Central Conference Events

Covenanter

The Covenanter is the Central Conference's printed newsletter, providing news on Central Conference activities and churches.

Click here to view the 2007 Summer edition of the Covenanter in PDF format.

Click here to view the 2007 Winter edition of the Covenanter in PDF format.

The Changing Landscape: from Cuyler to Resurrection

(Continued from the 2007 Spring Covenanter) May marked another step along the way of revitalization for the congregation nestled in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. A vote to adopt the name "Resurrection Covenant Church" was a significant and symbolic decision of their journey over the last several months. During Lent the members of the church were growing and changing and by Easter, the name was apparent.

The first step of the former Cuyler Evangelical Covenant Church occurred following several discerning conversations with Superintendent Jerome Nelson and colleague Pete Sjoblom. A new vision and an accountable plan was wrought from a divine combination of history and current opportunities to help guide this radical adventure into becoming a vibrant, missional church for the north side of Chicago.

The next step was to call co-pastors Adam Philips and Aaron Johnson in September 2006, fresh from seminary, to lead the church further into their new vision and into the young neighborhood around them. The church is drawing new couples interested in a smaller, more organic church. They are now engaging in several justice-oriented ministries around the city including Word on the Street and the Rest Shelter in uptown. They are also looking forward to the annual block party to introduce the new name of the "church on the corner."

Being a vibrant, missional church is a long, faithful, and often not easy, path that is walked one step at a time by every congregation. Tell us what your church's next step is by sending an email to info(at)centralconf.org. [0607W]

Discovering a Planter's Call: Gonzalez Interview

(Continued from the 2007 Spring Covenanter) The Gonzalez’ visited with Associate Superintendent Jolene Bergstrom-Carlson about their call to church planting before the conference annual meeting. Following is remainder of the original interview:

Tell me about you. Our daughter was an infant when we arrived in the United States; today she loves swimming and is on the worship team, our son is an artist, and our youngest daughter is a combination of all of us. Sergio has been an assistant pastor at our church and I have been the Sunday School director.

How did you come to know Jesus? In the GED classes with Pastor Retamal, he talked with us. We were young and just married with an infant, and he taught us about marriage from a Christian perspective. From those conversations we wanted to hear more and began attending Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico Grace.

What led you to church planting? Our first experience with Peniel (Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico Peniel) was an opportunity to see the need of people to experience a love and passion for the Lord. We also learned that the people we met needed practical ministry for Jesus to be relevant in their families.

Where are you planting? We are planning to plant the new church in Melrose Park or Bellwood IL because the Hispanic population is growing in those communities—and most have emigrated from Mexico, so we share a common heritage.

At what stage is this plant? We are still forming the core group. As a planting partner, our home church sent us five members and we are meeting together with others in the area from other church backgrounds. We believe we have enough time to build the core group to 20 or 30 people by the time we have our first service in September.

What excites or scares you about church planting? What excites us most is meeting new people, and the new experiences and challenges of bringing the message of our Lord in love, hope, joy, and service. What scares us is the results may not be what we expect, in the time we are hoping.

In what ways can established churches be supportive to you? Prayers, donations of practical items, and others’ experiences. We appreciate opportunities to share our vision, thoughts, feelings, and our love for the Lord and his people.

Churches or individuals interested in supporting church planting or connecting with the Gonzalez’ family, may contact the conference at info(at)centralconf.org or (773)267-3060.