Covenant News

Midsouth Conference Reports Growth on All Fronts

RIO GRANDE, TX (April 17, 2002) - The 2002 Midsouth Conference annual meeting April 12-13 was "more than all we ask or imagine," according to Supt. Garth Bolinder, as delegates from nine churches celebrated unprecedented growth during the past year.

The weekend event, which was held at three churches in the Rio Grande area, included a mission meeting last Friday as each church had an opportunity to share what God had done in each congregation. "It was very moving to hear these testimonies," said Bolinder. "We chose as our theme 'More than all we ask or imagine' from Ephesians 3:20. We celebrated that reality last weekend."

According to Covenant statistics, worship attendance in the Midsouth Conference increased 52 percent in 2001 and conference giving to the denomination increased 43 percent. "And God has brought several gifted and godly Covenant pastors to our conference as pastoral vacancies have been filled," Bolinder said in reflecting on the year.

Last Thursday, the conference ministerium held its annual meeting at Peoples Covenant Church in San Juan, Texas, with former Covenant President Dr. Paul Larsen presenting the keynote address. He also spoke at Friday's mission meeting at Iglesia Del Pacto La Trinidad in nearby McAllen. Carol Lawson, director of staff ministries for the Department of the Ordered Ministry, presented the new rules for ordered ministry to the ministerium.

Bruce Lawson, staff associate for the Department of Christian Formation, presented a seminar on leadership development in the local church. Mark Olson, representing North Park University, Rose Cornelius, representing Covenant World Mission, and Jerry Reed, representing North Park Theological Seminary, also attended the Midsouth event.

For much of the day last Friday, delegates and other conference and denominational representatives drove to Reynosa, Mexico, with Dale Lusk, director of Merge Ministries, a Covenant short-term mission organization. The group visited several Covenant churches, a camp and a children's home. "This short trip set the mission tone for the weekend and created wonderful community in the process," Bolinder said.

The Midsouth Conference has had much to celebrate during the past year. Journey Covenant Church, pastored by Clark Mitchell in Norman, Oklahoma, began six months ago and is currently averaging more than 1,000 in worship. And a new Spanish-speaking fellowship group is being planted by Peoples Covenant Church under pastor Noel Cisneros.

Established in 1985 as a region for the denomination, the Midsouth Conference is finishing its first year as an official Covenant conference. Bolinder estimates that the average worship attendance in the conference is about 11,000. During the past seven years, five congregations have blossomed in and around Oklahoma City and Norman and 10,000 worshiped at those churches on Easter weekend.

For more information on the Midsouth Conference, call the conference office staff at 918-481-9097 or email Bolinder at gtbolinder@juno.com.

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