Covenant News
Bronx Church Marks 100th Anniversary
BRONX, NY (September 6, 2000) - One of the older and active urban churches in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) will celebrate its 100th anniversary this fall as Fellowship Covenant Church in New York celebrates a special communion service September 23.Special guests include Robert Dvorak, East Coast Conference superintendent, and keynote speaker the Rev. Dr. Paul Weaver, pastor of Bethesda Baptist Church in New Rochelle, New York. On September 24, the church will conduct a special morning worship service to be followed by an open house to feature its new cultural center.
Fellowship Covenant Church officially organized September 1, 1900, as Immanuel-Forsamlingen Church in Harlem, New York. In 1925 the church moved and became Swedish Immanuel Congregational Church, located in the Bronx. The church changed its name to Fellowship Covenant Church in 1981, shortly after Jerry Mosby became senior pastor.
For the past 21 years, Mosby has pastored the multi-ethnic congregation (including some 700 people), which is located in the heart of New York City. Adele Santiago became the first Hispanic person to join the church and Queen Esther Rembert became the first African-American to join Fellowship Covenant as the church evolved from its original Swedish roots.
"I think it's exciting to be in a church that is celebrating its 100th anniversary - it's exciting to be pastoring something older than you," said Mosby. "It's a feeling you can't explain. For me to be part of such a rich history, not only of the Covenant church, but the Immanuel Covenant Church, is exciting, though it's tiring."
The church has become known for its ministry to the homeless ministry, a thriving neighborhood youth program, and a men's mentoring program called Boys to Men. Its presence in the community has been strengthened by its resolve to serve God even in the midst of adversity.
The efforts of long-time pastor Dewey Sands proved vital the church's transition from an Anglo to a multi-ethnic congregation. Mosby says he is grateful for the work of those who served before him.
"What Fellowship went through in the 60s and the 70s, the racial prejudice, was incredible," Mosby said. "But we came and did what God wanted us to do and God blessed that. Dewey Sands did a wonderful, wonderful job of keeping us in the urban community," Mosby continued. "He was an urban pioneer. I'm just carrying on a ministry that started on 139th Street and then moved to the Bronx. They were doing things long before we got started (at the current site). I'm excited we have an African-American flavor, but are not an African-American Church. We're a Covenant church."
In July, the Fellowship Covenant choir celebrated its own centennial as 550 people were part of a hymn-oriented worship service and concert. Dr. James Abbington, director of cultural arts and music at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, was the guest director.
On October 22, a children's choir representing 22 African countries will participate in the Sunday morning worship service. A Women's Fellowship Day, highlighting Covenant Women Ministries, will be featured in November.
For more information on Fellowship Covenant Church and its 100th anniversary calendar of events, contact Mosby at 718-829-2116.
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