Covenant News

Wallens Creek Church to Mark 50 Years of Ministry

STICKLEYVILLE, VA (April 7, 2002) - Wallens Creek Covenant Church will celebrate its 50th anniversary May 19 with a worship celebration followed by a potluck lunch and campfire.

Wallens Creek Covenant began its ministry as part of the Covenant Mountain Mission project through what was then called the Department of Home Missions of the Evangelical Covenant Church. The congregation is now part of the Great Lakes Conference.

The worship service will begin at 11 a.m. The potluck lunch will feature bluegrass music by several groups among families in the church. Parishioner Judy Barlow will share a "Scene-o-felt" Bible story using a Christian education teaching technique that was popular in the early years of the church. Winnie Swensen will share a special video greeting from her home in Minnesota. Swensen and Naomi Sunberg were key figures during the early formative years of the church, which now averages 72 in worship attendance.

Later in the day a hay wagon will be available and games and other activities will be offered for children and adults. Memory tables also will be set up in the church for viewing before the 7 p.m. campfire.

"We have invited everyone in our Stickleyville community and Lee County who has had connections with us these past 50 years," said pastor Mark Anderson. "The event is a wonderful marker of 50 years of faithful ministry. There were times that the church was uncertain as to whether it could continue to exist. But due to the faithfulness of a few, the church has a vital ministry within our community today. Our church has a great youth ministry that reaches out into our community, beyond our church family. We are excited about God using us."

Wallens Creek Covenant began in 1952 - a building was dedicated May 18 that year. Joseph C. Danielson of the Department of Home Missions preached at the worship service. The church was officially received into the denomination in June 1956. Silas Johnson and Richard Lindstrom were the first pastors of the church.

As recently as six years ago, average worship attendance at the church was 28. However, by 1999, Wallens Creek Covenant had doubled in size. Nineteen individuals came to faith in Jesus Christ during the past year, Anderson notes, and the church has experienced a financial rebound. The congregation recently acquired additional property at the church site. Wallens Creek Covenant and Mulberry Covenant Church in Sneedville, Tennessee, also hold title to the Covenant Mountain Mission Bible Camp (CMMBC) property under the auspices of CMMBC, Inc.

For more information on the May 19 celebration at Wallens Creek Covenant, contact Anderson by telephone at 703-546-5388 or by email at anderson@mounet.com.

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