Covenant News

San Jose (CA) Church Celebrates 50 Years

SAN JOSE, CA (February 24, 2005) - Pacific Southwest Conference (PSWC) Supt. Evelyn M.R. Johnson was among the participants at a 50th anniversary worship service and celebration at Alum Rock Covenant Church on Sunday, February 13.

The service included worship team participants from Church of Philadelphia (another Covenant congregation that meets at Alum Rock Covenant) and Adonai Nissi (a non-Covenant church using the facility). Special music was shared by the Church of Philadelphia choir.

Johnson reflected on Alum Rock's history during the sermon noting its enduring commitment "to see the community with God's eyes, to reach children and youth, and to sacrifice and take risks." The 50th anniversary celebration will continue throughout this year.

A special dinner including a program with former pastor Dave Johnson and his wife, Kay, will be held May 21-22. An outreach to children in the community is planned for the fall. And youth and children have been affirmed as their starting point for the next 50 years, not unlike the focus of the church in its beginning days.

The seeds for Alum Rock Covenant Church were planted by Helga Nelson, a member of Mission Covenant in San Jose, as she reached out to children of the neighborhood through bible study and game time in the late 1940s. Within a few years her home and adjacent buildings were no longer adequate for the growing group, which numbered 70-plus.

Using a generous donor's gift, Vic Erickson, a long-term member of the church, purchased a house and three lots for ministry purposes. In 1954, a small group of "missionaries" left Mission Covenant Church to join in the growing ministry with children.

Alum Rock Covenant Church was birthed in 1955 as the 39th church in the PSWC, known then as the California Conference. The church - which averages around 50 in worship attendance according to conference records - has been served by pastor Jon Martin for 18 years. He was joined two years ago by co-pastor Ali Hasan. Charlie Brown joined the staff last year.

During the Christmas season, Alum Rock Covenant used some creative means to minister to an area apartment complex. The group went to 300 households with 3,600 homemade cookies to give to neighbors. They also provided a number of community services and used a portable puppet stage to entertain people, along with singing Christmas carols.

Already, the church has seen the fruits of its ministry. One newcomer has attended and another has been given medical assistance – parishioners even provided an adjustable bed for a person suffering from cancer. Martin stated in recent correspondence to the conference that the visits to the apartments have also given the church a more clarified vision for youth ministry.

To learn more about Alum Rock Covenant and its ministries, call the staff at 408-258-7488.

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