Covenant News

Florida Church Welcomes 225 to Grand Opening

DELAND, FL (February 17, 2004) - Covenant Community Church had its grand opening on Sunday, with Southeast Conference Superintendent Kurt Miericke among the 225 in attendance.

"It was everything we thought it could be," said Pastor David Shaw, who gave his testimony as part of the Sunday morning message. "I think there were at least 20 families who came for the first time. And we had a buffet (catered by the regional favorite Main Street Grill) after church and that was a good thing. We had a chance to get to know them and they got to know us and I think that will go a long way to help us retain some of the visitors."

On February 7, 6,000 door hangers were passed out in the neighborhood as a way to promote the event. The following day, 20 new families visited the church, said Miericke. Shaw said that the church's core group of 33 adults has grown to 85 to 100 people worshiping weekly before the grand opening. He added that a middle-school and high-school program meeting Wednesday nights has been staffed primarily by InterVarsity students from nearby Stetson University. The leaders are Ben and Lauren Fachler.

Two community action ministries - an after-school tutoring program on Tuesdays and a monthly fishing outreach to children and single mothers - have helped connect adult parishioners with area residents. The church has partnered with The House Next Door, a local nonprofit community organization.

For more information about Covenant Community Church, call Shaw at 386-717-1474.

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