|
Home
Redwood City Programs Highlight June Youth Activities Roundup
REDWOOD CITY, CA (June 3, 2004) - Two Peninsula Covenant Church missions
programs are among highlights from the more than 250 local church
newsletters received this month by the Department of Communication.
The Peninsula Covenant aquatics program recently assisted a swim program
in Pichilemu, Chile, as 12 aquatics team members participated in a
Swimming With A Mission (SWAM) ministry effort at the Centro Deportivo
Pura Vida community center. Tim Brochier, Christ Yarranton, Zach Healy,
Matt Petromilli, Jay Knochenhauer, Meghan Dunn and Katie Hagey helped
run swim practices and clinics and competed in a swim meet there. The
church's director of aquatics is Dave Knochenhauer. Peninsula Covenant
has connections with Mitch and Juliet Anderson in Chile and has been
involved in the mission during recent years. A former summer coaching
intern at the church and a native Chilean, Maricio Farias Astorga, was a
coordinator of a Saturday evening outreach program during the week.
Meanwhile, the church's student ministries mission trip to Mexico
included 65 teens and adults, including several students from the
church's Skatechurch team. The skateboarding ministry attracted more
than 150 individuals to a local park by creating a homemade skate park.
The team produced a skate video of the week and a local pastor presented
the gospel message on the final night of the trip. Along with the skate
park, the team constructed a new home, refurbished churches and visited
a local orphanage, according to student ministry director Jake Stewart.
Following are other items gleaned from newsletters, organized by
conference and region.
CENTRAL
- Chicago, Illinois: North Park Covenant Church's Sofia Hindaileh, a
junior at Von Steuben High School, was inducted into the National Honor
Society. And another youth at the church, seventh grader Monica Laytham,
was also mentioned in the church's recent newsletter. Laytham has been
accompanying the church's Children's Choir since last September,
including playing piano for a musical. She has been playing since age six.
- Chicago, Illinois: Nearly 200 junior high students from the Central
Conference participated in the conference's bi-yearly spring breakout
event, which focused on service opportunities throughout Chicago.
Students served as food sorters, cleaners and in other areas while
ministering at local churches, food pantries and other nonprofits. Kris
Causton, the CHIC 2006 council chair, was the guest speaker while Erik
Strom led worship services.
- Naperville, Illinois: Naperville Evangelical Covenant Church's
Michelle Mueller received the "Sophie's Golden Heart Award" recently
from the University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine. The award
is given to a veterinary student excelling in cardiology. Mueller, who
graduated on May 16, was selected for an internship in veterinary
cardiology in California. The recent church newsletter also noted that a
high school graduate, Drew Stiling, was the student representative for
Naperville Central High School.
- Flossmoor, Illinois: Donielle Davenport a senior at Homewood
Flossmoor High School and a member of Friends 4-Life Covenant Church in
Flossmoor, competed in the Illinois High School State Class AA track and
field championships in the triple jump event and received a sixth place
metal out of 125. She had a leap of 37 feet, 11 inches.
- Iron River, Michigan: On May 30, the church celebrated Graduation
Sunday as several high school students - Jessica Aho, Joel Frasier,
Anders Lindwall, Katie Pratt and Karla VanWagner - and some college
graduates were honored. Aho, the Miss Iron County of 2003, was listed on
the Who's Who Among American High School Students after serving
as assistant editor of her school's yearbook, earning recognition with
the National Honor Society academically and playing clarinet in the high
school band. Frasier, a student at Wykon High, played three sports and
earned All-Conference and All-Region notice. He also is a member of the
National Honor Society. Lindwall of West Iron County High placed third
in the Business Professionals Club of America's state competition under
the Digital Media Productions category. He was ranked third in his class
academically while competing regionally and nationally in slopestyle
skiing. Two graduating college seniors, Katie Lindahl from North Park
University in Chicago and Janelle Meyer of Northern Michigan University
in Marquette, Michigan, earned high academic honors.
