Covenant Growth Opportunities

Department of Christian Formation

North Park University

North Park Seminary

Alaska Christian College

Covenant Bible College

CHET

External Orientation Program

North Park University Speakers Bureau

Covenant Annual Meeting

Connections
Connections are Midwinter events for children, youth and adult workers surrounding the Midwinter Conference and are sponsored by the Department of Christian Formation. Additional Midwinter learning opportunities might also be available.

Covenant Midwinter Conference
Every winter, in late January or early February, over 1500 ministers gather in Chicago for inspiration, learning and relationship building. Top quality speakers are brought in for plenary sessions. A wide variety of workshops are offered throughout the three and a half day event. Stimulating worship takes place on two evenings. One night is reserved for "time off" to allow participants to make their own connections and build relationships. Additional learning events take place for specific groups such as, children, youth, and adult workers. Midwinter continues to be a highlight of the year for the Covenant ministerium.

Youth Speaker Team
The Youth Speaker Team was started to assist Covenant churches by providing quality speakers for conference retreats, S.A.L.T., leadership training events, mission trips, or local gatherings of two or more Covenant churches. The goal is to challenge and assist the Evangelical Covenant Church to reach, disciple, and equip youth and families for growth toward spiritual maturity and to serve the community and the world for Christ. Contact the Department of Christian Formation for more information or to schedule a speaker: christian.formation@covchurch.org

Mission Festivals
A Mission Festival occurs when a group of churches (5-34) within a Covenant Conference chooses a time frame (from 2 days to 3 weeks) to host World Mission representatives. In cooperation with World Mission, a schedule is compiled in such a way that each participating church hosts one or more World Mission representatives. World Mission representatives include Covenant Mission Connection (CMC) participants, short-termers, career missionaries, national leaders, and World Mission staff. Contact the Department of World Mission for more information: world.mission@covchurch.org

Covenant Faith Mission
Covenant Faith Mission is an exciting, transforming weekend involving lay people from many congregations who volunteer to bring their stories of faith to your church. Through small groups and congregational gatherings, people a lot like you share how they have encountered the living Christ. Children through adults receive the ministry of Covenant Faith Mission. Members and especially "seeking people" will be drawn closer to God. Sponsored by the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism, contact Lay Renewal Ministries to schedule this event: layrenew@aol.com

Affinity Evangelism
The Affinity Evangelism Mission joins one or more local congregations with an evangelistic communicator for several days of meetings. Affinity meetings center on interests church members have in common with their "seeking" friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors. To schedule this event, contact the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism: carla.erickson@covchurch.org (Note: A School of Evangelism Seminar is required not more than one year prior to holding an Affinity Evangelism Mission.)

School of Evangelism
This seminar, produced by the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism, teaches Christians to assist others in moving one step closer to Christ. Building on the concept of praying for and living in relationship with lost people, this eight-hour seminar can help believers to engage in a lifestyle of sharing their faith. Contact the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism to schedule this event: carla.erickson@covchurch.org

Rescue 101: Evangelism for Real People
This is a new dimension to the Youth Speaker Team, a ministry of the Department of Christian Formation. A team has been assembled that will be able to speak at weekend retreats and take youth through a variety of activities to help them grow in discipleship/evangelism. The team has four sessions that they can share over the course of a weekend. The goal of the weekend is to help students see the need for sharing their faith, give them tools to share their faith, and help them to have a heart of ministry for their friends. Contact the Department of Christian Formation to schedule this event: christian.formation@covchurch.org

School of Prayer
Using the Lord's Prayer as the resource, the following foundational aspects of prayer are taught: praise, intercession, supplication, confession, intervention, and celebration. Attention is also given to learning to listen to God. This is a valuable personal and corporate event for the local church. Contact the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism to schedule this event: carla.erickson@covchurch.org

Habits of the Heart Retreat
This retreat assists Christians who want to practice some of the contemplative disciplines of faith. The retreat can be held at local churches or retreat centers. Contact the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism to schedule this event: carla.erickson@covchurch.org

Walk On
Walk on is a retreat experience of prayer and worship for youth. The retreat is focused on classic spiritual disciplines experienced and expressed throughout God-given gifts to create. Students will have opportuntities to express their faith through visual arts, music and literature. Slow down and listen to the still, small voice of God. Contact the Department of Christian Formation to schedule this event: christian.formation@covchurch.org

Schools of Racial Righteousness
These "schools" will be brought to local churches at their request, and will be facilitated by trained Covenant leaders. The focus is on learning that leads to personal change in the area of racial reconciliation and justice. Our hope is that the Evangelical Covenant Church would become a truer reflection of the Kingdom of Christ in all its beautiful diversity. Contact the Department of Christian Formation to schedule this event: christian.formation@covchurch.org

Sankofa Journey
" Sankofa" is a West African term meaning looking backward to move forward. Sponsored by the Department of Christian Formantion and Office of Compassion and Justice (Covenant Ministries of Benevolence), a Sankofa Journey is a 62-hour bus trip in which individuals visit places in the south where racial injustices were committed against African Americans in the past. It increases one's awareness, understanding and sensitivity for the past struggles, victories, and continuing racist oppression of our brothers and sisters of color. It helps us to see how far we've come but how far we have to go. Contact the Covenant Resource Center for more information resource.center@covchurch.org or 800-338-IDEA (4332)

Christian Formation Seminars: christian.formation@covchurch.org

• Being and Becoming (teaching skills)
• Sunday School: Charting a Course for Changed Lives
• Family Ministry: A Holistic Approach for Churches & Families
• Christian Formation: Growing Toward Wholeness in Christ

Workshops and Seminars in Spanish: christian.formation@covchurch.org

• Spiritual Formation
• Evangelism and Discipleship
• Training Leaders
• Christian Education

Single Adult Ministry Conference

A cooperative ecumenical event held in the fall of each year at Pilgrim Pines Conference Center in Swanzey, NH. Contact: Pilgrim Pines Conference Center, 603-352-0443, www.pilgrimpines.org

50+ Events:

Check with Regional Conferences for projected events

Additional Growth Opportunities
For further information regarding additional growth opportunities, contact the Covenant Resource Center: resource.center@covchurch.org

• Alpha Conferences - Ten-week Introduction to Christianity
  Sponsored by: Alpha
• Children's Ministry Magazine Live Workshop
  Sponsored by: Children's Ministry Magazine (Group Publishing)
• Children's Ministries University
  Sponsored by: One Way Street, Inc.
• Companions in Christ - Small Group Leader Training
  Sponsored by: The Upper Room
• Emergent Convention
  Sponsored by: Emergent and Youth Specialties
• 50-Day Adventure
  Sponsored by: Mainstay Ministries
• FutureGen National Leadership Convention
  Sponsored by: Cook Ministries
• Group's Ministry Convention
  Sponsored by: Group Publishing
• NAEYC Annual Conference
  Sponsored by: NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children)
• National Children's Pastors Conference
  Sponsored by: International Network of Children's Ministry
• National Pastors Convention (NPC)
  Sponsored by: Youth Specialties
• National Youth Workers Convention
  Sponsored by: Youth Specialties
• SAM (Single Adult Ministry) Convention
  Sponsored by: Cook Ministries