Covenant News

Kids Day Is Big Event for Alaskan Church

EAGLE RIVER, AK (November 10, 2000) - Community Covenant Church in Eagle River put a unique spin on an age-old celebration and in the process educated its congregation about the numerous children's ministries operating in their community.

The church recently hosted a Kids Are Worth It Sunday, inviting the local police department, the Boys & Girls Club and a handful of other local organizations to share in the event. While at church, children had the opportunity to be fingerprinted and photographed as part of the police department's safety program for children – the information is stored in the police database and immediately available in the event of an emergency.

A dominant theme for the service was that kids are worth protecting, listening to and teaching about God. The event was well received - the church had its largest attendance to date. The event also marked the church's fifth anniversary.

"It was a great way to honor people in our community, people who have the same heart as us, as well as for people to get informed," said Paul Wilson, Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska (ECCAK) field director. "It also gave them an opportunity for them (other community organizations) to find out what we were doing and they appreciated being involved in it."

Community Covenant Church has experienced an increase in attendance lately, mostly involving individuals without a church background. Average attendance is 500, about twice as many people as 18 months ago, according to Wilson. Eagle River is a suburb of Anchorage, located about 10 minutes from the center of the city. The church moved into a new building in March 2000.

"We're a safe place with a dangerous message, a place where real people meet a real God," said Wilson, who shares pastoral ministry with Mark Meredith, Scott Swanberg, Hank Pearson, former ECCAK field director, and Krista Pitsch.

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