Covenant News - Newsletters Highlight Local Ministries

Covenant News

Newsletters Highlight Local Ministries

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (October 4, 2004) - Evangelical Covenant Church missionaries Karl and Sue Peterson celebrated 10 years of ministry, with many activities to keep them busy the past few months in the city and around the region, according to a recent update report.

In Cuautitlan Izcalli, Karl has been teaching the Art of Biblical Counseling monthly and the lessons from the course have given the church leaders a good foundation for nurturing healthy relationships. In Tlalpan, he is teaching Book 3 - The Year of Popularity out of curriculum for Theological Education by Extension (TEE). TEE has six books each based on the gospel of Matthew. The students are enjoying the opportunity for an in-depth study of God's Word, says Karl.

On the first Monday of every month, Karl travels to Puebla, about a three-hour trip by bus, to teach the Alpha Group. Church leaders are preparing to fully take over the work being led by Covenant missionaries Jerry and Vicky Love, who retire at the end of 2006.

At home, Sue has led a Bible study for area women on family-related issues, having started the group as the result of a request from a friend. "It has been a blessing to share about our journeys as parents of young children and find support in one another," she states in the family's email newsletter.

Many other Covenant individuals and congregations have been ministering throughout the world during recent weeks. Following is information gleaned from the more than 250 local church newsletters received each month by Covenant Communications, listed by conference and region.

CANADA

Breton, Alberta: Faith Evangelical Covenant Church has upgraded its puppetry ministry as parishioners bought puppets as part of an Adopt a Puppet program. A rainy baptism event at Pigeon Lake was memorable in many ways, most profoundly due to the 14 individuals who were baptized. Future plans include the possibility of an addition to the church building.
Edmonton, Alberta: Edmonton Evangelical Covenant Church has used a Vision to Action program to help design two new ministries, stated a newsletter report. A "Collective Kitchen" operates one Sunday per month and provides economical meals to families on a budget. A sewing club has also aided the church as it tries to expand its outreach to the community. A recent fundraising garage sale attracted 500 to the church.
Wetaskiwin, Alberta: Malmo Mission Covenant Church under pastor Allan Hancock experienced some renewal with nine new members and a confirmation class of five (KatieLyn Anderson, Mark Blackwood, Grace Jarrett, Jordan Peterson and Luke Risto) that was confirmed on May 16. A (ITAL) Kids for Christ youth program has given young people some leadership development opportunities while ministering to kids from fourth through sixth grade. Pastor of youth and families, Natasha Westerhoud, had challenged older youth in the congregation with spiritual gifts assessments
Norquay, Saskatchewan: The Evangelical Covenant Church of Norquay has used the noted Purpose Driven Life series to bolster small group ministry, stated a recent article in the conference newsletter. A monthly potluck dinner club has helped foster friendships and a seven-week Making the Most of Marriage video series with Dr. Kevin Leman also has paid dividends.

CENTRAL

Chicago, Illinois: Ravenswood Evangelical Covenant Church's Jessica Bergstrom is in the midst of development/community health education work with the Peace Corps, having been assigned to a village in Tambacounda, West Africa.
Galesburg, Illinois: The Covenant Church of Galesburg's Chris Potts won first place in the 2004 Lincoln Trail Art Festival for his free-standing sculpture entitled "Werewolf." Another parishioner, Gary Mitchell, was featured in an extensive article by the Galesburg Register-Mail for his 30 years of association with the area's Babe Ruth baseball program. Mitchell retired as president of the league this summer.
Iron River, Michigan: Grace Covenant Church's Ana Johnson spent much of her summer in Brazil as she and 24 other team members representing eight different churches served in a variety of ways. Some helped build a church, others helped complete construction of a seminary classroom, and others helped build a cement soccer court at a local Bible camp. Johnson stated in her church's recent newsletter that "I have no doubt now, after this trip, that God is calling me to missions for the rest of my life. I was stretched spiritually and my faith and dependence on God has matured."

EAST COAST

Naugatuck, Connecticut: Hillside Covenant Church will celebrate 110 years of ministry at its annual Church Night October 16. Along with a potluck dinner, a local high school Chamber Singers group will provide special music.
Bowie, Maryland: Nate and Rebekah Eagle of Church of the Redeemer have committed to work with the Peace Corps in Yaounde, Cameroon, beginning training this fall. They will begin work on their area of service in December.
North Easton, Massachusetts: Laura Jane Hayes recently graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with honors and earned a place in the Pi Mu Epsilon and National Math Honor Society while receiving an award from the Center for Industrial Mathematics and Statistics for her senior project. She now is at Boston University, majoring in Biostatistics in a Master/PhD program.

ECCAK

Eagle River, Alaska: Community Covenant Church has a new stained glass window, thanks to the efforts of a handful of people with church connections. A dedication was held on September 12 after a four-year process. The glass was designed by the church's previous worship leader Steve Scheibe. It was built by Vivienne McConnell, who used to be part of the church and now lives in North Carolina. Installation was done by Bruce Stingley. Most of the monies for the window were given by Steve and Diane Fry stated a local church newsletter.
Soldotna, Alaska: A new scholarship program is being offered to Covenant churches by Alaska Christian College (ACC) whereby ACC will match up to $1,000 any funds contributed by a students at Covenant congregations. More about this offer can be found by calling Millie Mehrkens or ACC president Keith Hamilton at 907-260-7422. The school has applied for two faith-based grants to assist ACC's counseling center and college ministry. Hamilton stated in a recent email that word about those grants would be coming in the near future. In an administrative move, Dale Solberg has been named new Dean of Curriculum at ACC.

