Vision for Renewal
Tell us who you are and where you serve.
My name is Greg Applequist, and I am the lead pastor at First Covenant Church in Omaha. I was born and raised in the Covenant and have chosen to stay for more reasons than I can name. Mostly, I realize over and over again that the Covenant are my people. Those could be friends I have known my whole life, or someone I just met. I love that we can be different and stay together, focused on the invitation of Jesus to live in his Kingdom right here and now.
"In seventeen years of being a pastor, I have never seen anything as powerful as what our people are experiencing.”
How are you experiencing God’s renewing work in your life?
Two years ago, eleven people from our church enrolled in the Dallas Willard School of Kingdom Living, an intentional eighteen-month discipleship process. Through weekly small group calls, readings, monthly practices, and four week-long retreats, the results have been life-changing. I am more aware of God’s continual presence and his desire to be in a conversational relationship with me. Others have realized the present availability of the Kingdom of God, right here and right now.
Most can point to things that are different in their marriages, families, and workplaces. We are moving more slowly, more aware of God, more patient and kind, less irritable and less afraid. In seventeen years of being a pastor, I have never seen anything as powerful as what our people are experiencing.
"Instead of focusing on getting to heaven when we die, we are wondering what it would be like to get heaven into us now.”
Where do you see the Holy Spirit breathing new life into your ministry?
Those not in the program say things seem different at church. My preaching is better, there is more peace among us, more joy and deeper connections. Instead of focusing on getting to heaven when we die, we are wondering what it would be like to get heaven into us now.
The first group finishes in 2026, with five more finishing in 2027. We are working to make this process more local and accessible. We long for more people to recognize the love of God, the presence of God, and the reality that what Jesus taught is actually possible for us to do. Jesus has come alive to our group in new ways, and our life together is better at First Covenant.
Be Part of What God is Doing
Join a growing movement of churches and leaders committed to renewal across the Covenant.
