Covenant News

Grace Covenant (CA) Celebrates 50 Years

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 25, 2004) - More than 90 people attended a celebration banquet last Sunday (September 19) as Grace Covenant Church commemorated 50 years of ministry in Northern California.

Greetings were given by Karyl Matsumoto, the mayor of South San Francisco, and Pacific Southwest Conference (PSWC) Supt. Evelyn Johnson. Two previous pastors, Paul Springer and Robin Dummer, along with Beverly Eggert, widow of founding pastor Richard Eggert, also participated. Each shared the memories that highlighted the faithfulness of those calling Grace Covenant their "spiritual home." So did others during a testimony time that evening.

Longtime members of the church, Percy Mueda and John Cantley, participated in a symbolic burning of the mortgage, giving an added dimension to the celebration of the event. The evening was culminated with a concert presented by the Covenant Four, appropriately giving emphasis to "it's all about Jesus."

"We had a great time," said pastor Bill Fort of the event. "Everyone went away floating in the clouds."

Grace Covenant Church conducted its first worship service under Richard Eggert on May 1, 1954, in the Nobel Chapel at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park. The church joined the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1955.

Fort made connections with the church through a friend, Penny Anderson, after serving for a time as a Southern Baptist pastor. Fort also serves as building inspector for the nearby city of Daly City. Cantley, who is a Covenant licensed lay minister, assists with a significant lay ministry during the week.

The congregation meets at 740 Monte Avenue on the Peninsula near San Francisco. The building, which includes a sanctuary seating 225 and a two-story educational wing, was dedicated on November 15, 1959, while John Sara Jr. was pastor. It is currently shared with their Spanish-speaking sister church, Jehova Es Mi Pastor, and a privately owned preschool serving 35 children ages 2 to 5.

In addition to worship services by the churches, the building is also used several times a year by the local middle school to offer special classes and serves as a voting site for elections. Twice a month the congregation distributes 80 to 100 bags of food to needy families in the area.

Grace Covenant supports six separate mission works. They are not all individual missionaries. Some are individuals and the others are groups or foundations. Mission and ministry by Grace Covenant, however, extends beyond the local community to the larger world in the form of six separate mission projects. The church also conducts worship services at a local retirement home. "It's been the most loving congregation I've ever seen," says Fort about his congregation of 30.

To learn more about the church, call Fort at 650-589-6797 or 650-991-2456 or email him at beforit@aol.com.

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