholm, Tom Knuth, Brian Primozich, Kyle Arndt, Breanna Diedrich, Curt
Fernandez, Jane and Maren Gilbertson, Harry Michalicek,
Grace and Ruth Knezevich, Leslie Peterson and Mego Haralu.
- Duluth, Minnesota: Salem Covenant Church sent a team on the Wyoming
Wind
River Mission Trip July 27 through August 4. Kelly and Sarah Dusek and
Julie provided volunteer leadership while student team members included
Jeff Crosby, Alyssa Foucault, Karen Harms, Cynthia Hindermann, Kayla
Johnson, Micaela Kucinski, Sarah Marczak, Calvin, Jennifer and Megan Olson,
Troy Persaud, Mark and Tammy Shatto, Ryan Short, Melissa Young and Danielle
Pearson.
- Mankato, Minnesota: The Evangelical Covenant Church of North Mankato
sent a 17-member team of junior high students to Marty, South Dakota, to
aid the Yankton reservation. They were part of a work camp sponsored by
Group Workcamps of Loveland, Colorado. The team repaired and weatherized
homes for elderly, low-income and disabled Native Americans. Junior high
team members included Jordan Wilzbacher, Alora Maki, Azyha Salazar, Micah
Roos, Nicole Robinson, Kevin Williams, Bryan Nelson, Nick Phillips, Kendra
Braunger, Hilary Davis, Kiley Gravley, Emma Ziebarth,
Erica Putze, Beth Goebel, Kelli Caballaro, Ian Roberts and Camille Negaard.
Adult leaders were Roger Gilbert, Bill Brunger, Faye Krause and Emily
Hackbarth.
- Plymouth, Minnesota: Plymouth Covenant Church sent a group of high
school students to Ensenada, Mexico, from August 1-10 to help run a
Vacation Bible School program and participate in various work projects.
Another group headed to Ecuador August 9-22 for mission work. They included
Kevin and Veronica Mason, Ed and Jessi Grinvalds, Jenni Dykstra, Andrea
Lupino, Adam Cole and Hope Miller.
- Clear Lake, Wisconsin: United Covenant Church sent a team to
Farmington,
Missouri, from August 4-10 to help repair a building that will be used for
a Youth For Christ teen center there. Team members included Lindsay and
Jordan Dietche, Katie and Cole Johnson, Tressa and Matt Bauer, Quinn and
Lisa Seaman, Deanna Helgason, Amy Spurrell and Scott Moriak.
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST
- Tucson, Arizona: The Evangelical Covenant Church sent a 20-person team
to Mexico in mid-July to help the Case de Elizabeth orphanage. They worked
with children on a Vacation Bible School and refurbished the buildings of
the orphanage. The Tucson church has an ongoing relationship with the
orphanage (four years) and raised more than $850 to give to the orphanage,
along with needed foodstuffs. The orphanage serves about 90 children.
- El Cajon, California: A dozen students from Community Covenant Church's
high school youth group, under the direction of Dean Higgins, traveled to
Costa Rica to counsel street kids that had been invited to a camp. The camp
was launched by Hume Lake Camp and Conference Center.
- Spring Valley, California: An 11-member group from Grace Covenant
Church (formerly Mount Miguel) traveled to Guatemala July 3-17 as part of a
trip arranged by Covenant-sponsored Merge Ministries. The group included
one member from College Center Covenant Church. Led by Tom Palmer, the
group ministered in a Christian school.
- Walnut Creek, California: Hillside Covenant Church was one of about a
dozen congregations that sent teams to Alaska Christian College in
Soldotna, Alaska, this summer to help complete building projects for the
new ECCAK-sponsored Bible school.
Covenant churches throughout North America are regularly conducting mission
trips
all over the world. We would like to hear about them. Please add us to your
local church newsletter mailing list and send letters to Covenant
Communications, 5101 N. Francisco
Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60625, or email them to newsdesk@covchurch.org. To
report activities by telephone, call Craig Pinley at the Department of
Communication, 773-907-8333.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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