GREAT LAKES

Scandia, Pennsylvania: Linda Ferrie, affiliated with Scandia Covenant Church, recently participated in a mission trip to Haiti.

NORTH PACIFIC

Portland, Oregon: Vibrant Community hosted its first preview service with 37 participants on September 19 as North Pacific Conference Associate Supt. Don Robinson was in attendance. Church planting pastor C.V. Hartline said that he has a core group of 15 and they are coordinating five small group meetings in various part of the city. The church's next preview service is set for October 17. It is hoped weekly worship services will begin December 5. More about the church can be found by calling Hartline at 503-238-5950, extension 17, or emailing him at silversurfer_cv@comcast.net. The church website is www.thevibrantcommunity.com.
Olympia, Washington: Grace Community Covenant Church's Ronda Watson returned from Mongolia where she served with others in Ulaan Baater. The group trained local leaders in children's ministry and then traveled to smaller congregations to help provide grassroots training. Five other parishioners - Tony Schall, Drew Stevick, Ray Lance and Jim and Liz Sedore - are headed to Mongolia in October to minister there via medical clinics, English language tutoring and seminars.

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST

Concord, California: Shelter Covenant Church, begun in 1999 under church planting pastor Sean Blomquist, recently completed its first mission trip, sending 11 people to Romania in mid-August. The team worked in partnership with NetWorks, a non-profit mission agency that provides help to street children and the homeless in the city of Arad and surrounding villages. A team of five men worked at a camp in Taut and did training with NetWorks staff on church planting strategies. Meanwhile, six women served on a farm near Arad where men and boys from the streets are taught farming skills. To learn more about Shelter Covenant Church, visit the church's website at www.shelteronline.com.
El Cajon, California: Community Covenant Church's Sam and Aimee Askew spent nine weeks working with the ministry of Uncharted Waters, a sports ministry partnering with local churches to run one-week camps with an evangelistic focus. They spent six weeks in California training interns to run the camps and three weeks leading camps in Sao Luis, Brazil. They said 16 kids received Christ as Savior.
Oakland, California: Six people from First Covenant Church - Jon and Elaine Blankmeyer, Mick and Laura Morlan and Jim and Linda Hampton – helped enclose a prayer chapel and install windows at Alaska Christian College in August. The group also helped ready the campus for students.
Turlock, California: Cornerstone Covenant Church will be 10 years old on Sunday, October 3rd. "We're going to have a potluck dinner following the service on that day and we will show the new documentary film on the life of Paul Carlson," said pastor Brad Boydston.
Vista, California: Oak Hills Covenant Church coordinated its 10th annual "Golf Fore Youth" (GFY) fundraising event September 13 at Shadowridge Country Club and raised a record $30,300. Of that total, $16,100 is earmarked for youth ministries in North San Diego County, including monies to help inner-city kids attend camps.

SOUTHEAST

Stone Mountain, Georgia: Commissioned Disciples Covenant Church, a church plant near Atlanta, has made inroads this summer via community partnerships with agencies that ministering to the poor and oppressed in the area, said pastor Catherine Gilliard in a recent news update. In June, the congregation worked with the Atlanta Food Bank's "Feed The Hungry" project. "We worked in the warehouse packing food boxes for distribution to the poor and homeless in the metro-Atlanta area," the pastor reports. In July, the church partnered with MedShare, International. They collect unused medical supplies from hospitals and ship them to third world clinics and hospitals. In August, the congregation provided after-school recreational games for the children of the residents at a county battered women's shelter. A community book club coordinated by the church has also been very fruitful, helping the church meet those in the community while exposing readers to Christian authors, themes and issues. In December, the church is planning a mission trip to Haiti. "Our young adults are very excited about going on their first trip," Gilliard stated. "Pray that passports, shots, financial support and class schedules will all work out so everyone desiring to go will have an opportunity to serve in Haiti. The entire church is excited about being used in this way." More about the church can be found by calling Gilliard at 770-987-0157 or by checking the church's website at: www.cdc2.info.

ELSEWHERE

Karawa, Congo: Missionary Keith Gustafson wrote about the hope of the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM), which has been bolstered by the visits of medical and dental trainers for short periods, some English language training for CEUM leaders arranged by President Mossai Sanguma and the arrival of a printing press, donated by Hillcrest Covenant Church in Prairie Village, Kansas. The machine has allowed the church to reprint many booklets, which has allowed the church to run projects that have brought in enough money to buy two trucks and motorcycles and repair some mission homes. Another source of hope was a series of regional prayer seminars, including a recent one that attracted 13,000 people. "God is at work in Congo," stated Gustafson. "He does not require state-of-the-art equipment to move in people's hearts."
Chiang Mai, Thailand: Covenant development specialists Randy and Cheryl Bevis reported in a recent newsletter to churches that record sales of tilapia from a hatchery have benefited ministry efforts to farmers in the region. The hatchery was honored with an award from universities across Northern Thailand for outstanding work in agricultural development. Work was also bolstered by the arrival of short-term specialists Ben Seeberger and Ginny Bellamy. Seeberger will teach English to Thai staff and youth in Chiang Mai and Bellamy will serve as part of supported efforts with Food for the Hungry. More about the work in Thailand can be found by emailing the family at rcbevis@loxinfo.co.th.

To keep abreast of what's happening in various Covenant ministries, regularly visit this online Covenant news report at www.covchurch.org.

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