PLEASANT HILL, CA (July 18, 2011) – For the past two years, Hope Center Covenant Church in Pleasant Hill has hosted approximately 80 international college students for dinner each Friday evening. They do so in partnership with several other churches in the Diablo Valley. Each evening also includes games and a faith-based message.
This ministry, International Christian Fellowship, is an outreach available to the approximately 1,200 international students at Diablo Valley College. Hope Center provides the facility and a monthly meal. Other churches provide additional meals, money, and volunteers.
Tom Pattitucci, pastor of outreach ministries at Hope Center, says about 10 of the students have chosen to be in discipleship relationships this last year, and three have committed to participate in “Mission to Mexico,” the congregation’s annual mission trip to Ensenada. One of those students shared, “I did a lot of volunteer work in China previously, and I want to know what it is like to serve in the name of Christ.”
Russian Pastor Gets Training at Pilgrim Pines
SWANZEY, NH – In conjunction with the Covenant Camping mission project, Russian pastor Bogdan Kholodilov visited Pilgrim Pines Conference Center recently.
This year’s camp project will fund equipment purchases, training for staff, and camper scholarships at a fledgling sports camp in Asbest, Russia. Kholodilov is the children and youth pastor at Love of Christ Church, and he oversees the camping ministry program of the church. Dave Cairns (left in photo), executive director at Pilgrim Pines, had met the pastor during a trip to Russia earlier this spring.
His visit July 8-11 was part of a training visit. “We were able to visit several area camps as a way to show Bogdan several models of Christian camping,” said Cairns.
Cairns said he hopes the experience also will help the Russian pastor “put a face on the Covenant camping mission project. He will also benefit from exposure to various camping leaders in the U.S.”
Christ Church Purchases Additional Ministry Space
EAST GREENWICH, RI – Christ Church added 4,100 square feet of ministry space when it purchased a storefront condominium used previously by a kitchen furniture business. Most of the space will be used primarily for its children’s ministry and some mid-week meetings. The church completed the purchase July 8.
