Covenant News

Midwest Welcomes New Churches

KEARNEY, MO (May 8) - Although the town of Kearney is known for being the boyhood home of famed outlaw Jesse James, who terrorized parts of nearby states, the Midwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) instead used the site of this year's conference annual meeting to celebrate what God has been doing among local Covenant churches and their ministries.

The conference officially received two church plants that will be voted on during the June ECC Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Other church plants were reported to be making significant strides towards eventual membership. "It was a glorious celebration," says Supt. Ken Carlson. "It's always a joy to welcome in new churches."

The new churches accepted into conference membership include:

• Life House Covenant Church in Longmont, Colorado. The pastor is Win Jackson-Houwen and has an average attendance of roughly 40 people. It moved into its own facility in December.
• Hope Covenant Church in El Dorado, Kansas, celebrated its first year of worship in 2005 and has an average attendance of 140 people. The congregation is finalizing the purchase of a seven-acre building site. Brian Johnson is the pastor.

The delegates also recognized two churches in Missouri that have become self-supporting: City Covenant Church in Kansas City and Alfa y Omega Covenant Church in Carthage. The Carthage congregation of 110 acquired a facility in 2005. Its attendees come from a variety of Latin American countries. 

Delegates also voted to close two Colorado churches: Spring Valley Covenant Church in Windsor, and Crossing Covenant Church in Thornton, as well as accept the voluntary withdrawal of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Marquette, Kansas.

Curt Peterson, executive minister of the Department of World Mission, served as the official ECC representative and addressed the gathering.  

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