|
Home
Local Church Newsletters Report Considerable Activity
CHICAGO, IL (June 27, 2003) - Living Springs Covenant Church of Brandon, South
Dakota, and all of the Christian churches in the area joined together in an
outreach to every
residence in the area this spring, a project that began with meetings among
pastors two years ago.
Congregations from Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Assemblies
of God and Methodist churches were among those canvassing homes and
apartments within the communities of Brandon and Valley Springs. The
outreach cost $17,000 and included handing out 2,800 Jesus videos
and NIV New Testaments - the needed funds were raised within a two-week
period. Churches had met individually and corporately to pray for the
outreach before and on the day of the event.
Along with the mass distribution of the Good News to area
residences, local churches learned more about what each church is doing in
the community. People from different churches went out in teams of two with
the goal of delivering 25 care packages (including a New Testament, a video
and an invitation to join a local church for upcoming Easter worship
services. Pastors had already been acquainted with each other as they had
met for nearly two years together on a regular basis.
"As the pastors and their churches prayed about the project, it was clear
that this was a direction that God was leading," said Living Springs
Covenant pastor Mike Brown. "We heard of God working many miracles as He
challenged churches to support this outreach effort. Many of those who felt
nudged by God to participate let us know they had never done anything like
this before.
"Most of the homes gladly received the gift and we often heard the kids
popping the video into the VCR before we were even away from the door,"
Brown continued. "Lots of seeds were planted that day. We are planning a
follow-up visit to each home in September to ask some questions and
follow-up with those who have asked Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. We
anticipate that this will be the first of many opportunities for all of us
to come together to bring the Good News to the folks in our communities."
For more information about the work of Living Springs Covenant Church, call
Brown at 605-582-7420 or email him at: pastormike@alliancecom.net.
Following is additional information on local Covenant church ministries
gleaned from the more than 220 local church newsletters received each month
by the Department of Communication, organized by conference or region:
CENTRAL
- Belvidere, Illinois: The Evangelical Covenant Church of Belvidere is
sending a mission team of 16 students and adults to southern Texas and
Mexico for a project June 25-July 6. The team will help a few Covenant
congregations in La Villa, Texas, along with congregations in Reynosa,
Mexico. Projects included Vacation Bible School, worship leading and
helping with painting and building maintenance.
- Evanston, Illinois: David and Judy Dolan, coordinators for Chinese
ministries for Covenant World Mission, recently visited the Chinese
Cross-cultural Fellowship (CCCF) that meets in the Evangelical Covenant
Church of Evanston. David shared his testimony in Mandarin during a Sunday
school hour and participated in a Friday night Chinese fellowship group.
Said the Dolans in a June prayer letter, "New Chinese students
continue to attend and several are preparing to be baptized. Though the
church is small, God has been using the church members in remarkable ways
to minister to Chinese graduate students attending Northwestern University
and other schools in the Chicago area. Ben Gong, who started this work, has
one more year of seminary (at Chicago's North Park Theological Seminary).
Pray that God would show Ben and (wife) Liling
where He wants them to serve in the future."
- Oak Lawn, Illinois: Trinity Covenant Church's pastor emeritus Evan
Goranson Sr. was honored in during a June 15 coffee hour for 50 years in
ministry.
- Rockford, Illinois: Bethesda Covenant Church's Melissa Sengkeo Oulavong
was conferred the degree of Juris Doctor in May from the University of
California in Los Angeles (UCLA).
- Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: The largest number of women ever registered for
the Hispanic Women's Retreat at Covenant Harbor, May 30 - June 1. More than
130 people, including 100 women and 35 children, were part of the event.
All six Hispanic churches in the Chicago area were represented. Jerry Reed,
professor at North Park Theological Seminary, spoke on discipleship within
the theme "In His Steps." Among other activities,
the women enjoyed a "Night of Parables" with each church presenting a
parable from the New Testament.
EAST COAST
- Berlin, Connecticut: On June 8, Bethany Covenant Church celebrated a
community worship service and groundbreaking ceremony as 425 people were in
attendance. Following the groundbreaking, attendees enjoyed a chicken
barbecue that raised $1,400 for the 28 teens and counselors headed to
CHIC2K3 in Tennessee next month.
- Manchester, Connecticut: Karen Cupit of Trinity Covenant Church has
written a book entitled "Chosen and Loved - Life as a Child of God" through
New Life Publications and Master Design Ministries. Karen and her husband,
Tom, have chosen to serve with Campus Crusade for Christ at the United
States Military Academy at West Point, New York, after being trained in
Annapolis, Maryland, this summer. Tom is 1993 USMA graduate and Karen
served as an Army officer as well. They have two children.
- Waltham, Massachusetts: Covenant Congregational Church parishioner
Rosalind Wyman graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell with
the Chancellor's Award, the highest honor the school gives for leadership
and student service. Wyman served three years as resident hall council
president, was a member of the Leadership Advisory Council, vice president
of the university medical service and photo editor of
the school newspaper, among other things. She also volunteered time as a
case reviewer for the Department of Social Services and was a drill tech
for a local drum corps. Wyman graduated cum laude with a degree in nursing
and will take her boards in July in order to become a registered nurse.
Wyman wasn't the only high honors college graduate who has church
connections. Christy Boures graduated cum laude from Bates College in
Lewiston, Maine, earning a Bachelor of Arts in music. She is the head
women's counselor at Camp Squanto at Pilgrim Pines Conference Center, a
Covenant camp in New Hampshire. Two others were mentioned in the church's
recent newsletter. Jeff Luke played trumpet in the orchestra for the Boston
Ballet's production of Romeo and Juliet recently and continues to play
occasionally for the Boston Symphony and the Pops.
