Covenant News

New York Covenant Ready to Move into a New Facility

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (April 23, 2004) - New York Covenant Church, which was founded in 1998, recently purchased a new facility and expects to host services there later this spring, said a church administrator.

The 44,000 square-foot building used to house a skating rink and then was renovated into a REI outdoor gear department store in a suburb of New York City. Currently, New York Covenant has worshiped in the building of the Evangelical Covenant Church of New Rochelle and David Holder has been pastor for both congregations.

New York Covenant has an average worship attendance of 230, said Tyelise Nelson, the church's administrative assistant. The church has begun an Economic Justice ministry under the direction of Holder and Derek Ferguson that has helped start a Christian hip-hop label, "Life Music," to reach the youth and young adults. This music label is near and dear to the hearts and talents of both leaders.

Ferguson is the chief financial officer for Bad Boy World Entertainment Group, a noted music company located in New York City. Holder had been a music producer during the period where he decided to follow God's call to full-time ministry, Nelson stated.

Music isn't the only avenue for serving the needs of the younger crowd at New York Covenant. A ministry called C.H.A.N.C.E. (Children Have A Need For Christ-Centered Education) ministers via childcare to those from age 2 to 6 and the church looks forward to expanding that ministry into a Christian Academy for grade-school kids in the next two years.

The church's P.E.A.R.L.S. ministry (Preparing Every Adolescent girl for Real Life Situations) focuses on serving as a guide and support system for adolescent girls approaching adulthood, ages 10-17, from various communities. And a prison ministry at the church has aided children too. Last summer it sponsored 25 children of prisoners to attend Mont Lawn Christian Camp. Each camper was also given a camper's back pack containing their own Bible.

Overall, the congregation of New York Covenant has been a "hands-on" group, with about 25 various ministries and small groups going on inside and outside of the church, said Nelson.

For more information on the church and its upcoming move into the new facility, call Nelson 914-637-0333 or email her at nycovenant@earthlink.net . The church website is www.newyorkcovenant.com .

Printable version of this page.