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Church, Public School Partner in Tutoring Initiative
JAMESTOWN, NY (April 1, 2004) - Zion Covenant Church has begun a new ministry
called ZEAL (Zion's Educational After-School League), which provides
tutoring from 3:15 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays for grade school children in
grades 1 through 6.
The program, which is offered from 3:15 to 5 p.m. Thursdays, operates in
cooperation with the Southwestern School District - children are
referred by teachers in the local schools, according to Sally Chall,
associate pastor of children and family ministry.
Twenty-seven children currently participate in the ZEAL program. A
number of junior high and high school students are among those assisting
with tutoring. The idea for a tutoring ministry surfaced last fall as
children's leaders considered how to better serve the needs of children
in the community. Leading the tutoring program is Linda Taylor, a
recently retired teacher.
"The kids are really involved in helping these kids and it's been
wonderful," said Chall. "We screen any volunteers for the church - and
the parents of the students are so overwhelmed that this service is
free. A lot of the kids are so excited about the program and they enjoy
coming back. And Linda Taylor had worked with gifted children in the
Jamestown School system and she's very passionate about what she's
doing. That's really spreading."
ZEAL is not the only outreach ministry to community children through
Zion Covenant, said Chall. A preschool Vacation Bible School week
focuses on those who do not normally attend the church - parents of
those preschoolers can assist in the classrooms. The church also offers
a Kids Club VBS that geared to grade school-age children.
To learn more about the ZEAL tutoring ministry and other children's
ministries at Zion Covenant, call Chall at 716-488-9310.
Many young people are involved in ministries through their local
churches and are also active in various school programs. Following are
highlights of youth activities gleaned from the more than 250 local
church newsletters received each month by the Department of
Communication – the information is grouped by conference or region.
CENTRAL
- DeKalb, Illinois: Raina Johnson, Kayla Kauffman and Michael
Ouellette were part of a recent production of "The Wizard of Oz" as the
Stage Coach Players performed at the Egyptian Theater in DeKalb. Johnson
played the part of Dorothy in the play. Parishioner Sue Ouellette was
the choreographer.
- Iron River, Michigan: Grace Covenant Church's senior high group
hosted a Valentine's Day luncheon for the congregation's 60-plus
contingent as 20 youth prepared and served lunch and 40 seniors enjoyed
the meal and the exchange of life stories and experiences with the
younger generation.
EAST COAST
- Berlin, Connecticut: Bethany Covenant Church and Central Connecticut
State University student Anna Nehring were featured in the Spring 2004
World Vision magazine after Nehring and youth pastor Becky Poor traveled
to Peru last summer for a 30-hour famine study tour. Nehring was
interviewed by a radio station and had a feature written about her
experience in the September 22, 2003 edition of her local daily
newspaper, The Hartford Courant. Visit the World Vision online
spotlight featuring Nehring at www.worldvision.org under the "News and
Media/Features" section of the sitemap.
ECCAK
- Eagle River, Alaska: The senior high group at Community Covenant
Church has been mission minded in its giving, having raised $7,747 so
far for a water well in Zambia. The church's Voyagers group (6 and
7-year-olds) from Pioneer Club also voted to give a combined offering
from September 11 to February 11 for the project. Two students from the
church gave to others in another way as Madison Bird and Sandra Evans
cut their long hair for "Locks of Love," which creates wigs of human
hair to benefit those who have lost hair due to cancer treatments.
MIDSOUTH
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Westmoore Community Church took 44 students
and 11 volunteers to the Planet Wisdom Youth Conference in Tulsa recently.
- Tulsa, Oklahoma: Redeemer Covenant Church's John Clark recently
completed his initial season with the Bucknell University men's Division
I basketball team, averaging 3.4 points and nearly two rebounds while
starting all 29 games for his 14-15 team. Clark, a freshman, had 12
points against Army on January 23 for his highest individual game total.
