Covenant News

Naperville Celebrates 25 Years of Ministry

NAPERVILLE, IL (February 28, 2002) - Naperville Evangelical Covenant Church celebrated its 25th anniversary February 23-24. Donn Engebretson, executive vice president of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), spoke during the Sunday morning worship service.

Ed and Dorothy Train, who helped the church start its original core group in the mid-1970s, were also in attendance. More than 300 were at Sunday worship and many stayed for a church family dinner.

On Saturday, the church hosted a banquet at the Naperville Country Club for more than 200 people. One of the church's previous senior pastors, Greg Asimakoupoulos, and a previous interim pastor, Mark Olson, were among the guests.

Two previous associate pastors, Al Forsman and Paul Allen (now co-pastor at the Evangelical Covenant Church of Hinsdale, Illinois), youth pastor Bill Johnson and children's director Louise Wahlskog were also part of the weekend of activities.

A video documenting the past and present of the church served as one of the highlights of the evening and the congregation hosted an open house at a parishioner's home Saturday morning. The church also produced an anniversary cookbook containing recipes from various members of the congregation.

Naperville Evangelical Covenant Church officially began it ministry in 1977 under pastor Art Fretheim. The church's current average worship attendance is more than 250, said Anderson, who has been the pastor since May 2000.

For more information about the church, contact Anderson by telephone at 630-369-2741 or by email at NECChurch@aol.com.

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