Covenant News

New Church Prepares for First Worship Service

NATOMAS, CA (March 1, 2001) - Sanctuary Covenant Church, a new congregation near Sacramento, California, is readying for its first service March 18. The church had 80 in attendance during its previous preview event February 11. It also had two preview events in December and January.

Sanctuary Covenant will host its final preview service March 11 at Natomas Middle School, said pastor Sean Curtis, who had previously served as a youth pastor at nearby Bayside Covenant Church in Granite Bay. On March 18, Sanctuary will worship at Discovery High School.

"About two years ago, my wife (Shannon) and I felt God calling us in that direction," said Curtis about the idea of starting a new church. "There are two things about the area that caught our hearts. A lot of young people are buying homes out there and are connected to the downtown area. And the church is in an area of Sacramento that has been lost and forgotten for a while. There are a lot of practical ministry opportunities in those areas."

Curtis said that a mailer to 17,000 residences promoted the new church to the community. Sanctuary Covenant has been supported by Bayside Covenant; Community Covenant in Rocklin; Lakehills Community Covenant in Folsom; and Sacramento-based Valley Hi, First Covenant and River Life Covenant churches. Pacific Southwest Conference Associate Supt. Wayne Carlson has agreed to serve as part of the church's leadership team and attend the church.

Curtis enjoys the task of equipping people for ministry and sees his pastoral role as a coach and encourager. At one time he managed a children's day camp in his hometown in Stockton, California, and was heavily involved in college ministries during his college days at the University of California - Davis, experiences he believes will help him engage with the community. Shannon Curtis has gotten visibility via a radio show news position. She also plays in a local band and helps lead worship at Sanctuary Covenant.

"Many in our core group have had extensive ministry experience and it's a really neat group of mostly younger people," said Curtis. "There's a lot of passion and a lot of gifts with great servant hearts."

For more information about the new congregation, call 916-813-1932, email Curtis at sscurtis@bigplanet.com or visit the church web site at www.sanctuary-church.com.

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