The challenge came in response to a motion by Ted Smith, pastor of First Covenant Church in Sacramento, and approved by delegates.

"We all are thankful to God for the heart that local Covenant churches have for mission," said Donn Engebretson, executive vice president, in preparing to address delegates attending the 118th Annual Meeting that begins Thursday morning in Rosemont, Illinois. "A special thank you is due to Ted Smith who gave leadership to bringing God's call to the church to fully support Covenant world mission," Engebretson said.

Local Covenant churches have given approximately $312,000 as of May 31, with another $176,000 still to come, Engebretson noted. The funds are being used to support Covenant world mission ministries, "to ensure that our missionaries remain fully engaged in the ministries to which they have been called," Engebretson said. The request to local churches was to commit additional funds each year over and beyond normal budgeted support for the denomination to provide additional world mission support.