The Covenant Companion
Features
Formation at a Snail’s Pace
In a candlelit circle shaped by slow creativity and unexpected community, teaching pastor Jessica Fisk reflects on how God forms us through both abiding and going, shaping faith in quiet, surprising ways.
Ruth and the Courage to Remain
In the second week of Advent, we see Ruth standing at a crossroads between safety and faith, choosing loyalty over certainty. Her story invites us to see how peace is formed through courage, commitment, and God moving in unfamiliar places.
Journey to Wind River
Council Tree Covenant Church’s listening trip to the Wind River Reservation created space for deeper connection with the Northern Arapaho community, reshaping how they understand their own story and God’s work through patience, presence, and relationship.
Abraham and the Courage to Begin Again
In this first week of Advent, Abraham’s story invites us to encounter hope—to practice the courage to leave behind what’s familiar and trust God in uncertain places.
Holding Faith in a Season of Fear
This story looks at how heightened immigration-enforcement activity is reshaping everyday church life, particularly in Latino communities. Through Covenant pastors’ experiences and congregations’ responses, we see the the steady, faithful ways our churches continue to show up for one another.
“How Long, O Lord?” Voices from Members of the Church
Participants in Highrock Covenant Church’s Theology Lab reflect on faith, evil, and suffering. Through honest, personal stories, they explore how the church can face pain with hope—learning not to explain it away but to bear it faithfully together.
Featured story
Ruth and the Courage to Remain
News
Refugee Crisis Deepens Across East Africa Amid Aid Cuts
Covenant partners report reduced rations and services in refugee camps as international aid declines, even as people continue to arrive from the DRC and South Sudan. Learn what partners are doing to support resilience and advocate for policy change.
Cov Doings: Milestones and Movements
“Cov Doings” highlights snapshots of life across the Covenant—stories of ministry, creativity, and connection that show how God is at work among us. Each update offers a glimpse of the many ways Covenant people live out their faith in the world.
Moving from Echo Chambers to Empathy
Nearly 70 students from the Pacific Northwest Conference joined the first Youth Journey to Mosaic recently where they heard immigrant and refugee stories and visited a detention center. Their reflections reveal how proximity increases empathy, inviting us to listen, remember our roots, and love our neighbors.
Swedish Hospital Celebrates Legacy of Compassionate Care
Swedish Hospital recently unveiled a new display, tracing its history of compassionate care from its origins as the Home of Mercy, founded by the Covenant in 1886. The celebration confirmed the hospital’s ongoing commitment to its original mission to serve all patients in need.
Covenant Doings: Community in Action
Short stories, activities, and events from various points around the Covenant.
Covenant Partner Leading Flood Response in Texas
In the wake of devastating floods in Texas, Covenant partner, Ark of Highland Lakes, is walking alongside survivors with compassion and commitment—learn how we can help sustain this long-term recovery together.
Announcements
David Boggs Named New President of Covenant Initiatives for Care
Covenant Ministries of Benevolence announced that David Boggs has been named the new president of Covenant Initiatives for Care.
Carlos Ortiz Called as New President of CHET
The CHET Board of Directors announced that Rev. Carlos Ortiz has been called to serve as the next president of the Centro Hispano de Estudios Teológicos (CHET).
Josef Rasheed Is New Interim Superintendent of the Midsouth Conference
The Midsouth Conference board announced that Rev. Josef Rasheed has been selected to serve as interim superintendent.
Tools for Ministering in a Digital World
Through a new partnership between the Covenant and YouVersion, churches can create a free Church Page and invite people to “The Global Gospel,” a 30-day devotional for all app users in November. Join our Digital Community of Practice to share best practices.
Seminary Searching for New Director of Weborg Center
North Park Theological Seminary seeks a full-time faculty member to lead spiritual formation across degree programs and direct the C. John Weborg Center’s certificate in spiritual direction, beginning in January 2026.
Jessica Springer Joins Serve Locally as Children and Family Director
Jessica Springer will join the denominational team of the Evangelical Covenant Church as the new director of children and family.
Commentary
Handshakes and Shovels
A brief exchange in 118°F Yuma highlights the value of labor. Mike Guerrero, retired Covenant pastor, reminds us that dignity can begin when we learn someone’s name.
