New Hope Covenant in Oakland celebrated its first worship service with PSWC Supt. Evelyn M.R. Johnson among the approximately100 individuals in attendance, according to pastor Dan Schmitz.

Other area pastors at Sunday's worship service included Al Tizon of Berkeley Covenant Church and Jim Gaderlund of Foothill Covenant Church in Los Altos. They were joined by Randy Roth, a longtime pastor of First Covenant Church in Oakland who now directs Faith Network of the East Bay, a social service organization that links schools with churches to assist in children's education.

Besides being used for church services and other congregational activities, New Hope Covenant's building will serve as preschool and community center near downtown Oakland, said Schmitz. The 1,400-square-foot facility cost $450,000 (including land acquisition and construction). National Covenant Properties assisted with financing for the project and Berkeley Covenant Church also played a key role in the effort.

New Hope Covenant Church is located in one of the most diverse areas of California with large populations of Asian, Hispanic, African American and Middle Eastern residents. The church is beginning to organize summer activities and is working with North Park University's urban ministry and youth ministry programs to assist the neighborhood. In the coming months, the church will start a preschool called "Little Sprouts: Growing Love in the City" under the direction of Cathy Squires.

For more information about New Hope, call Schmitz at 510-533-2077 or email him at djschmitz@sbcglobal.net. To learn more about Schmitz and New Hope Covenant, read a previously published story at New Hope.

In San Leandro, a suburb just outside of Oakland, Creekside Community Covenant Church conducted its first worship service in a new 23,000-square-foot facility that includes a sanctuary and community center.

Office manager and facility manager Sharon Wallace said that planning for the $5 million project began five years ago after the church decided to purchase a well-known restaurant where the facility now stands.