Covenant News

'The Well' Conducts First Weekly Service

CORVALLIS, OR (March 8, 2005) - A new church plant sponsored by the North Pacific Conference - "The Well" Covenant Church - hosted its first weekly service last Sunday (March 6) at Linus Pauling Middle School and had more than 100 in attendance.

Church planting pastor Bernd Strom preached from John 8 – the woman caught in adultery – and was encouraged by the turnout. His church hopes to host a grand opening service in April. "We are doing well and are excited for the days, weeks and months to come as we continue to be faithful to the call on our lives," he said.

On February 6, the congregation held its third preview service at the Majestic Theatre with 116 in attendance, including 98 adults. Later that day, Strom and the congregation held a Super Bowl party.

Strom and his family have lived in Corvallis since August. He previously served as associate pastor for Bethany Covenant Church in Mt. Vernon, Washington.

The church began preview services on December 12 with 62 in attendance and increased its numbers to 98 at its second preview January 9. Along with his church planting work, Strom serves as a volunteer soccer coach at nearby Oregon State University and is leading a Bible study at a Christian fraternity there. He has been especially encouraged by a strong supportive cluster of pastors and parachurch leaders in the region.

"There has been good interaction with Young Life, Campus Crusade, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and the Navigators – so in the midst of anxiety we found encouragement and joy within the existing faith community," he said. "It has been our prayer and hope from the start that we would come alongside the existing Christian community and share the call to be the people of God.

"We are also amazed by how the Spirit of the Living God is drawing people (young and old) to journey together," Strom continued. "I believe prayer is softening hearts of people in the Corvallis area to consider God again . . . a community thirsty for 'Living Water.'"

Recently, "The Well" Covenant Church was blessed by the addition of a worship leader pastor, Carlo Furlan, who had been mentored by Strom during his adolescence. This occurred when monies became available to bring on new staff.

"Our hope all along has been to be a collection of people who over time would create a healthy place of belonging, shaped by our belief in Scripture and our behaviors would reflect the call to Love God and People," said Strom. "We have been striving to establish a community that is missional, biblical, relational and transformational. At the Well, we hoped people would have a genuine encounter with Jesus for the first-time or - for those who have walked in faith for quite sometime - they would continue to meet Jesus again and again. And by God's power it's happening."

To learn more about the new Covenant church in Corvallis, email Strom at jacobs_well@hotmail.com.

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