Covenant News - Local Church Highlights for May

Covenant News

Local Church Highlights for May

CHICAGO, IL (May 28, 2002) - Following is a review of activities of local Evangelical Covenant churches gleaned from the 200-plus newsletters received each month, listed by conference:

CENTRAL

Chicago, Illinois: Edgebrook Covenant Church Pastor Greg Mesimore completed his requirements for a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching degree at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago.
Mt. Prospect, Illinois: Mark Hunter, son of David and Leah Hunter of Northwest Covenant Church, performed at the Third International Marimba Competition in Stuttgart, Germany, May 27. Hunter performed with Kenneth Metzker. Both are students at the University of Kentucky, where Hunter is studying musical performance. Another college student, Alicen Prikkel of North Park University in Chicago, recently made the dean's list.
Wilmette, Illinois: Winnetka Covenant Church Pastor Steve Elde and parishioner Cully Edstrom have put together a shadow box display and computer for the church's mission table to alert people to ongoing mission work in the denomination. Parishioners can email various missionaries via the computer, giving quick feedback. During a recent Sunday school hour, the church emailed the Sander family in Colombia and got a reply within five minutes. For more information, call the church at 847-446-4300.
Florissant, Missouri: Christ Covenant Church Pastor Marc Murchison recently reported that John Njaramba Kiruga and wife Freshia are growing a ministry on Lamu Island off the coast of Kenya as part of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Kenya. The couple moved to Lamu Island last July. Kiruga stated in a recent letter that a small group "conventicle" has brought 11 people to Christ. An adult education class is beginning as a result. He hopes to help the community start a school to educate children. Thus far, Kiruga's church has 18 attendees. Along with Sunday worship, the congregation has Tuesday night Bible studies and prayer time on Thursday. For more information on this ministry, call Christ Covenant Church at 314-839-0292 or email christcov@juno.com.

EAST COAST

East Greenwich, Rhode Island: A playground renovation at Covenant Cooperative Nursery School at Christ Church began, thanks in part to a spaghetti supper that brought in $1,900. A total of 350 attended the meal.

GREAT LAKES

Caledonia, Michigan: Gary and Sue Gilmore of Redeemer Covenant Church are headed to Chile as missionaries with the Latin America Mission. They have served short-term mission works in the past and are in their second careers after raising seven children. The Gilmores will work with 70 girls at Bible Home, a Christian girls' home in Osorno, a city in southern Chile. They will use their skills in puppetry and street evangelism in their work, along with some construction and Vacation Bible School experience.

MIDWEST

Clyde, Kansas: Brantford Covenant Church member Amy Shea celebrated her 100th birthday April 17. She lives in Glasco, Kansas.
Topeka, Kansas: Becky Barnes of Brookwood Covenant Church was recognized for her significant contributions to Historic Ward-Meade Park. The award was presented at the Parks and Recreation of Topeka annual awards banquet March 21.

NORTH PACIFIC

Olympia, Washington: Randy Mentzer of Grace Community Covenant Church was recently inducted as a Full Fellow in the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists, an honor bestowed upon by just 66 pharmacists. Mentzer, owner and registered pharmacist at Randy's Compounding Pharmacy and Nutrition Center, had to meet stringent requirements over the course of a year designed to demonstrate his commitment to patient care and to the highest ethical and professional standards.

NORTHWEST

Dawson, Minnesota: Dawson Covenant Church's Duane and Suzi Haugen were chosen to received the Associate Member of the Year Award by the Midwest Cattlemen's Association at the 25th annual Beef Princess event April 5.
Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethlehem Covenant Church won its second consecutive city church basketball league championship after tying for first in the regular season. The coach of the team was Jim Clausen, who played at North Park College when the Vikings won three NCAA Division III men's basketball championships from 1978-80.

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST

Hilmar, California: Wendy Lawton of Hilmar Covenant Church recently had two Daughters of Faith series books published by Moody Press in Chicago. They include Courage to Run, a story based on the life of Harriet Tubman, and The Tinker's Daughter, a story based on the life of Mary Bunyan (John Bunyan's daughter).
San Diego, California: College Center Covenant Church celebrated the 10th anniversary of Pastor Marc Bellaart with a special church reception May 19. Bellaart has served longer than any pastor at the 50-year-old church, which will celebrate its anniversary in November. Bellaart had served as a pastoral intern and youth pastor at Pasadena Covenant Church in Pasadena. His mentor, Charlie Barker, spoke at the 10th anniversary worship service. Bellaart was also a youth pastor at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Redondo Beach. He completed his Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. Besides his pastoral work, Bellaart has served on the Board of Mid-City Christian Service Agency in San Diego, the management advisory committee for Mt. Miguel Covenant Village in Spring Valley and with the Pacific Southwest Conference Executive Board. He and wife Kim have two children.

To learn more about what is happening in the denomination, regularly visit the Covenant website at www.covchurch.org.

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