Covenant News
Wisconsin Project a 'Covenant Family" Affair
NEW RICHMOND, WI (October 20, 2001) - Prairieview Covenant Church of New Richmond has a roof on its new church, but the job is far from over, according to Nancy King, wife of pastor Rudy King.The church sold its previous church building this fall and began worship services in a local hospital's conference center. The congregation recently celebrated the work that has been completed at the new church site with a potluck dinner following church services. The church service began at the old building and ended at the new one, which was still damp from a rainy weekend in northern Wisconsin. It is hoped that all construction can be completed in time for Christmas services, although projects might not be finalized until next year.
Nancy King, who has coordinated administrative efforts for the project, said a total of 6,600 volunteer hours have been provided by various churches throughout the Northwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Conference churches have provided assistance in one form or another - some for a day, others for a week or more. North Park University in Chicago and Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota, also have aided the construction. And pastors - 14 in fact - have been among the most diligent.
On October 6, eight churches had representatives helping in construction projects ranging from building trusses to framing, as well as shingling the roof and helping with repair of the inside of the building. About $200,000 has been saved because of volunteer help thus far, said King, who applauded the work of Dave Swanson of Bethlehem Covenant Church in Minneapolis for design and construction consultation. Two other couples have spent much time on site during the summer and fall and King (a teacher) has given much in the way of volunteer service.
"I was really hoping for support because of connections we've had in the conference," said King. "United Covenant Church in Clear Lake, Wisconsin - the church closest to Prairieview - has been a godsend. First Covenant Church in River Falls, Wisconsin, has three pastors who come regularly and they've really helped us financially. And First Covenant Church of Red Wing, Minnesota, brings help and the women at the church have regularly sent us hot dishes and baked goods to feed our volunteers.
"The thing that surprises me is that week after week we've had volunteers show up at the perfect time," King continued. "We had a master electrician who got us started, and we had a guy who knows trusses come and he brought his crew. He has helped us for weeks. About the time you're feeling you're at a dead standstill, the perfect person shows up. It's been fun. I know a lot of churches in the conference have been praying for us. And even in this in-between time, we've been blessed."
Minnesota Covenant churches aiding the construction project at Prairieview Covenant include:
- Community Covenant Church in Upsala
- Excelsior Covenant Church in Excelsior
- Bethany Covenant Church in Stillwater
- Bethlehem Covenant Church in Minneapolis
- Redeemer Covenant Church in Minneapolis
- Maplewood Covenant Church in Minneapolis
- Roseville Covenant Church in Roseville
- Salem Mission Covenant Church in Pennock
- First Covenant Church in Willmar
- Dawson Covenant Church in Dawson
- Salem Covenant Church in New Brighton
Wisconsin Covenant churches helping Prairieview Covenant include:
- Zion Covenant Church in Ellsworth
- Prairie Lake Evangelical Covenant Church in Chetek
- Lund Mission Covenant Church in Stockholm
- Mission Covenant Church in Poplar
Prairieview Covenant Church, founded in 1890, has an average worship attendance of 50. Electricians, sheetrock workers and drywall installers and drywall tapers are needed this fall, said King.
For more information on the church and its construction projects, call the office at 715-246-0600 or contact King by email at rudyking@pressenter.com. A timeline of projects to be completed can be found on the church website at www.pressenter.com/~rudyking/timeline/htm.
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