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Pacific Conference Welcomes Three New Churches
ROSEVILLE, CA (May 3, 2005) - The Pacific Southwest Conference celebrated a
"banner year" in income and the acceptance of three new churches during
its annual meeting this past weekend.
The meeting was held at the 10-year-old Bayside Covenant Church in
Roseville, California, to highlight the conference's commitment to
church planting. Delegates also participated in the first annual
Leadership Conference that drew attendees and speakers from across the
country. John Ortberg, author and teaching pastor of Menlo Park
Presbyterian Church, addressed a combined gathering on Friday night.
Twenty conference churches and one non-Covenant church were recognized
as partners with church plants in the past year. Mt. Miguel Covenant
Retirement Community was commended for its support of a new Hispanic
church plant in the San Diego area.
The treasurer's report reflects an all-time high of nearly $1.8 million
in income. A budget of $2,344,459 was approved with $1,067,000 to be
sought from local churches in undesignated giving and an additional
$250,000 in designated giving for church plant partnerships.
Seven church planters were consecrated and three churches were
recommended to the Evangelical Covenant Church Executive Board for
membership in the denomination:
- Genesis Covenant Church in Phoenix, Arizona
- Journey Covenant Church in Redondo Beach, California
- The Rock Covenant Church in Manhattan Beach, California
Brian Wiele, pastor of Escalon Covenant Church since 1985, was
introduced as conference director of mission advancement, a newly
created role that begins in July. John Gehring, currently associate
director at Alpine Camp and Conference Center, was introduced as the new
interim executive director beginning June 16. Stan White, current
executive director, and his wife, Angi, were recognized for their 10
years of service.
The closing session of Celebration 2005 included humorous antics by Bob
Stromberg, well-known Covenant musician, mime and speaker; a challenging
message by Ray Johnston, senior pastor of Bayside; and music led by
Lincoln Brewster, worship leader from Bayside, during the communion
service.
The PSWC Celebration 2006 will be held April 20-22 at Modesto Covenant
Church in Modesto, California.
The celebration began Friday evening with an opening dinner. Highlights
were presented from Journey to Mosaic, the four-day cultural awareness
trip taken by 32 persons in January 2005. Curt Peterson, executive
minister of the Department of World Mission, challenged participants to
advance Christ's mission globally as well as locally and regionally.
In other business:
- Participants heard the testimonies of two women from Rock Harbor
Covenant Church. One of the women had prayed for her neighbors to commit
their lives to Christ. The other woman was one of those neighbors, who
was one of the answers to the first woman's prayers.
- A ministry fair featuring reports from the 10 commissions
responsible for conference ministries was included with the business
meeting. Rotating groups of participants heard officials give
presentations at separate displays.
- The PSWC Ministerial Association held its annual meeting at Redeemer
Covenant Church in Orangevale on Friday and heard testimonies from 12
candidates for ordination.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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