Covenant News

New Friendship Evangelism Curriculum Developed

ALLEGAN, MI (November 14, 2002) - A new curriculum for friendship evangelism called "Friends in Christ Around the World" has been developed this fall by Covenant pastor Pat White of Christ Community Church.

This is third set of materials that White has introduced to his congregation. The other two, "Friend to Friend Sunday" (written in 1998) and "Come Celebrate Jesus (2000)," are currently being used throughout the Evangelical Covenant Church and in other denominations as well.

White says the program is unique because it merges World Mission and Church Growth and Evangelism principles. The Board of Church Growth and Evangelism in the Great Lakes Conference recently approved the curriculum, which will be presented at the conference annual meeting in April with hopes of having conference churches use the materials for their respective World Communion Sunday services next year.

"I like the concept of linking local mission with World Mission and linking the local church with churches around the world," said Great Lakes Conference Supt. Richard Lucco. "Anything that we can do to help the local church develop a mission mindset, both locally and globally, is important."

Bible study materials, songs, drama pieces and organizational materials are included in the new curriculum. White presented the curriculum to his congregation at World Communion Sunday on October 6. He believes the focus on a relationship between churches in different countries can be especially helpful to his and other Covenant congregations. In following the new curriculum, Christ Community is partnering with a sister church in Mexico and will send a mission team there next year.

"Sometimes mission works involves just investing dollars," said White. "I wanted to share a project with a specific country to make it a tangible project. This was a way to make materials more personal."

For more information about the "Friends in Christ Around the World" curriculum, call White at 269-573-2329.

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