Meanwhile, Emily Richard had a role in Dana Hall and Belmont Hill's
performance of Sweet Charity.
- West Peabody, Massachusetts: Community Covenant Church parishioner was
lauded in her church newsletter for making 14 new robes and reversible
stoles, along with six other stoles to go with other robes, for the
children's choir. Meanwhile, fellow parishioner Barbara Osterfield was one
of 13 teachers at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School honored for 20 or
more years of service at a recent dinner. And Jennifer Hokanson was awarded
the Jonathan Edwards Scholarship from Gordon Conwell for classes next year.
ECCAK
- Nome, Alaska: Nome Covenant Church, under pastor Harvey Fiskeaux,
attracted 300 to its Easter service by taking church to the streets - a
local bingo hall over the town's Board of Trade Saloon. The idea went over
well as attendance quadrupled the church's average worship attendance on a
regular Sunday.
- Soldotna, Alaska: Alaska Christian College received the good news that
Glen and Millie Mehrkens of First Covenant Church, Red Wing, Minnesota,
will serve the college as volunteers during the next 12 months. Glen, who
was the church's evangelism committee chair, will be ACC's facilities
maintenance director. Millie will work on the ACC office staff.
GREAT LAKES
- Jamestown, New York: Katelyn Illingworth, Melissa Illingworth and
Rachel
Armeli were recently honored by the local Department of Youth Services for
significant contributions. Katelyn has volunteered for five different
community agencies. Melissa and Rachel have volunteered more than 100 hours
at "Love Advantage," an after school program at Love School.
MIDSOUTH
- Norman, Oklahoma: Journey Church, a new church plant that has become
one
of the fastest growing congregations in the Covenant, was featured in a
recent edition of Vision Magazine. Articles highlight how the church
has used multimedia to impact its ministry and energize worship services,
among other things. Journey Church began its ministry under pastor Clark
Mitchell in 2001, drawing 450 to its initial worship service. According to
the Vision article, average worship attendance is nearing
2,000. The congregation meets in a building that once housed a Wal-Mart
outlet. More about the Journey Church can be found at:
www.journeyonline.tv.
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Westmoore Community Church is sending 11
families on a mission trip July 12-19 to minister to Templo Sinai in Valle
Hermosa, Mexico. The team will lead a Vacation Bible School that has
doubled since Westmoore mission teams began sending groups in 1998. More
than 120 were part of last year's VBS. A silent auction and the sales of
candy bars will help defray costs for the trip.
NORTH PACIFIC
- Portland, Oregon: First Covenant Church's Arnold Fredrickson received
the Hall of Fame Award from Modernfold, the company he works for, at the
Moderfold annual meeting in Las Vegas. He is only the fourth person to
receive the award. The glass plaque he received reads (according to a
recent church newsletter): "In appreciation of your leadership,
extraordinary dedication and enthusiasm; you not only identified great
opportunities, you found the way to take us there. Our entire company is
grateful and will always remember your achievements."
- Salem, Oregon: Trinity Covenant Church's Janet Olson was named Teacher
of the Year in the Woodburn School District and received an award of $1,000
for her efforts.
NORTHWEST
- New Brighton, Minnesota: Salem Covenant Church honored Glen Wiberg, its
former pastor, on June 15 as they celebrated 50 years of ministry since he
was ordained. Two of Glen's former confirmands, now ordained Covenant
pastors, Jim Erickson and Brad Shannon, sent tributes to the effectiveness
of Glen's ministry in their lives. David Kersten, executive minister of the
Department of the Ordered Ministry, read a personal greeting from
President Glenn Palmberg and gave his own greeting and blessing.
- North Mankato, Minnesota: Mildred Sandell of the Evangelical Covenant
Church of North Mankato was recently honored with others by the Brown
County Historical Society for her past work as a one-room schoolhouse
teacher and received a Certificate of Recognition and a crystal apple.
Sandell enrolled in Mankato Teacher's College for a two-year program. She
worked in a one-room schoolhouse for three years.
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST
- Sunnyvale, California: Six people from Great Exchange Covenant Church
are headed to Japan in late July to learn about culture and ministry. The
group will assist local churches with an annual English camp and in making
repairs to the Odawara Christian Center. Covenant missionary John Martin,
who is serving at Odawara Christian Center, asks for prayer as the team
prepares and as John and wife Etsuko and others
prepare for the group from Northern California.
SOUTHEAST
- Deland, Florida: Covenant Community Church, a new church plant in
central Florida, has had weekly Sunday services since April 13 with an
average of about 100 in worship, said pastor David Shaw. The church has
moved its worship location from a middle school to a nearby high school. A
grand opening scheduled for sometime in September. A July 6 catered brunch
is being planned and three home groups and 10 ministry teams have proven to
be the main place for fellowship and connection. The church is seeking land
and has a possible site, although no bid has been given to the current
landowner. If the sale goes through, a Covenant Enabling Residence facility
- a group home for disabled adults - is being planned for service adjacent
to the church.
ELSEWHERE
- La Coruna, Spain: Pastor Roberto Reed reported that there are 14 new
members who have become part of a new church plant. He asks for prayer as
leadership attempts to develop six cell groups that will bolster
discipleship and ministry there.
To learn more about activities throughout the Evangelical Covenant Church,
regularly visit the denominational website at www.covchurch.org. To submit
news items for consideration, call 773-907-8333 or email Covenant
Communications at newsdesk@covchurch.org.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
|
|
|