EAST COAST
- Lexington, Massachusetts: Trinity Covenant Church's Celebration
Bells and Tender Loving Chimes musical groups performed in a spring
concert on May 19 under the direction of Judy Decker. Those in the
groups include Tiana Bartee, Reuben and Ann Bigelow, Leah Buckley, Kurt,
Shaina and Zachary Decker, Jaunita and Kathryn Healy, Nancy Leskiw,
Ginny Smith, Heather Turner, Sharon and Alyssa Unumb, Dave Wassen and
Larry Wendell. A junior choir under director Carol Zaczkiewicz also
performed on May 19. The group included Kristen and Leah Buckley, Mimi
Crampton, Zachary Decker, Carl Gocht, Ariana Sandeen, Alyssa Unumb,
Rachel Watts and Tom Zaczkiewicz.
- Bedford, New Hampshire: Bethany Covenant Church honored more than a
dozen graduating high school students in a recent newsletter. One
student, Christen Shiebler of Nashua Christian Academy, was salutatorian
of her class. Carrie Faucher was president of the National Art Honor
Society at Manchester High School West while classmate Nick Shakra was
his school's Outstanding Wrestler. Shakra finished third in the New
Hampshire State Meet of Champs and fifth in New England as a junior in
the 125-pound weight class. He plans to attend Hofstra University in New
York. Another student from West, Nate Toth, earned a New Hampshire High
School Athletic Academic Award as a student athlete. He also made
National Honor Society and the National Technical Society. He is
currently finishing his prep baseball season as a catcher for the
varsity team and will attend Radford University in Virginia this fall.
Alex Smith, a college graduate from the church, was vice president of
the Senior Senate at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and earned
an award from the United States Achievement Academy and from COMAP in
the field of Mathematics. A Dean's List student and Phi Theta Kappa
honoree, Smith is headed to the University of Illinois for graduate
school with hopes of earning a Ph.D. in mathematics.
ECCAK
- Eagle River, Alaska: Community Covenant Church's Tiffany Mertens
recently won the University of Alaska "Anchorage Idol" talent contest.
GREAT LAKES
- Traverse City, Michigan: West Bay Covenant Church's Keegan Beyer was
featured in a recent church newsletter for his efforts with the
regionally known Northwestern Michigan Children's Choir. He has sung
baritone in the choir for three years while attending West Junior High
School. Also, seventh grader Bethany Hansen earned a first place ribbon
at a recent Science Fair and an award for poetry in another event.
MIDSOUTH
- Edmond, Oklahoma: Life Church has taken on ministry to children in a
big way as the congregation is taking 535 children to LifeKIDS Summer
Camp 2004, "The Great Adventure."
MIDWEST
- Clyde, Kansas: Brantford Evangelical Covenant Church's Tammy
McCarren was featured in an April sports article in a local newspaper
for her record-setting performances in track and field for Tabor
College. She holds the school records for the discus throw (148 feet, 6
inches) and hammer throw (133-7) after winning state Class 2A titles in
the shot put and discus during high school. She stated in the
Hillsboro Free Press, "I hope people remember that I competed and
loved the sport and Tabor College; but more than anything, I want to be
remembered as someone who loved God." Many other teens and young adults
from the church have made their mark as well. College student Lynette
Brax heads to Santiago, Chile, for two months of mission work with
Ibero/American Ministries, focusing on outreach to women. Senior Janelle
McCarren will graduate from Clyde-Clifton High School after
participating in the school's drama and music departments, along with
the forensics team. Classmate Jesse Lundquist was part of the school
plays and musicals, made the National Honor Society and Scholar's Bowl,
played football and has been involved with the youth group at church. He
is among those traveling to Saltillo, Mexico, in June for a two-week
Teens For Christ mission trip to help a local orphanage. Another teen
attending the church, senior Nick Uhlrich, was a co-winner of a prep
golf tournament while representing Washington High School. A state
medallist in high school, Uhlrich is an honor student who will attend
Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas, this fall. His
sister, April, was awarded Academic All-America honors while competing
for Cloud County. Clyde-Clifton High School's Matthew Carlson was
invited to the national Future Business Leaders Association convention
in Denver this summer after he and his teammates helped their school
start a community health fair and help with a local business venture.
- Omaha, Nebraska: First Covenant Church's Betsy Wallace placed second
in a Metro National History Day competition and competed at the state
level recently. Also, a young adult, Ashley Koenig, is traveling to
Japan this summer to lead a mission team for two months.
