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18 New Churches Accepted into Covenant Membership
KEYSTONE, CO (June 22, 2005) - Diversity highlights the addition of 18 new
churches to the Evangelical Covenant Church, representing collectively
some 1,340 members and 3,140 attenders.
Congregations adopting into the Covenant say they want to be part of a
larger body because of the opportunities and accountability the
relationship offers. These include Crossroads Community Church of South
Lyon, Michigan; City Church of Kansas City, Missouri; New City Church of
Birmingham, Alabama; St. Barnabas the Encourager Evangelical Covenant
Church of Austin, Texas; and The Bridge Church in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The Covenant continues its journey toward becoming a more ethnically
diverse denomination with the addition of churches that are either
multiethnic or focus primarily on minority populations.
The churches are as diverse ethnically as they are in their locations
and history. Citadel of Faith is located just north of downtown Detroit,
an area marred by high poverty and unemployment. The church is
multicultural even though the city is nearly 90 percent African
American. The ethnic mix of the congregation is 55 percent African
American, 35 percent Anglo and 10 percent Asian. Pastor Harvey Carey
formerly was associate pastor of the 18,000-member Salem Baptist Church
in Chicago. He had a heart for planting a church in Detroit and joined
with the Covenant in 2003 to plant Citadel.
Churches adopting into the denomination generally began the process
after their pastors became acquainted with a Covenant pastor in their
area. That is what happened with Keystone Center of Life Church, when
Pastor Tim Smith was introduced to John DeLancey, pastor of Stoneridge
Covenant Church. The churches continue to build their relationship
through combined events.
Alfa y Omega Covenant Church of Carthage, Missouri, is the first church
of Latino ethnicity in the Midwest Conference. Initially named Iglesia
de Gracia y Paz Abundate, the church began the process of adopting into
the Covenant after Pastor Allan Serrano went through the assessment
center for church planters in 2003.
Christian Vision Covenant Church initially began in Northbrook,
Illinois, in January 2002, with 12 congregants meeting in a private
residence. During the first year, 10 people joined the church. In June
2004, they merged with North Park Korean Covenant. The congregation is
comprised primarily of first and second-generation Koreans, but also
includes Assyrian children, Chinese high school students and a few
Caucasian adults. Christian Vision is renting space at North Park
Covenant Church. One of its ministries is providing academic
scholarships for seminary and college students at North Park University.
Several churches were launched and supported with the help of other
Covenant churches. Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon, Washington,
sent one of its associate pastors, Bruce Shellhamer, to plant Crossroads
Covenant Church. Bethany also recruited and released 60 people to be
part of the new congregation as well as committing $30,000 over its
first three years.
Lakeview Covenant Church parented The Gathering Covenant Church in
Duluth, Minnesota, and owns the building in which the new church meets.
The Gathering began meeting in homes in 2003 and moved into the building
in March 2004 after numbers had increased.
Paradise Valley Community Covenant Church sent Associate Pastor Pat
Stark to plant Genesis Covenant Church in Phoenix, Arizona. Ten core
members were trained at the Church Planter Assessment Center.
Two churches planted by Rolling Hills Covenant Church are formally
joining the denomination. The Rock Covenant Church began in 2001 and
meets in Manhattan Beach, California. Journey Covenant Church began
meeting two and a half years ago in Torrance, California. Pastor Jim
Stewart was a Life Stage pastor at Rolling Hills before planting the
church. Rolling Hills has supported both congregations through
encouragement, financial support and coaching.
Two churches have been pioneer plants. The Crossing Covenant Church was
planted in 2003 in Thornton, Colorado, on the northeast side of the
Denver metropolitan area. Several area churches have partnered with
various kinds of assistance. The Columbia Grove Covenant Church is
located in Wenatchee, Washington. Pastor Andrew Thompson and others have
reached into the community by being regular participants in the Farmer's
Market and other venues. Various artistic expressions, including
bluegrass music, also have been used by the church, which has developed
a strong reputation for creative ministry.
Following are the new churches listed by conference, with average
membership and attendance figures following each church name.
Central Conference
- Christian Vision Covenant Church, Northbrook, Illinois – 28 members,
30 attenders.
Great Lakes Conference
- Hope Community Covenant Church, Detroit, Michigan – 204 members, 190
attenders.
- Citadel of Faith Covenant Church, Detroit, Michigan - 178 members,
160 attenders.
- Crossroads Community Church, South Lyon, Michigan - 67 members, 201
attenders.
- Keystone-Center of Life Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 30
members, 35 attenders.
Midsouth Conference
- St. Barnabas the Encourager Covenant Church, Austin, Texas – 270
members, 350 attenders.
Midwest Conference
- The Crossing Covenant Church, Thornton, Colorado - 22 members, 75
attenders.
- Alfa y Omega Covenant Church, Carthage, Missouri - 0 members, 110
attenders.
- City Church, Kansas City, Missouri – 35 members, 60 attenders.
North Pacific Conference
- Crossroads Covenant Church, Burlington, Washington – 75 members, 350
attenders.
- Columbia Grove Covenant Church, Wenatchee, Washington – 50 members,
115 attenders.
Northwest Conference
- Hope Evangelical Covenant Church, Cotton, Minnesota – 32 members, 60
attenders.
- The Gathering Covenant Church, Duluth, Minnesota - 64 members, 55
attenders.
Pacific Southwest Conference
- Genesis Covenant Church, Phoenix, Arizona - 60 members, 285 attenders.
- The Rock Covenant Church, Manhattan Beach, California - 0 members,
110 attenders.
- Journey Covenant Church, Torrance, California - 0 members, 429
attenders.
Southeast Conference
- New City Church, Birmingham, Alabama - 125 members, 350 attenders.
- The Bridge Church, St. Petersburg, Florida - 100 members, 175 attenders.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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