Confession as Formation and Proclamation
Could authentic confession be the key to effective evangelism? Discover how embracing vulnerability and truth-telling can transform the church’s witness to the world.
This Little Light of Mine
A small act of kindness, like greeting a stranger, can shine Christ’s light and transform ordinary encounters into moments of grace.
I’m Pretty Sure the Church Isn’t Allergic to Turkey
A childhood belief about being allergic to turkey leads to a deeper reflection on healing within the church.
Do What You Can
Preach the gospel by doing what you can and trust God to make it sufficient and maybe even extraordinary.
Is It the Church’s Job to Teach History?
Considering how the past shapes the structures of our society can be an act of spiritual formation.
Featured story
Abraham and the Courage to Begin Again
Arts & Culture
Film as Formation
Winnetka Covenant church hosted a screening of All We Carry, sparking conversation and action. After a Q&A with director Cady Voge, attendees supported Exodus World Service and IPE Albany Park, walking alongside neighbors seeking asylum.
The State of Christian Music: Where Do We Go from Here?
In this final installment, Jelani Greenidge names the tensions in Christian music and offers practical steps for listeners, worship leaders, artists, pastors, and students to engage with curiosity, widen their musical diet, and worship beyond Sunday.
What Makes a Church Safe for Women?
Eliza Stiles reviews Safe Church, by Dr. Andrew J. Bauman, a research-driven guide that centers women’s voices, calls men to responsibility, and offers practical steps for churches pursuing safety, accountability, and healing.
The State of Christian Music: Are We Asking Too Much of Our Musicians?
Music has always shaped church culture. Jelani Greenidge considers how music shapes our faith communities and how we might move toward worship that is Spirit-led and life-giving.
Sad Dad Music
This reflection on Psalm 13 and Bon Iver’s latest album explores how sorrow, cried out to God, can become one of faith’s most honest forms—and the ground where hope begins to grow.
The State of Christian Music: Is It a Real Thing?
What makes any music “Christian”? This piece questions the label itself, exploring how faith, culture, and commerce shape what we hear—and why it may be time to rethink our understanding of the genre.
In Memoriam
Lois Palmquist
Lois Palmquist, spouse of the late Rev. Roger Palmquist, passed away in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on November 5, 2025. She was 96.
Reynold Samundsen
Retired Covenant pastor Reynold Samundsen passed away in Batavia, Illinois, on October 26, 2025. He was 88.
Paul R Swanson
Retired Covenant pastor Paul R. Swanson passed away in Golden Valley, Minnesota, on October 23, 2025. He was 91.
Monty Newton
Retired Covenant pastor Monty Newton died October 26, 2025. He was 77.
James Lindgren
Retired Covenant pastor James Lindgren passed away from Parkinson’s disease on August 15, 2025, in Turlock, California. He was 81.
Lowell Drotts
Retired Covenant pastor Lowell Drotts passed away on July 14, 2025, in Deer Park, Illinois. He was 90.
Donald Bowers
Retired Covenant pastor Donald Bowers passed away in Rancho Cucamonga, California, on June 5, 2025. He was 87.
Marjorie Scruggs
Marjorie Scruggs, wife of Covenant Pastor Rev. Joe Scruggs passed away on May 10, 2025. She was 75.
Love the Cov
Podcast
Sitting Down with Dany Flores and Metzli Doles
In this episode of Love the Cov, Dany Flores and her daughter Metzli share their intergenerational partnership in ministry, reflecting on how their shared commitment to faith, family, and justice shapes their lives and work.
Sitting Down with Harold Spooner and Peter Sjoblom
In episode 4, Harold Spooner and Peter Sjoblom share their journeys in urban ministry and racial reconciliation within the Covenant, reflecting on leadership, justice, and the legacy they hope to leave for future generations.
Sitting Down with Henry and Jelani Greenidge
In episode 3, Jim Sequeira speaks with Henry and Jelani Greenidge about Henry’s pioneering work in planting a truly multiethnic church back in 1988, Jelani’s experiences growing up in that diverse congregation, and their reflections on the state of the multiethnic church today.
Sitting Down with Lenore Three Stars and Jim Sequiera
In episode two of Love the Cov season two, Lenore Three Stars and Jim Sequeira share their journeys within the Covenant, leaning into their Indigenous wisdom and identity. Their work includes repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery and guiding the Covenant toward deeper understanding and healing.