NORTH PACIFIC
- Seattle, Washington: First Covenant Church's Shannon Seidel placed
first in the high jump and second in the long jump and 100 meter high
hurdles at the Northeast 10 Conference track and field meet May while
competing for the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Seidel, a junior,
regularly competes in the heptathlon, a multi-event competition, and her
best total of 4,454 points put her 29th in the final rankings among
Division II athletes. She placed second in the heptathlon at the New
England Championships on May 8 in Dedham, Massachusetts.
- Yakima, Washington: Wiley Heights Covenant Church school children
Aaron Bitz-Richards, Findley Faubian, Sam Snipes and Helen and Scotty
Wilson have been participating in a "Math Is Cool" competition at
Eastern Washington University.
NORTHWEST
- Blaine, Minnesota: A group of children from Good Shepherd Covenant
Church were recognized in a recent newsletter for their work in an April
25 spring children's choir concert. They included Bailey Caldwell, Issac
Dahlberg, Sara and Christian Farrier, Alyssa Kurtz, Joshua and Austin
Nieters, Travis Peterson, Peder Schuller, Laura and Michael Siirila and
Connor Thorsten.
- Brooklyn Center, Minnesota: Brookdale Covenant Church's youth
competed at a regional puppet festival recently and received two silver
awards and an "Outstanding Originality Award" in a song competition of
the event. Puppetry performers mentioned in a recent church newsletter
article included Jonathon Westmark, Mike Vadman, Caryn Anderson, Kristin
Olson, Emily Noyed, Tiffany Vizanko, Tabitha Hardekopf, Tory Stulen
(lighting), Nicole Khyn (signing for the hearing impaired) and Jesse
Weinmeyer. The group received a lot of help from some adults at the
church. Director Brenda Noyed was assisted by Renee Nelson
(choreography) and scenery was provided with help from Meredith Nyberg.
Design work on props was provided by Kari Lindholm-Johnson and Byron
Olson. Bob Westmark and Mark Boldt helped with electrical needs.
- Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethlehem Covenant Church's recent
newsletter featured Maria Balogh, who has trained and performed with a
youth circus program called Circus Juventas. She is part of three aerial
acts and juggles during a typical program, which is modeled after the
internationally known Cirque du Soleil.
- Warren, Minnesota: Becky Johnson of the Evangelical Covenant Church
of Warren is headed to Morocco for three weeks beginning June 15. She
and seven others will minister at various orphanages and will meet
Christians and Muslims from that country as part of a Christian
organization called AWM, based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.
- Brandon, South Dakota: Living Springs Covenant Church's recent
newsletter mentioned high school graduates at the church, including
Ashley Baumberger, Kara Brown, Phillip Loy, Cassandra Moeller, Abbey
Pitz, Haley Rhoades and Nicholas Walker. Moeller also recently became a
member of the church.
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST
- Walnut Creek, California: Hillside Covenant Church's Jeff Hanson
recently finished his 2004 baseball season at North Park University by
setting two career records and nearly breaking a season mark for
strikeouts. His four-year total of 306 2/3 innings and 248 strikeouts
are all-time among North Park pitchers and his 50 appearances were third
on the career lists. The righthander struck out 75 batters this season,
one behind the single-season record held by Gary Ridgely in 1970. Hanson
finished strongly, allowing just nine earned runs in his final 35
innings, losing three times by a run and earning a no-decision in a game
the Vikings lost against Millikin University. He will play this summer
for Athletes in Action in Fairbanks, Alaska, playing in the prestigious
Alaska Summer Baseball League.
SOUTHEAST
- St. Petersburg, Florida: Faith Covenant Church's Melissa Tomlin
participated in the Regional 8 gymnastics competition in Tampa on April
8, placing first in the Level 8 category among competitors from eight
states.
ELSEWHERE
- Tokyo, Japan: Amy Haworth, daughter of Covenant missionaries Jay and
Ellen Haworth, finished basketball season and is now a member of the
soccer team at her high school. She also worked with her father in
constructing the set for the Christian Academy's spring play "The Music
Man."
To have information considered for inclusion in this online news report,
please add the following to your local church newsletter mailing list:
the Department of Communication, 5101 N. Francisco Avenue, Chicago, IL,
60625. Information also may be sent by email to newsdesk@covchurch.org
or by telephone at 773-478-4631.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
|
|
|
Share this page on facebook
