Covenant News

Biwabik Church Buys Land, Plans Building

BIWABIK, MN (January 22, 2000) - While First Covenant Church in Oakland (CA) deals with the effects of a fire that damaged its sanctuary Christmas morning, the news is better for the Biwabik Covenant Church as it develops a building program following a fire that destroyed the old structure Aug. 23, 1998.

Land has been purchased in the southern part of the community with plans calling for construction to begin later this year. The congregation met at a local elementary school during much of 1999, moving back into the former church building in September where services have been conducted during the winter months.

"It's taken us a whole year to get this land, so this is wonderful news for us," said pastor Jeffrey Jones. "We're going to build as we go and we hope to have a usable shell of the building up by the end of the year," Jones said. "We're shooting for a 10,000-square-foot shell with a 200-seat sanctuary, a fellowship hall and ample classroom space."

The Department of Church Growth and Evangelism of the Evangelical Covenant Church has been instrumental in helping Biwabik Covenant Church recover, with the pastor describing Rob Hall, the department's associate director of technical and legal services, as a key catalyst. An appeal by Frontier Friends raised $26,000 during the past three months, with an additional $100,000 of insurance proceeds providing the necessary capital to launch a building project. Jones hopes a local fundraising drive will add another $20,000, stating local businesses also have been supportive in providing resources for the church.

"All last year we were kind of in the desert," Jones said. "But, we've felt like we've been guided by God in this. It was great to be in the school, because it broadened our perspective on what it means to be a church (family). All of those struggles that new churches have to face, as well as the energy that comes from it, has been great."

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