Covenant News
New Beginning to Hold Grand Opening Service Sunday
SOUTH HOLLAND, IL (April 12, 2004) - New Beginning Covenant Fellowship will host a 9:30 a.m. grand opening worship celebration this coming Sunday at Seton Academy Auditorium after recently completing preview services, according to pastor Kevin Davenport.New Beginning Covenant is a new church plant located in the Southeast suburbs of Chicago. Special guests for grand opening weekend include Reggie Royal and Judah, Oakdale Covenant Church of Chicago's Silent Praisers and the Inspirational Voices of Thornridge High School in nearby Dolton. There will be a live broadcast for the Sunday morning service on 106.3-FM radio as well.
Davenport's church incorporates a number of core values under the WORSHIP acronym, including:
- Witnessing to others about God
- Obeying the plan and direction of God
- Revering and acknowledging the presence of God
- Serving and empowering the people of God
- Helping others to grow in God
- Inspiring others to learn about God
- Practicing a Christian lifestyle that honors God
A Chicago native, Davenport attended Oakdale Covenant Church where he says he learned much from longtime senior pastor Willie Jemison (now retired) as the church built a positive reputation for ministering to its south side Chicago neighborhood. On the church's web page, Davenport states that Jemison taught him early on that "a trained mind, a dedicated heart and hands that are not afraid to work will guarantee you success."
Davenport gained a perspective of community ministry while a high school student at Whitney M. Young High School in Chicago. During his last two years of high school he had the privilege of serving as a board member for the Chicago Board of Education. Davenport attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where in 1997 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He completed a Master of Theological Studies degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
After earning his educational degrees, Davenport served as youth pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and then returned to Oakdale in October 2000 to supervise Oakdale Christian Academy, a school operated by the church.
Along with his work at the academy, Davenport served as executive director of Oakdale Community Development Corporation, coordinated Oakdale's Minister's in Training Program and served as the Evangelical Training Association teacher for the church's Christian Education Board.
New Beginning Covenant has contributed $4,000 to the Seton Academy Scholarship Fund, has provided a $500 scholarship to a graduating high school senior and has held birthday celebrations for seniors living in a local senior citizen facility. "We are truly excited at what God is doing," said Davenport about the path his church is taking to engage in local ministry.
Seton Academy is located at 16100 Seton Road in South Holland, which is located 20 miles from downtown Chicago. The church will host another related event on April 17. For more information on the weekend celebration, call Davenport at 708-802-2889 or visit the church website at www.newbeginningcovenant.org.
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