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Tungseth, Sundholm to Work with World Mission
CHICAGO, IL (December 7, 2001) - Two Covenanters have been named to positions that will work closely with local Covenant churches engaged in world mission initiatives.
The appointments, announced today by the Department of World Mission of the Evangelical Covenant Church, will be effective January 1.
Dr. Keith Tungseth will serve as facilitator of local church initiatives. "We realize that many local churches have viable intercultural ministries undertaken by their own initiative," said David Stockamp, coordinator of church relations for the department. "Having a facilitator who can directly encourage these congregations and connect them with sister congregations of the same mind is something we've needed for a while. I'm glad Keith is there to help."
Tungseth is a former short-term missionary to Colombia and has extensive pastoral experience in the United States and Canada. Several years ago he became acquainted with Leonid Regheta, a Russian national studying in the United States. Tungseth's church sent Regheta to Russia for two years on special assignment. The experience enabled Tungseth to develop other Russian connections throughout the Covenant. "Keith is a natural at connections," Stockamp said. "He has mentored a number of young Russian leaders and has discovered over 45 Covenant congregations involved with Russian ministry."
Jim Sundholm will serve as the part-time coordinator for church relations - west, with primary responsibility in the North Pacific and Pacific Southwest conferences. "This will be a good fit for Jim, who is also the director of Covenant World Relief. World Mission and Covenant World Relief will be enhanced through his passion for the poor and the hopeless," Stockamp said.
Sundholm has extensive pastoral experience, as well as experience with street youth and multi-ethnic inner-city congregations. "Our churches will benefit from his perspective," Stockamp said. "He will put the broader scope of mission into proper balance for our congregations. He knows the challenges at home and will call them to action both here and beyond."
Sundholm has traveled extensively to Africa and is developing relationships with the emerging Covenant Church in South Sudan and Ethiopia. "Jim's experience in Africa and his role in Covenant World Relief is a good fit for Covenant World Mission," said Jim Gustafson, executive minister of the Department of World Mission. "That combination is very synergistic in nature."
Tungseth and Sundholm can be reached at ktungseth@hotmail.com and
jim.sundholm@covchurch.org respectively.
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