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Covenanters Are Busy People, Newsletters Show
CHICAGO, IL (October 18, 2002) - A number of interesting stories can be found in
the more than 200 local church newsletters received each month by the
Department of Communication of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Following are excerpts from those newsletters, grouped by conference:
CANADA
- Ben Josephson, a fifth-year student at Trinity Western University in
Langley, British Columbia, made the All-Tourney team as his team
represented Canada in the recent Can-Am men's volleyball challenge in
Edmonton, Alberta. Josephson of Hope Community Covenant Church in
Strathmore, Alberta, is a 6-foot-4 setter for the Spartans, which went
1-3, beating UCLA (last year's national runner-up in the NCAA Division I
men's volleyball tourney) for its lone victory. Four top-ranked Canadian
Inter-university Sport (CIS) schools faced four of the best of the United
States. The Canada schools won 33 games while the U.S. won 28 games as each
team played college opponents from the other country in best three-of-five
matches. Trinity Western, under head coach Ron Pike,
plays in the Canada West Conference in the largest of Canada's college
athletics divisions. Josephson has been on All-Provincial squads during his
college career for the Spartans.
CENTRAL
- Foster City, Michigan: A member of Mission Covenant Church was honored
posthumously by the state of Michigan, which named a stretch of highway
after him. Michigan State Highway M-69 was named the Sgt. Oscar G. Johnson
Memorial Highway on July 6. Johnson, a lifelong Covenanter, was a World War
II veteran who received the Congressional Medal of Honor. He died in 1999,
having also served the Michigan Army National Guard for five years and
receiving an honorary discharge as a Chief Officer. In
honoring Johnson, the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs cited his
bravery from September 16-17, 1944 when, as a Private First Class, he
nearly single-handedly protected his company's position against a German
offensive while stationed in Italy and eventually 25 German soldiers
surrendered to him. "In spite of mortar fire that crashed about him and
machinegun bullets which whipped the crest of his shallow trench, Sgt.
Johnson stood erect and repulsed the attack with grenades and small arms
fire. He remained awake and on the alert throughout the night, frustrating
all attempts at infiltration." For more about Johnson's heroics, check
www.michigan.gov/dmva under Military Personalities.
- Beloit, Wisconsin: Redeemer Covenant Church parishioner Inez Masuga was
featured in a recent Beloit Daily News article for her volunteer
work with the Stateline Literacy Council. She began tutoring three and a
half years ago and has had as many as six students at one time. Along with
tutoring, Masuga has gotten to know the families of those she tutors,
organizing a Mexican-American Christmas party in the community room at her
apartment building and taking others to a local state park.
EAST COAST
- West Peabody, Massachusetts: Community Covenant Church's Shannon
Higgins
was named to the National Honor Society of Collegiate Scholars and was
honored at a campus ceremony at Northeastern University near Boston.
GREAT LAKES
- Allegan, Michigan: Pastor Patrick White of Community Covenant Church
recently won a blue ribbon at the Allegan County Fair for his baked bread.
He has had the recipe for 30 years, according to an article in the church's
newsletter.
- Whitehall, Michigan: Barb Betts of Fruitland Evangelical Covenant
Church
walked 60 miles in Atlanta and the surrounding area in an Avon 3 Walk for
Breast Cancer event. Barb walked in memory of a sister and sister-in-law.
MIDWEST
- Clyde, Kansas: Brantford Covenant Church parishioners Kent Kalivoda and
Myra Lundquist are beginning their 18th years as the youth leaders in the
local church. One of the Brantford students, Allie Danielson, recently won
15 ribbons at the Cloud County Fair while competing for the Clyde
Roadrunners 4-H Club. Another student, Valerie Brax, was crowned Homecoming
Queen at her high school. She is Washington County Junior Miss and will
compete at the state Junior Miss pageant in Marc.
NORTH PACIFIC
- Eugene, Oregon: Paul Nielson of Valley Covenant Church won first prize
in woodcarving at the recent Lane County Fair.
- Olympia, Washington: River Ridge Covenant Church parishioner Nora
Patterson recently joined more than 2,800 women in a 60-mile walk in and
around Seattle to raise funds for cancer awareness. An estimated $3 million
was raised.
NORTHWEST
- Mankato, Minnesota: Edoy and Judy Anderson of the Evangelical Covenant
Church of North Mankato have been accepted as volunteers with SOWERS
(Servants on Wheels), an interdenominational Christian ministry for retired
or semi-retired Christians with recreational vans who provide talents and
services needed by various Christian organizations. The couple began work
in Rose of Sharon Campground near Memphis, Tennessee, in early October.
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST
- Downey, California: El Encino Covenant Church, whose pastor is Daniel
Anabalon, had 205 people in attendance for a grand opening service on
September 22. Twelve people made a decision to begin a relationship with
Christ, reported the Pacific Southwest Conference in a recent web site
article. Eight families came as a result of a connection the church had
made with them through a community soccer program. Redeemer Covenant Church
in Downey partners with the young El Encino congregation by providing them
a facility and care.
- Spring Valley, California: Mt. Miguel Covenant Village recently named
its on-campus lake "Lake George" to honor a previous administrator, George
Clark, who died September 13 at the age of 75. Clark helped beautify the
lake as part of a building project in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A
benefit dinner this fall will raise funds to beautify the
lake. Clark worked for the denomination as an administrator for three
different Covenant Retirement Communities facilities from 1973 until his
retirement in 1992, according to a recent newsletter article from Mt.
Miguel Covenant Village. He also served as a regional estate planner during
his retirement. George and wife Ruth have lived at the campus since 1998.
The couple also made their mark in ministry at College Center Covenant
Church in San Diego.
To keep abreast of news and events in the Covenant, regularly visit the
news report on this Covenant web site. To have news headlines delivered to
your email box, sign up on the Covenant home page for Covenant Newswire,
the free subscription headline service.
To have information from your church newsletter included in these reports,
send your church newsletter to Covenant Communications, 5101 N. Francisco
Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60625, or call Craig Pinley at the Department of
Communication at 773-907-8333.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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