Covenant News

Former Gymnastic Center to Become a Church

PORTLAND, OR (July 7, 2004) - In recent years, Covenant congregations have found worship spaces in some unconventional settings--a former bowling alley, a converted restaurant, and even a former Wal-Mart. That list now includes a former gymnastics training center, which was bought for Summit View Covenant Church on June 29.

The new building, located in Beaverton, Oregon, is in an almost perfect setting says Steve Dawson, director of technical services, for the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism. Dawson assisted the local building committee of Summit View Covenant in their search process.

"It's not often there is a non-church facility, that, when you drive up to it says 'this could be a church,'" Dawson said. "The gym facility we acquired for Summit View gives them the perfect square footage for their next season of ministry and is located adjacent to one of the busiest streets in Beaverton."

For the past six years Summit View has been holding worship services at Findley Elementary School. In describing the new building to his congregation, Summit View pastor Kurt Carlson called the new facility a "new chapter in the life of Summit View Covenant Church," saying that it would "allow us to meet the needs of our growing church family and at the same time allow us to continue to reach out to people with the Good News of Jesus Christ."

A new facility will allow more people to experience God's presence and that care of the Summit View congregation, Carlson wrote.

"Each week new people visit our church and their lives are being transformed," he said. "They are not only hearing truth about a God who loves them but they are also experiencing a faith community that graciously receives them and freely gives them a place to belong a church to call home."

Funding for the $1.38 million project was provided by National Covenant Properties. Summit View will lease the building for the North Pacific Conference initially, with plans that Summit View will eventually take over the loan for the building.

More information about Summit View Covenant Church is available online at www.svcov.org.

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