DETROIT, MI (June 23, 2017) — Nine new churches from six conferences were welcomed into the denomination this morning during the 132nd Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
EAST COAST CONFERENCE
Highrock North Shore Covenant Church in Salem, Massachusetts
Aaron Engler, pastor
Approximate attendance: 150
Highrock North Shore Covenant Church was planted in 2012 by Highrock Covenant Church in Arlington, Massachusetts. Their core team started with 11 and grew to a launch team of 60 people sent out in 2012. The church is in its third temporary location, and now meets at First Baptist Church in Salem. The multiethnic congregation includes Asian, Caucasian, African, French, Hispanic, and Haitian members. Some of the ministries that the church is currently providing includes Open Door Immigration Services, a legal clinic that provides low-cost or free naturalization and residency assistance to people desiring to immigrate to the United States. They also are involved in ArtSpeak, a gallery that presents artwork, music, and theatrical production to raise awareness about human trafficking.
SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE
Greater Faith Covenant Church in Riverdale, Georgia
Noel Simms, pastor
Approximate attendance: 65
Greater Faith Ministries, Inc. was incorporated in October 2008 in New York City, then sought incorporation in Georgia as a foreign entity in 2009. The first church service was held at the Clarion Hotel in Jonesboro, Georgia, and they have moved to a second location. The Georgia governor has designated the church a “Station of Hope,” which helps formerly incarcerated people return to society. They also provide Jobs of Life classes to former inmates, as well as those who are unemployed and underemployed.
GREAT LAKES CONFERENCE
Grace Community Covenant Church in Louisville, Kentucky
William Mack III, pastor
Approximate attendance: 60
Grace Community Covenant church began as a church plant with the Covenant in May of 2013. Prior to that, the group was known as Grace Community Fellowship, which ministered in one of the most difficult areas of Louisville, Kentucky. The church meets in a former grocery store. The congregation gathers for worship, feeds hungry families, started a clothing closet, hosts medical clinics, hosts AA groups, and holds funerals for people in the neighborhood who have been killed by drug use or gang violence.
MIDWEST CONFERENCE
Pan y Vino Covenant Church in Overland Park, Kansas
William Lopez, pastor
Approximate attendance: 140
Pan y Vino began as a ministry of Hillcrest Covenant Church in 2013. It became a church plant of the Midwest Conference and the Evangelical Covenant Church in January 2014. Since then the church has had a steady growth of families. The congregation has a strong outreach and evangelism ministry. More than 75 people have made decisions to follow Christ in the last two years. Pan y Vino meets for worship in the auditorium of Hillcrest Covenant Church on Sunday afternoons, and in their chapel on Thursday evenings.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONFERENCE
Radiant Covenant Church in Renton, Washington
Mike Thomas, pastor
Approximate attendance: 90
Radiant Covenant Church was planted in 2015. It is an intentionally multiethnic congregation centered on Christ-centered reconciliation. The demographic makeup of the congregation is approximately one-third African American, one-third Asian, and one-third white. The median age is 38. The congregation meets in a local high school and is seeking a permanent building to allow for space needs during the week. The church is committed to evangelism, neighborhood engagement, and service. Through evangelism, cultural competency training, and reconciliation work they are impacting their city. They also facilitate conversations between the community and the police to help foster trust.
Immanuel Church in Spokane, Washington
Rob Fairbanks, pastor
Approximate attendance: 140
Immanuel Church was formed in 2014 as a purposefully diverse congregation. Their desire to be connected to a larger missionary body led them to seek membership in the ECC. Immanuel meets in the significantly under-resourced neighborhood of West Central in Spokane. The church meets in the community center operated by Youth For Christ and ministers in close partnership with them. They also are closely connected with World Relief in settling refugees and Cup of Cool Water to minister to homeless youth.
Renew Covenant Church in Seattle, Washington
Dave Sim, pastor
Approximate attendance: 35
Renew Covenant Church began in 2011 on the north side of Seattle. The church started out as a small group that referred to themselves as Seed. The church website notes, “We are a chill, community-oriented, relationally driven people of faith who are excited about living authentic lives that embody love, mercy, and hope in ways that are meaningful to our neighbors.” The congregation is passionate about justice and mercy, with a heart for marginalized, refugee, and immigrant people.
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE
On Ramps Covenant Church in Fresno, California
Phil and Rici Skei, pastors
Approximate attendance: 115
On Ramps began in 2012 when Phil and Rici Skei gathered together a group of people to hold services at a local park in a neighborhood once known as “The Devil’s Triangle” due to its high crime rate. The church has led community efforts to renovate the park, where it still holds services once a month during warmer months of the year. Seventy-five percent of the multiethnic community does not hold a high school diploma, and the median annual income is just under $13,000. The church helps connect people in the neighborhood with adequate housing, jobs, education opportunities, rehabilitation from substance abuse, and reentry after prison. They also have planted trees on neglected streets.
My Father’s House in San Marino, California
Mike Park, pastor
Average attendance: 32
My Father’s House has been a nondenominational evangelical church. They desire to join the Covenant for greater accountability and support and in order to be a part of something bigger than their own immediate community. The group rents a small theater space belonging to a local church for weekly worship services and other small group activities.