MIDWEST
- Sioux City, Iowa: First Covenant Church's teens are busy this winter
as Sioux City North High School students Josh and Jacob Huju represented
their school at the 50th annual Northwest Iowa Honor Band Festival,
playing at nearby Morningside College. Jacob plays the oboe and Josh
plays the tenor saxophone. They were among 250 students from 45 schools
selected. Jeff Miller, another teen from the congregation, finished
seventh recently in the 103-pound weight class in Des Moines at the Iowa
High School Athletic Association state wrestling meet's 3A division. He
went 3-2 during the state meet, losing 5-2 to 103-pound state champ
Russell Weakley of Fort Madison High in the quarterfinals and dropping
another decision in overtime before beating Zach McCool of West Delaware
Manchester High 1-0 in his final match. Miller, who is from Sioux City
East High, placed sixth in the state meet as a sophomore and made the
state meet again as a junior.
- Lincoln, Nebraska: First Evangelical Covenant Church's youth are
smart cookies, judging from semester grades at local high schools. Teens
making the honor roll from the church included: Trisha Knudson, Erin and
Jenna Lamb, Katie and Rachel Madvig of Lincoln Southwest High School;
Jessie Ebers, Tom Knudson, Seth Morris and Eastlyn Wright from Lincoln
Southeast High; Megan Haas, Martha McCleery, Lynette Staswick and Tyler
Waters from Lincoln High; Kellee Blaha and Jennie Merrill from Lincoln
Northeast High and Rachel Anderson and Brittany and Kendra Samuelson
from East High.
NORTHWEST
- Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethlehem Covenant Church youth Alaya
Diamond, Rose Hamill and Tahlia Simon were part of a citywide children's
choir festival on February 21 at Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis.
The trio was part of a group of more than 200.
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Harvest Covenant Church's Ashley
Harkness, a sophomore at Washington High School, recently wrote a column
on "The Passion of the Christ" for the city's daily newspaper, the Argus
Leader. Meanwhile, a college student from the church, Ryan Ovenden, was
the recipient of the Augustana College (Sioux Falls) Covenant Award for
Community. The award goes to students who exhibit the college's five
fundamental values of Christianity, liberal arts, excellence, community
and service.
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST
- Lake Arrowhead, California: Stan White, executive director of Alpine
Conference Center in southern California, reported that the first of two
junior high winter camps held February 27-29, included 15 churches and
240 kids and counselors. Six campers prayed to receive Christ at the
first camp and one more did likewise at the second camp on March 5-7
with 277 campers and counselors participating over the weekend.
- Redwood City, California: The Peninsula Covenant Church (PCC)
Community Center has a tennis program that has given area kids an
opportunity to be involved with professional tennis, said Kyle Ray,
director of Fitness and Sports Outreach. Children involved with PCC had
the privilege of being ball boys and ball girls at the recent Seibel
Open tournament. They included: Alex Collette, Hannah Gaddini, Jean
Dupenloup, Aaron Morril, Dylan Rojas, Kyle Ting, Kaitlen Peters, Eric
Shreve, Shawn Weiss, Jen Perkins and Thomas Grana.
- Santa Barbara, California: Montecito Covenant Church's Noah Bryant
is a sophomore track and field athlete at the University of Southern
California in Los Angeles. His top throw in the shot put this season was
58 feet, 7 and one-half inches at a meet at California State
University-Northridge. His toss of 57 feet, 6 and one-quarter inches on
March 20 was good enough for third place at the Trojan Invitational. His
top effort in the hammer throw was 189 feet, 6 inches on February 28,
good enough for third at the Clairemont Relays in southern California.
- Valley Springs, California: On March 29, Good Samaritan Community
Covenant Church sent a mission team to Mexico on a one-week event
sponsored by Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Students included: Karen
Airola, Aubrey Bock, Jimmy Brackett, Ricky Chambers, Alex and Kenny
Cosgrove, Jani Eppler, Nick Graves, Willow Hampton, Hilary Hodgson,
Brian Johnson, Scott Leveque, Veronica Lopez, Sarah McCarthy, Mike
McKelroy, Jordan Moore, Thomas Pekarcik, Heather Roberts, Natalie Rush,
Kyle Siebert, Rebeka Trujillo and Nick Welsh. Eleven volunteers also
went the youth on the trip.
Churches interested in having newsletter information included in these
periodic online reports should add the Department of Communication to
the local newsletter mailing list at 5101 N. Francisco Avenue, Chicago,
IL, 60625. Information also may be sent via email to
newsdesk@covchurch.org.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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