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New Church Plant Viewed as 'Mission Outpost'
LA QUINTA, CA (April 6, 2006) - Chris Hushaw grew up in this California desert
area. Now the Holy Spirit has brought him back into that wilderness.
This past Sunday, La Quinta Community Covenant Church, which Hushaw has
planted, held its grand opening service. Located in the Palm Springs
area, the congregation is more than a two-hour drive from the nearest
Evangelical Covenant Church.
"We're definitely a mission outpost," quips Hushaw. "People out here
don't know what a Covenant church is."
Most people in this rapidly growing area know what churches are, but
almost none of them have attended churches in the communities from which
they've moved, Hushaw says. "Less than 10 percent claim to be involved
in a church."
La Quinta now has more than 36,000 inhabitants, according to the
Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, an increase of 52 percent over
the nearly 24,000 residents reported in 2000. Despite the population
size, the community has only four established churches - as many as are
found on one block in small towns across the country, Hushaw notes. The
four in the community are a Catholic church and three small independent
congregations.
Last year, the county was the fastest growing in California and the
second fastest in the country, Hushaw says. Seniors and others who own
resort property have been the traditional residents, but many of the
people moving in the area are young families.
Hushaw started last September with a core group of 65 people, many of
whom he knew growing up. Attendance has reached as high as 190 at one of
the preview services.
Leaders of the new church hope one day to be a "mother" church starting
another congregation. Rolling Hills Covenant Church in Rolling Hills
Estates, California, has been providing support to La Quinta Community
Covenant. Hushaw's wife, Linda, grew up in that congregation.
Hushaw touts the area as a great place to live. "It is paradise for nine
months out of the year," he says. The summer months are different. "It
spikes to over 110 almost every day."
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