Covenant News - Covenanters Are Busy People, Newsletters Show

Covenant News

Covenanters Are Busy People, Newsletters Show

CHICAGO, IL (October 18, 2002) - A number of interesting stories can be found in the more than 200 local church newsletters received each month by the Department of Communication of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Following are excerpts from those newsletters, grouped by conference:

CANADA

Ben Josephson, a fifth-year student at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia, made the All-Tourney team as his team represented Canada in the recent Can-Am men's volleyball challenge in Edmonton, Alberta. Josephson of Hope Community Covenant Church in Strathmore, Alberta, is a 6-foot-4 setter for the Spartans, which went 1-3, beating UCLA (last year's national runner-up in the NCAA Division I men's volleyball tourney) for its lone victory. Four top-ranked Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) schools faced four of the best of the United States. The Canada schools won 33 games while the U.S. won 28 games as each team played college opponents from the other country in best three-of-five matches. Trinity Western, under head coach Ron Pike, plays in the Canada West Conference in the largest of Canada's college athletics divisions. Josephson has been on All-Provincial squads during his college career for the Spartans.

CENTRAL

Foster City, Michigan: A member of Mission Covenant Church was honored posthumously by the state of Michigan, which named a stretch of highway after him. Michigan State Highway M-69 was named the Sgt. Oscar G. Johnson Memorial Highway on July 6. Johnson, a lifelong Covenanter, was a World War II veteran who received the Congressional Medal of Honor. He died in 1999, having also served the Michigan Army National Guard for five years and receiving an honorary discharge as a Chief Officer. In honoring Johnson, the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs cited his bravery from September 16-17, 1944 when, as a Private First Class, he nearly single-handedly protected his company's position against a German offensive while stationed in Italy and eventually 25 German soldiers surrendered to him. "In spite of mortar fire that crashed about him and machinegun bullets which whipped the crest of his shallow trench, Sgt. Johnson stood erect and repulsed the attack with grenades and small arms fire. He remained awake and on the alert throughout the night, frustrating all attempts at infiltration." For more about Johnson's heroics, check www.michigan.gov/dmva under Military Personalities.
Beloit, Wisconsin: Redeemer Covenant Church parishioner Inez Masuga was featured in a recent Beloit Daily News article for her volunteer work with the Stateline Literacy Council. She began tutoring three and a half years ago and has had as many as six students at one time. Along with tutoring, Masuga has gotten to know the families of those she tutors, organizing a Mexican-American Christmas party in the community room at her apartment building and taking others to a local state park.

EAST COAST

West Peabody, Massachusetts: Community Covenant Church's Shannon Higgins was named to the National Honor Society of Collegiate Scholars and was honored at a campus ceremony at Northeastern University near Boston.

GREAT LAKES

Allegan, Michigan: Pastor Patrick White of Community Covenant Church recently won a blue ribbon at the Allegan County Fair for his baked bread. He has had the recipe for 30 years, according to an article in the church's newsletter.
Whitehall, Michigan: Barb Betts of Fruitland Evangelical Covenant Church walked 60 miles in Atlanta and the surrounding area in an Avon 3 Walk for Breast Cancer event. Barb walked in memory of a sister and sister-in-law.

MIDWEST

Clyde, Kansas: Brantford Covenant Church parishioners Kent Kalivoda and Myra Lundquist are beginning their 18th years as the youth leaders in the local church. One of the Brantford students, Allie Danielson, recently won 15 ribbons at the Cloud County Fair while competing for the Clyde Roadrunners 4-H Club. Another student, Valerie Brax, was crowned Homecoming Queen at her high school. She is Washington County Junior Miss and will compete at the state Junior Miss pageant in Marc.

NORTH PACIFIC

Eugene, Oregon: Paul Nielson of Valley Covenant Church won first prize in woodcarving at the recent Lane County Fair.
Olympia, Washington: River Ridge Covenant Church parishioner Nora Patterson recently joined more than 2,800 women in a 60-mile walk in and around Seattle to raise funds for cancer awareness. An estimated $3 million was raised.

NORTHWEST

Mankato, Minnesota: Edoy and Judy Anderson of the Evangelical Covenant Church of North Mankato have been accepted as volunteers with SOWERS (Servants on Wheels), an interdenominational Christian ministry for retired or semi-retired Christians with recreational vans who provide talents and services needed by various Christian organizations. The couple began work in Rose of Sharon Campground near Memphis, Tennessee, in early October.

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST

Downey, California: El Encino Covenant Church, whose pastor is Daniel Anabalon, had 205 people in attendance for a grand opening service on September 22. Twelve people made a decision to begin a relationship with Christ, reported the Pacific Southwest Conference in a recent web site article. Eight families came as a result of a connection the church had made with them through a community soccer program. Redeemer Covenant Church in Downey partners with the young El Encino congregation by providing them a facility and care.
Spring Valley, California: Mt. Miguel Covenant Village recently named its on-campus lake "Lake George" to honor a previous administrator, George Clark, who died September 13 at the age of 75. Clark helped beautify the lake as part of a building project in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A benefit dinner this fall will raise funds to beautify the lake. Clark worked for the denomination as an administrator for three different Covenant Retirement Communities facilities from 1973 until his retirement in 1992, according to a recent newsletter article from Mt. Miguel Covenant Village. He also served as a regional estate planner during his retirement. George and wife Ruth have lived at the campus since 1998. The couple also made their mark in ministry at College Center Covenant Church in San Diego.

To keep abreast of news and events in the Covenant, regularly visit the news report on this Covenant web site. To have news headlines delivered to your email box, sign up on the Covenant home page for Covenant Newswire, the free subscription headline service.

To have information from your church newsletter included in these reports, send your church newsletter to Covenant Communications, 5101 N. Francisco Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60625, or call Craig Pinley at the Department of Communication at 773-907-8333.

Printable version of this page.